As a music fan, I have always felt that recorded music and the live show are the yin and yang of an artist. You simply can’t have one without the other (okay I’ll give you the Beatles & Nick Drake, but they are the exception). But with a true music artist, both parts of the show make a different and important impression. And so I turn my ear and my eye to Josh Ritter’s new album and show.
So Runs the World Away
While I have been a fan of Josh Ritter since the acoustic splendor of “Hello Starling,†I was honestly beginning to doubt whether or not Josh could get back to that level of consistency. He’s churned out albums with good tracks and weak ones. Lots of classic material mixed in with the forgettable. That’s not to say that the lyrics weren’t always strong, but the hooks not always consistent.
“So Runs the World Away†defies this trend; the literate songs of earlier Ritter merge with a new and more focused string of hooks. Some songs still serve the story over melody (see the Leonard Cohenesque “The Curseâ€). “Another New World†is also intensely literature but lacks the focused melodic energy of the standouts.
But the anthems feature songcraft that is top notch. “Lark†has a speedy delivery that stays both melodic and catchy while “Lantern†is a classic sing-along. You’ll find yourself singing “Be the light of my lantern tonight†before the song is even over. The metaphor perfectly compliments the tune.
The album closes another two wonderful pieces of writing. Both “Orbital†and “Long Shadow†show different sides of Ritter. He expands on the sound pallet (see percussion on Orbital) while staying true to acoustic routes (see Long Shadow). Ritter has begun non-jarring experimentations.
At its strongest points, Ritter’s new sprawling literate Americana draws comparisons to Bruce Springsteen (minus the 80s populism). Historical songs with a further refined pop melody. Ritter’s keen sense of historical exploration is evident in “Another New World.†While I usually cringe with the news of a musician trying to write poetry or fiction (see Ryan Adams), I could actually take Josh Ritter’s new forthcoming novel seriously.
Live at the 9:30 Club
Which brings me to his new live show. This is the place where the literate studio art is smoothed out into the showmanship. It’s where Springsteen’s “Nebraska†had to somehow merge with “Born to Run.†Ritter’s “Golden Age of Radio†has to sound good back-to-back with “So Runs the World Away.†And suffice it to say, Ritter’s giddy stage demeanor sails this ship smoothly in a live setting.
Both “Lark†and “Lantern†sound like classic Ritter tunes next to “Monster Ballads†and “Good Man.†Their sing-along choruses truly epitomize the height of the Ritter show. While old songs were interspersed, Ritter’s live show focuses much more on the full-band setting. That’s the place where Ritter seems to have the most fun and perhaps the audience did too. And the “Temptation of Adam†and other acoustic tracks are fewer and farther between (though they have more impact this way).
The opening act and Josh’s wife of one year (exactly), Dawn Landes also came on stage for a few songs on the solo set. Their rendition of “In the Dark†harkened back to the more spare days of Ritter.
Now Ritter certainly has not lost his early literate focus, but he knows how to throw a great show. He’s building a following in the old sense that’ll ensure longevity. Perhaps the musical climate is not really on his side (like Springsteen’s 10 years of trying), but he wouldn’t be denied and Josh won’t either.
Photos by Suzanne Davis
About the author: Jeff is a teacher in the Boston area. When not buried correcting papers, Jeff can be found plucking various stringed instruments and listening to all types of americana music.