"Hey Josh, this is my girlfriend." "Oh hi, we were just talking about you. It's nice to meet you."This is the Josh Ritter that not only I, but really any one of his fans have come to know. Not a celebrity. Not a rock star. Just a guy and his guitar sitting around with a few (thousand) friends, singing a few tunes. And hey, sing along if you'd like.
You can hear this in any one of his eight albums, each with its own unique musical flavor, but consistently making the listener feel at home. It's his ninth effort that offers something new. A different Josh. An introspective Josh. A Josh that might just have to close the door and keep this one to himself.
So Runs the World Away brings with it a melancholic tone that we're not used to from the usually perky Ritter. While love seems to be the main theme of the album (no new topic for him), the under- and sometimes over-tones of obsession, death and departure throughout are definitely a newer focus. There is also a noticeable juxtaposition between the lyrics and the melody of many of the tunes, leaving the listener confused about when these stories are taking place. The music says he is telling folktales, but the lyrics suggest that he is in fact speaking of himself in present time. The lilting waltz of "The Curse," the Irish-toned "Folk Bloodbath" or sea-fared "Another New World," are all examples.
By his own admission, Ritter was at a darker point in his life while penning the album. Not necessarily the same darkness reflected in the lyrics, but a period where insecurity seemed to be taking over. He can rest assured, though, whatever doubt he may have been feeling in his own head is reserved for him alone. While So Runs the World Away brings with it that abovementioned newness, it does not lack any confidence, nor does it come off as trying too hard. It comes off as a man with a new story to tell, maybe one that's been in his head all along, but he's just now finding the ways to explain it. You can hear it in the honest admission of "See How Man Was Made" or the drifting of "Southern Pacific."
But it isn't all gloom and doom. There is hope in "Lark" and delight in the fixation of "Orbital." So, you don't have to worry about Josh. He's doing fine. He just has a little something different on his mind, and you should hear him out.
Listen to my review from The Saturday Night Special (WCGO - 1590 am Chicago)
Rating
Overall: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Production: 4/5
Listenability: 5/5
Available on iTunes, JoshRitter.com and Amazon.com.
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