Majestic , Imagistic and Quietly Engaging
prisrob | New EnglandUSA | 01/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
""JOSH Ritter looks to complete 2006 in style with the release of his mini-album Girl In The War, a beautiful collection of tracks that are partially taken from his Animal Years long-player. Headed by title track Girl In The War, which also opens Animal Years, this collection of songs is acoustically-based and vaguely reminiscent of the style of Simon & Garfunkel. It washes over you in supremely laidback fashion and has plenty to say about the current state of the world." Rob Hughes
Josh Ritter was born in Moscow, Idaho. He began writing songs while attending Oberlin College and graduated in 1999 with a self-created American History through Narrative Folk Music major. His style is of folk music and ballads - Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Leonard Cohen.
My ears perked up when I hard the mandolin strumming as Josh Ritter began his appearance on 'David Letterman'. The world stood still for a few moments as I listened to this song of war, expressed so clearly with such beautiful music. I immediately went to Rhapsody and listened to this new CD- 3 and 4 times. A true find this Josh Ritter- a magical voice that has come into his own. Seven songs in this CD
'Girl In The War ' mandolin and acoustic versions-haunting tune that has some truly enchanting music. It represents Peter and Paul the Disciples cementing upon the situation in Iraq and the loss of a woman to the Iraq war- a protest song like no other-
Peter said to Paul
"All those words that we wrote
Are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go"
But now talkin' to God is Laurel beggin' Hardy for a gun
I gotta girl in the war, man I wonder what it is we done
"Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire."
'Blame It On The Tetons' -a song of problems- Lord knows we all got'em and who do we blame?
Everyone's a building burning
with no one to put the fire out.
Standing at the window looking out,
waiting for time to burn us down.
'Harbortown' - a love song about the memory of a favorite place with sunsets across the bay. It's great just to kick back to and drift away with on its rich journey, perhaps carrying the image of the one you love with you.
'Peter Killed The Dragon'- a reflective acoustic ballad that has some such wonderful lyrics.
'Peter Killed the Dragon
And he did it with his bare hands
Paul killed the Dragon
And he did it with his bare hands.'
'Monster Ballads'- piano chords record feeling of desolation while describing a little "Twain"
"And I was thinking bout my river days I was thinking bout me and Jim Passing Cairo on a getaway With every steamboat like a hymn
Out on the desert now I¹m feeling lost The bonnet wears a wire albatross Monster ballads and the stations of the cross Sighing just a little bit Smiling just a little bit"
'In The Dark'- Biblical tale of sinking ships and raging fire. So many images but yet so simple.
'Every heart is much the same We tell ourselves down here
The same chambers fed by veins
The same maze of love and fear
We thought you were a saint But the halo was an eye
It¹s hard to see how there could be So much dark inside the light
'As for those exhilarating moments, they tend to happen when Ritter plays with two of the most compelling themes of this album: the rollicking, free-wheeling joy of American-honky-tonk-folk and a deep frustration with the Iraq war. The album's opener, "Girl in the War," exemplifies this play between outrage and sweetness with a bright guitar line, rolling drums, and soaring organ to Ritter, stating: "Man I wonder what the hell it is we done." Rolling Stone
'Girl In The War' CD stirs such riveting emotions. It is a rich listening experience that brings us all to a better understanding of the world we live in and the War raging in the Eastern land. Stephen King, in Entertainment Weekly ranks Josh Ritter the #1 CD of the year. Josh Ritter is a talent to be admired. Highly, highly recommended. prisrob 1/13/07
"
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1