Fuzzy Bits:
Released August 21, 2007
Last Album: Hello Starling
Sounds Like: Josh Ritter perfecting his craft.
Overall Rating: 95
If you aren’t familiar with Josh Ritter already, prepare yourself because in a couple of years this guy’s going to be all over the airwaves. While previous albums of his have stayed almost wholly acoustic with more direct folk influences, The Historical Conquests… ventures out just far enough so that it shows a natural growth and progression but doesn’t alienate fans. The outstanding opener, which is arguably the best song on the album “To the Dogs or Whoever” is an example of the progression. The song has all the rough-around-the-edges charm of an old Bob Dylan track and showcases some of the wittiest lyrics that Ritter has written to date (something that continues as the album goes on). Other great songs on the album include “Right Moves,” “The Temptation of Adam,” “Wait for Love,” and “Empty Hearts.” “The Temptation of Adam” in particular is a very poignant piece as it centers around a lovestruck character that constantly displaces love for war. While the absurdity of the topic may, at first glance, seem to point at being nothing more than satire in the same vein as Dr. Strangelove, such bittersweet lyrics haven’t been written since Elliott Smith. “Wait for Love” and it’s stripped down second-take “Wait for Love (You Know You Will)” are beautifully done, as Ritter’s swooning vocals and elegant arrangements perfectly place the listener in the state of reflection of loves had and lost. It’s a rare gift for a singer/songwriter to have such a personal affect on any given listener, but Ritter has it in spades. The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter may sound like another superficial and pretentious release in its title alone, but believe this album has the meat to support such a weighty title.
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