Right Moves
The lean, hobo visionary of old is gone: in his place is a suited bandleader, and his new song is almost brilliant. The sound is very Band-era Dylan, and Josh’s quicksilver lyrics evoke the same swirl of images the Big Zim’s always did. While the solo is wonderfully commanding, the ‘70s soft-rock chorus feels like a downward gear-shift from the verse. And so, once again, Ritter lacks the stratosphere-catapulting single he’s been looking for.
Tim Smyth, 04 Sep 2007
The lean, hobo visionary of old is gone: in his place is a suited bandleader, and his new song is almost brilliant. The sound is very Band-era Dylan, and Josh’s quicksilver lyrics evoke the same swirl of images the Big Zim’s always did. While the solo is wonderfully commanding, the ‘70s soft-rock chorus feels like a downward gear-shift from the verse. And so, once again, Ritter lacks the stratosphere-catapulting single he’s been looking for.
Tim Smyth
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Galway Arts Festival have just announced that Josh Ritter will play the Big Top this July...
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2012-12-19 - News
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2012-12-11 - News
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2011-04-05 - Interview
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2011-03-10 - News
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After years of thankless toil, Josh Ritter finally had the world at his feet. And then, just as he should have been at his happiest, he suffered a sudden crisis of confidence. Sick of the sound of his own voice, the Idaho bard felt trapped in an artistic prison he himself had devised. His struggle for freedom is chronicled on his wrenching new album, perhaps the finest of his career. Hot Press meets him in New York to discuss the long road to redemption.
2010-05-05 - Interview
The new top 20 should also put a smile on Mark E. Smith's face.
2010-04-30 - News
As part of our Josh Ritter Week, Hot Press has FIVE exclusive tracks for fans to download, continuing today!
2010-04-23 - News
The singer, who appears on this week's cover of Hot Press, has been forced by the pesky ash to reschedule the in-store event, which was due to take place tomorrow (Thursday)
2010-04-21 - News
Hot Press is gearing up to celebrate an exclusive Josh Ritter Week on hotpress.com. Things kick off today, April 22, as the new issue of Hot Press, featuring Josh Ritter on the cover and a brilliantly revealing interview with the Idaho hero by Peter Murphy inside, hits the streets.
2010-04-21 - News
As we kick off a week dedicated to the Idaho singer-songwriter, he announces a show at Iveagh Gardens
2010-04-21 - News
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So Runs the World Away is out here in April.
2010-02-08 - News
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2009-12-10 - News
With a year’s worth of grandiose orchestral gigs behind him, Ireland’s sweetheart and son of Idaho Josh Ritter was enveigled into celebrating Whelan’s 20th birthday with three shows in a stripped down acoustic format.
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2008-09-11 - REVIEW
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2008-09-03 - News
Josh Ritter talks to hotpress.com about the craft of songwriting, his love of Mark Twain, and how society always influences the song – even Britney's 'Toxic'.
2008-08-07 - News
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Josh Ritter has premiered the new video for his track 'Real Long Distance' in his blog.
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A starstruck Josh Ritter has spoken to Hot Press about playing alongside The Who.
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A pair of well-dressed girls on the way out said it was the best concert they’d ever attended and who would argue with them?
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It’s been a tumultuous few years for Josh Ritter. Against the dramatic backdrop of the Swiss Alps, he talks about his number one fan Stephen King, recalls the day he met Bob Dylan and explains why it’s never a good idea to drink before a show
2007-09-11 - Interview
The Idaho singer-songwriter announces ten new Irish dates for the end of the year.
2007-09-10 - News
Man of the moment Josh Ritter will be making an appearance in the Grafton Street HMV store this week.
2007-09-03 - News
To be fair to Ritter, he’s played the hand he’s been dealt with bravado and good grace.
2007-08-29 - REVIEW
Josh Ritter has announced two special fan club shows in Dublin and Galway this September.
2007-07-26 - News
Josh Ritter has confirmed the release date of his new album.
2007-06-21 - News
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2007-06-15 - News
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2007-04-12 - News
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2007-03-05 - News
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2006-11-02 - News
Fresh from playing the Electric Picnic, Josh Ritter has announced a sizeable Irish tour.
2006-09-12 - News
An Ireland-only release to coincide with his upcoming Electric Picnic appearance, this EP is a must-have for fans of the Idaho songwriter. It’s essentially Ritter and his acoustic guitar on most of the tracks. Included is a cover of Modest Mouse’s ‘Blame It On The Teutons’. There are also two previously unreleased originals, ‘Harbortown’ and ‘Peter Killed The Dragon’, a gorgeous number that sees Ritter exploring his fascination with religious imagery.
2006-08-16 - REVIEW
Long-standing Irish fans will be chuffed for Josh Ritter as he's due to make his debut on national US TV in fine style.
2006-08-11 - News
Josh Ritter has announced details of an Ireland-only EP, Good Man, which is being released to coincide with his Electric Picnic appearance on September 3.
2006-07-18 - News
The holy and austere surroundings only rendered that night's performance that much more powerful. It was certainly a lightning bolt moment for this listener, who hitherto always found himself torn between liking Mr Ritter and being exasperated at the transparency of his influences (Bruce, Leonard, Nick Drake, Townes Van Zandt).
2006-03-22 - REVIEW
The Hot Press cover star collapses on stage and is rushed to hospital.
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Running a marathon, writing the folk-pop equivalent of Dante’s Divine Comedy, buying a house, releasing the finest record of his career. All in a year’s work for Josh Ritter. John Walshe travelled to Boston to meet the young songwriter.
2006-03-08 - Interview
Powerful and resonant, The Animal Years’ complex musical tapestry remains deeply engaging throughout.
2006-02-27 - REVIEW
There's a bit of a treat on the way for those purchasing the issue of Hot Press that comes out on Febraury 23. Well, more than the usual anyway.
2006-02-21 - News
He’s officially your favourite international male artist and songwriter, according to the last issue’s readers poll. And Josh Ritter’s working goddamn hard to ensure the accolades are merited. This is a thigh-slapping country-tinged affair that even has a ‘na na’ chorus in it. It’s impossible to resist its cheery charms, so don’t even try.
2006-02-20 - REVIEW
Josh Ritter has announced details of his new album, The Animal Years, and an accompanying nationwide Irish tour.
2006-01-26 - News
Josh Ritter has announced details of his new album, The Animal Years, and an accompanying nationwide Irish tour.
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Josh Ritter never did anything for me. A patchy debut and an over-rated follow up only served to increase my amazement as to how he had become so successful in this country. Tonight though, I may have begun to come around.
2005-07-18 - REVIEW
With the huge success of his sophomore album and a brand new masterwork in the offing, 2004 has been a capital year for US singer-songwriter and adopted son of Eire, Josh Ritter.
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Josh Ritter rounds off a mighty successful year by signing a contract with V2 Records
2004-12-07 - News
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2004-02-12 - Interview
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2003-12-08 - News
When Josh Ritter says this feels like a homecoming show, there’s no point in arguing geography.
2003-10-30 - REVIEW
With Hello Starling Josh Ritter has emerged as one of the finest songwriters who's operating today. John Walshe meets the reluctant hero who's storming the Irish charts.
2003-10-17 - Interview
Josh Ritter will play tunes and sign copies of his new CD ahead of his Lisdoonvarna appearance
2003-08-25 - News
While it would have been good to hear his own ramshackle brand of Americana given a meatier treatment, it can’t be denied that he does have some fine tunes in his canon and a winning way of delivering them.
2003-07-22 - REVIEW
The atmosphere throughout these twelve acoustic tracks is gentle and intimate. Ritter's voice possesses a compelling, rustic quality
2002-03-26 - REVIEW
Ireland's favourite Idahoan (and believe us the competition is quite fierce) Josh Ritter returns with new single 'Me & Jiggs' and an 8-date Irish tour
2002-02-14 - News
JOHN WALSHE meets JOSH RITTER, the US singer-songwriter who’s enjoying considerable success in Ireland, touring with the Frames among others
2001-08-23 - Interview
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