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Twin Town High (vol. 8) |
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Josh Ritter
Wednesday 22 January @ 12:28:49 |
 by Rob van Alstyne
Some of the world’s best pop music was made in an effort to rip off earlier successes, but what separates classy emulation from cheap imitation? It’s hard to say really, but passion has something to do with it. Boston based folk-rock artist Josh Ritter, 26, has me pondering these issues at length thanks to his sophomore album, the immediately familiar—yet still riveting—Golden Age of Radio.
From the beautiful fingerpicked strains that open “Come and Find Me” (a dead ringer for an outtake from Nick Drake’s landmark Pink Moon album), to the lived-in and Dylanesque feel of numbers like “Me and Jiggs,” a cursory listening had me peg Ritter as a mimic—albeit a highly talented one.
Ritter admits to wearing his influences on his sleeve. “I don’t have any problem with comparisons. Everybody starts off trying to sound like someone else,” he says via telephone on a rare day off from touring. “When Dylan started he tried to sound like Woody Guthrie, Tom Waits was imitating Dylan. I feel you work your way towards your own voice. Besides, Golden Age of Radio sort of intentionally invited those comparisons on songs like “Come and Find Me.” When I did that song it was before the whole Volkswagen ad thing came along and put Nick Drake on everybody’s mind again. I really like his music and some of the things he’s done. If a song of mine ends up coming across as similar to his, that’s fine.”
Going back to the album for repeated listens, Ritter reveals himself to be capable of more than merely paying homage to the greats. Ritter’s voice is as capable of making quality stabs at gentle crooning (“You’ve got the Moon”) as it is at employing a rougher country drawl (“Harrisburg”). With arrangements running the gamut from simple solo acoustic treatments to full-band electric rave-ups, The Golden Age of Radio is that rare album that fits rather snugly within a preconcieved genre (in this case the admittedly rather nebulous territory of “alt. country”) without sounding in the least bit tired or boring.
The magic of Golden Age of Radio hasn’t been completely lost on the public—in Ireland. Like David Grey before him, Ritter has already become a prominent headliner in Ireland while still toiling in beloved cult status stateside (despite some high profile gigs opening for the likes of Bob Dylan).
“It just happened that Ireland was the first place where I was able to really play and get something going other than just doing open mics,” explains Ritter. “I kind of jumped on it while I had the chance. Ireland is an amazing place to play because the history of music and storytelling there is so incredible. It’s a great place to just stop and listen to people talk.”
Although grateful for his Irish success story, Ritter doesn’t harbor any dreams of global stardom for his low-key brand of story-driven acoustic music. “When I started out I had those kind of notions of really trying to ‘break’ into the music business. What I realized pretty quickly, however, is that all the big breaks are just a load of bull. It just gets so depressing if you’re not ‘making’ it. The mass media that’s needed to sell millions of records is not something I’m connected to. I just really love what I’m doing and would never try to change it to fit a mold. I don’t want to be the guy that’s trying to make it, I want to be the guy that goes out and plays because he really enjoys it. There are just so many bands out there right now, and if I really want people to listen to me the only way I can make it worth their time is by being myself. It seems like there’s always going to be a group of people out there that like the kind of music I do, and I’m thankful for that. I’m kind of at peace with that section, all I want is a group of people who are interested in what I’m going to do next. The way I’m interested in what Tom Waits is going to do next. I’m not looking to sell millions and take over the world.”
Josh Ritter plays Thurs., Jan.23 at First Avenue opening for roots music legend Jimmie Dale Gilmore. 6 p.m. $10/$12. 21+. 701 1st Ave. N., Mpls. 612-338-8388.
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