Josh Ritter on David Lettermn 1/12/07

[Bravesbaseball1100]

1:35 looks like the drummer smelled a fart haha made me laugh really great song love josh ritter awesome singer/songwriter one of the best out there these days when there's not very many left

[Captainhector]

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of this particular performance. It's too harsh, and I've always felt this is a song that needs a bit of tenderness.

Comparisons to Dylan are ridiculous. Dylan was booed off stages when he first started, including his hometown. And let's be honest, early Dylan wasn't the easiest to listen to, he wasn't much of a musician, and his voice kinda sounded like he gargled Drain-O. But he had lyrics, a spark, and most importantly; a message.

[rtuckerb4]

@ktrfeb23,

I gotta say man, I think you're just using your own personal taste as judgement. For one thing, Josh Ritter has gotten a lot better in terms of creativity and songwriting. He's brilliant in that aspect. Every artist matures over time. When you say he's overrated, I would go as far to say that he's underrated. Josh Ritter is not Bob Dylan, or Guthrie, but the thing that's special about Josh Ritter, is that he's not trying to be Bob Dylan or Woody Guthrie.

[fetzermills2]

Josh has obviously listened very carefully to a lot of songwriters including Dylan, John Lennon, TVZ, Randy Newman, Springsteen and others, but he has is own style and he's quite good. There's nothing wrong with tipping your hat to other songwriters and Josh does it frequently, overtly and covertly. I've been around for awhile and Josh Ritter is one of the strongest writers of his generation. He's also a hell of a showman, a monster for the stage.

[nimalikamanjula]

Marriage and get a trusted women Online  "busizz4me.info"

[79kassius]

You can never be better than the artist who influenced you. Great artists are considered great because they are unique in their own way. Bob Dylan was called "the next Woody Guthrie" when he arrived on the music scene, and his first album was much like Woody. Except Dylan became his own artist over him and now people call artists like Josh, "the next Dylan". Josh is becoming his own artist. Dylan and Woody did many more "protest" songs which Josh keeps to a minimum.

[ktrfeb23]

@79kassius

Yeah, but Bob Dylan got better and better over time. Josh has not.

[demonforeveryday]

@ktrfeb23 I may not be a fan of So Runs the World Away, but Historical Conquests was AMAZING. And I think he did improve from other albums on that one. Give him some room to prove it to you.

[ktrfeb23]

@demonforeveryday

I like Josh. I actually knew him pretty well in Boston before he was famous. He's a very nice guy and I'm happy for his success. But, I think a little overrated. His writing is pretty good, but a little too flowery for my taste. He could use some more grittiness in his lyrics. I find the musical arrangements and performances on his records very dull.

[674Dispatch]

I think Dylan jerks off to Josh's music at night

[steebzs]

@674Dispatch ....LOL.......

[jaksspring97]

lyrics are decent. the music...snorefest.  please stop comparing to Dylan. thanx noobs

[noaid2israel]

Josh Ritter is GREAT ... And, yeah, there doesn't have to be comparisons ... but since you've mentioned it, I'm thinking that Dylan is great, too ... but he borrowed (heavily) from Ramblin Jack Elliott's style. That's one I can't help but compare.

[MrDsmalls]

This Dylan vs. Ritter comparison is ridiculous as we can not possibly know what Ritter will do with the next 40 years of his life til he is Dylans age. Josh Ritter is a pretty incredibly talented guy and i HOPE that he continues to expand his art. Dylan, however, is UNTOUCHABLE. Dylan is Americas greatest artist of all time, and deserves to be recognized as such. When Ritter has 35 albums including ones that fundamentally alter rock as we know it, we'll compare.

[submarinejackhammer]

the only person that we can even compare to bob dylan is bob dylan.

[pazappyearl]

the only person that can compare to josh ritter is josh ritter.

why the need to compare?

[ashton8504]

well said. Also if it was not for dylan these guys would not be doing what they are doing.

[ShayleeMarie1234]

He's from my hometown!

[hotdawgmoney]

Why does there always have to be a comparison? Josh is Josh, man. Bruce is Bruce. Dylan is Dylan. They're all great. Let's not measure our wankers here.

[ydfau61]

Perfectly said. Can't we just love them all.

[morrisnhotel970]

thank you, the comparisons are irrelevant, listen and enjoy

[dave10587]

ritters great but lets not compare him to bruce theres only one boss

[PePeButte]

i want some sexy subscribers! G

[dreamerssky]

bob dylan yes inspired a lot of music and writers but i personally would rather listen to josh ritter or guy clark or brian houston or someone like that. bob dylan isnt that great in my opinion. this is a perfect example of a great song right here. be it better or not as good as dylan. whatever you think yourself but its a fantastic tune

[SOCOMJ3SUS]

It would be hard to claim that Ritter is superior to Dylan when Josh lists Bob as his main influence.

[pstlwhppd]

@SOCOMJ3SUS That makes no sense. You're assuming that you can't be better than your influences.

[ktrfeb23]

@pstlwhppd

Some people can be. Josh Ritter isn't.

[pstlwhppd]

@ktrfeb23 Sure, that may be true, but his basis for saying that Bob Dylan is better is that Dylan was one of Ritter's main influences. If he's better, it's because he writes better songs. It's got nothing to do with who influenced whom.

[ktrfeb23]

@pstlwhppd

Yeah, but Josh Ritter writes mediocre songs regardless of who his influences are.

[pstlwhppd]

@ktrfeb23 And if that's true you just agreed with me.

[ktrfeb23]

@pstlwhppd

Sure, I guess. I couldn't tell what you were trying to say.

[nole6820]

I saw him this night on Letterman for the first time. I couldn't get over how well written the song was then, and a year and a half later his music occupies at minimum 75% of all that I listen to, a truly great songwriter

[iwillcontrolyourmind]

"Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free,

Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands,

With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves,

Let me forget about today until tomorrow."

you think he's better than dylan...well you should probably listen to more dylan then

[FredJonesFuneralCar]

I disagree with the "better than Dylan" statement, because Dylan was one of the first singer/songwriters to become known, however I would say Ritter is up there with Josh Radin and Jackie Greene as the best musicians out today.

[ahoman1]

Joshua Radin and Jackie Green are wonderful singer/songwriters who deserve a lot of respect but Ritter is way better!

[rorrt]

fabulous he is just great, he is always smiling unlike Dylan. And he sings better than Dylan though dylan is more about lyrics and IMHO hes better than a young dylan

[joshformanunited]

for some reason he reminds me of the geico caveman...only cleaned up. lol..but good music though.

[ahoman1]

best singer/songwriter there is today

[rorrt]

hands down better than a young Bob Dylan. Hands down...

[ForTheHeart76]

you're kidding right? You gotta get up pretty early in the morning to beat Bob Dylan. lol

[rorrt]

no, no no, i said "a young Bob Dylan" not a Bob Dylan, besides can you please give me three reasons why he is not better than a "Young Dylan", Ritter has performed with Joan Biaz much like "a young Bob Dylan", so the similaritys are very good, but i think he has the edge...

Please respond with sensible suggestions...

PS its my opinion, and thats your opinion, but my opinion is more valid...

[iwillcontrolyourmind]

a young dylan wrote mr tambourine man, hard rains gonna fall, it ain't me babe, love minus zero/no limit. man i appreciate this guy but dylans on a different level, period. the only thing dylan sounded like was woody guthrie and even then he didnt sound much like woodie guthrie. and thank god dylan didn't smile, thank god.

[rorrt]

i agree, to compare him and josh ritter is absurd, but i was comparing the age of dylan and the age of ritter, but have you heard Thin Blue Flame, to the dogs or whoever, monster ballads, those are equally if not better than dylans early stuff...

but i will not say who i prefer currently, its like comparing Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble, the time difference is just too great

[ForTheHeart76]

Dylan's influence on folk, country, rock, and gospel music is incalculable. Here's 3 reasons:

1. 1963 "Blowin' in the Wind"

2. 1963 "Masters of War"

3. 1964 "The Times They Are A-Changin'"

[rorrt]

"Thin Blue Flame, to the dogs or whoever, monster ballads" quality hard to surpass.

you chose 3 great dylan songs but it is hard to dispute the fact Dylan also made some awlful songs, and currently Ritter's voice is 100X better than Dylan in the present, dylans voice has no clarity in fact i went to see him live in the NEC birmingham and could not work out the lyrics to Mr Tamborine Man he kept on going low and high there was no mid range like there was in his earlyist performances.

[ForTheHeart76]

My 10 year old came home from school the other day and said they sang "Blowing inthe Wind" in 4th grade music. 45 years later Dylan's songs are still being sung in school. I doubt if children in 2053 will still be singing "Thin Blue Flame". Case closed!

[rorrt]

your child "sang" "blowing in the wind" means nothing, we used to sing "Glad All Over" in school, the dave clark 5 are no more, Its not being performed anymore. besides we never sang any Bob Dylan in school so this is a individual case that i can see. The primary point of this argument is not to say who is better necasserity.years after dylan hit the scene he didnt make it big until a few years, to say he is the best is absurd, in years Ritter will be better, i said a Young Dylan .

CASE CLOSED!

[bowflexor]

I think hes nervous. Because his performance is piss poor in this video. I know he can do alot better

[guimondandre]

I wouldn't go that far but from what ive seen it isn't one of his ebst, his voice doesn't sound the same, its got a crackling rasp sort of thing perhapes he had an infection or was worn out from other shows or something, still a great song and great Josh Ritter

[jazrambo]

i actually prefer this version, prefer the organ thingy over the mandolin yoke in the studio version his voice sounds ok to me

[rfn5]

That's some awesome song-writing right there. He's a wonderful talent that deserves a lot more recognition than he gets.

[svrommelvs]

Tempo is off, and he's either doing his best (Worst) Dylan rip off or he's sick.

[keenan110]

classic. love the song. just great.

[lumpycam69]

This Guy makes Springsteen look like a beginner

[ShallowPete]

That was a joke right?

[Ollo1412]

i assume he doesnt mean to insult the boss he just wants to show his admiration for Mr. Josh Ritter and so he took that kind of a comparison

[ShallowPete]

Hey I love Ritter. I can't get enough of those two shows they have of him on fabchannel, but he's no Boss. The guy is 32 years old. By 32 Bruce had aready done the BTR, Darkness and River tours.

[henrikisghod]

Never knew Josh had been on Letterman. Delighted to see that he's getting the credit he deserves, he's been woefully under-appreciated for so long. Saw him in Ireland a few months back, amazing. Can only imagine how nervous he must have been doing this. It's so far removed from his zone. "The spark will bubble over and in the morning all you've got is rain." Well, it's morning, and it's most definitely raining. A lot.

[rinnin]

I always thought it was "They sparkle, bubble over & in the morning all you got is rain" ("they" being her "eyes like champagne")

[mexicanhairless]

youre right. its sparkle bubble over

[dpbartlett]

Song writing doesn't get much better than this. "Have mercy on the man who sings to be adored" - J Ritter. Writers that have stuff like this to say deserve some sort of adoration though.

[areksia]

such an amazing song, but the album, more basic version is much more effective.

[KathleenRoll1h]

That's a beautiful song. I'm glad to see him get some recognition

[jannfann]

I saw Josh Ritter on Saturday here in Winipeg, I do have to agree is way better on his own. He is one hell of a performer. Was my 3rd time seeing hime live and everytime it gets better.

Im glad he is getting exposure.

[c3apollyon]

Saw Josh last night at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto and it was a great show. I think he's better without the backing band, much more stripped down and powerful.

[hannalee53]

Great show at the Somerville Theatre...great suit

also!

[jimjimblund]

Great...just great!

.-)

[rinnin]

"...they sparkle, bubble over & in the mornin all youve got is rain.."

Great stuff, nice one Josh.

[gincognito47]

Though I prefer the more stripped down version, this is a powerful song no matter how it is played. Congrats, Josh. You deserve all the exposure you get.