Skip to content
Elly Roberts reviews
V2
- October 2007
- Rating: 8/10
This is Josh Ritters highly anticipated follow to the excellent Animal Years (2006).
A big hit in Ireland since 2002, this Moscow Idaho resident has released what isarguably his best record so far. Its time Britain finally recognised his talents,though that might take some doing as this is considered very much Americana.Not everyone is biting at the genre.
Adopting a Western theme, it was recorded with some band-mates in a farmhousein Maine along with the Great North Sound Society Orchestra which goes to showthat this a massive step-up from Animal Years. A big fan of Johnny Cash, BuddyHolly, The Faces, and more importantly here, Paul McCartneys Ram album.The latter has given him the let-loose confidence to become more exploritarywith his musical template, though no real Macca traits surface musically.
Throughout the entire album hes retained much of his penchant melodies of daysgone past. Here he looks at love, gunslingers and a lot more. Its a subtlecombination of all-out-fun and low-fi balladeering, such as Still Beating.Clanking piano/organ lead to a sudden rush of crashing cymbals giving To The Dogs Or Whoevera rough and ready cowboy feel, which continues on the wild baroom Next To The Last Romantic.You can just see those cboys kicking the dust and swirling the local gals as hespouts, “Theres always whisky and women and women and whisky around,”using all the energy at his disposal.
Empty Hearts is a cross between Dylan and Springsteen, at the mellowerend, pleading, “Dont let me into this year with an empty heart.”. Areal melancholic delight, without the saccarine slush. Surely the boss has alsoinfluenced Right Moves, a jolly and sing-along gem, with beats aplentyand nice rolling key work, pumped up by a buoyant brass section. Oddly enough,its Lennon that appears to have given rise to Rumours, rather than McCartney.
Closing a cracking album, he strums out with a reprise of tender ballad WaitFor Love.
Its easy to see why the Irish took him into their hearts – wake up Britain !
Weblinks:joshritter.com /v2music.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. To The Dogs Or Whoever
2. Minds Eye
3. Right Moves
4. The Temptation Of Adam
5. Open Doors
6. Rumours
7. Edge Of The World
8. Wait For Love
9. Real Long Distance
10. Next To The Last Romantic
11. Moons
12. Still Beating
13. Empty Hearts
14. Waint For Love (You Know You Will)
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.