Specifically, I'm gonna have a party with Josh Ritter. If I had to name my top three bands or artists, I think he would be one of them. (The other two would be the Hold Steady and - I'm not sure - maybe Frightened Rabbit, this is an impossible task choosing just three and I'm not sure why I set it for myself, I'm going to put it aside, get back to the point, here we go.) He's an incredible lyricist, a talented musician, and from everything I've heard, his live shows are electrifying experiences. I'm seeing him in May, and I couldn't be more excited.
Right now, I'm listening to his live album, In the Dark: Live at Vicar Street, and I would so highly recommend it. It's one of the best albums I've heard in a long time. Part of what I like about Josh Ritter's music is that you might call it indie, or you might call it country or folk - Wikipedia lists him as Folk, Alternative Country, and Rock - but when you listen to it, you just know that he doesn't care what it's called. He is as in love with the music as anyone can possibly be. You can hear it in his voice, you can hear the smile in his voice when he sings.
It's impossible to pick my favorite lyrics. I think right now, I might go with the opening to "Kathleen," from the album Hello Starling, one of the sweetest teen love songs in the world.
"All the other girls here are stars - you are the Northern lights.
They try to shine into the window - you're too close and too bright.
They try and they try, but everything that they do
is a ghost of a trace of a pale imitation of you.
I'll be the one to drive you back home, Kathleen."
Josh Ritter's official site has these two and several more free sample mp3s up from five of his albums, and you can listen to those albums in full if you so choose. Go and listen, go and buy all of them. This is music for the end of winter, music for sunny days, to make you fall in love.
Love,
Sarah
