The Animal Years
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The Animal Years is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Josh Ritter.[1] It was originally released on April 19, 2006 and a two-disc deluxe edition was re-issued on January 17, 2010. It was Ritter's first album released on V2 Records.[2]
In 2010, Ritter's band was given the name "The Royal City Band" (a reference to the song Thin Blue Flame from The Animal Years).[3]
Background
Before performing Girl in the War at the 2006 annual dinner of the Center for American Progress in Washington D.C., Ritter stated that he intended to “to write about [the United States of America], but [instead] it all came out sounding like a love song."[4]
Ritter has said that the life and work of Mark Twain were a great influence on The Animal Years, in particular Twain's books Life on the Mississippi and Letters from the Earth.[5] When analyzed alongside Twain's biography, lyrics from multiple songs on The Animal Years seem to make textual reference to the life and times of Mark Twain.[6] The most intriguing example may be the enigmatic song "Monster Ballads," which contains references to both the 19th-century decline of the Mississippi River steamboat at the hands of the railroad and the fictional character Huckleberry Finn.[7] Paying homage to Twain, Josh Ritter performed in a white suit while touring to support The Animal Years.[8]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 80[9] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The A.V. Club | A−[11] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Prefix Magazine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slant | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
As was Ritter's previous albums, The Animal Years was praised for its lyricism and storytelling.[15] Additionally, the use of piano throughout the album was recognized.[16]
Stephen King rated The Animal Years the best album of 2006 in an article for Entertainment Weekly.[17]
Track listing
All songs written by Josh Ritter.
- "Girl in the War" – 4:23
- "Wolves" – 4:04
- "Monster Ballads" – 4:05
- "Lillian, Egypt" – 3:24
- "Idaho" – 3:51
- "In the Dark" – 4:41
- "One More Mouth" – 3:29
- "Good Man" – 4:09
- "Best for the Best" – 3:58
- "Thin Blue Flame" – 9:38
- "Here at the Right Time" – 3:40
Credits
Personnel
- Josh Ritter – voice, guitar
- Zack Hickman – bass, electric bass, guitar, mandolin, lap steel guitar, ukelele
- David Hingerty – drums, percussion
- Sam Kassirer – Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, piano, accordion, synthesizer
- Tim Bradshaw – guitar
Production
- Mixed by Brian Deck
- Mastering by Greg Calbi
Deluxe edition
The Animal Years was reissued on February 15, 2011 as a two-disc Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition includes the complete original studio album as well as a bonus CD with Ritter performing a solo acoustic version of the entire album (recorded in Nashville in June 2008). The bonus CD also includes four b-sides, a video (Lillian, Egypt), new artwork, and liner notes by Tom Ricks. The Animal Years Deluxe Edition was previously released in Ireland on January 17, 2010. A vinyl version of the Deluxe Edition was released in the United States on January 25, 2011. It comes with a copy of the bonus acoustic and b-side CD.[18]
Track listing of Deluxe Edition (Bonus CD)
- "Girl in the War" (Solo Acoustic)
- "Wolves" (Solo Acoustic)
- "Monster Ballads" (Solo Acoustic)
- "Lillian, Egypt" (Solo Acoustic)
- "Idaho" (Solo Acoustic)
- "In the Dark" (Solo Acoustic)
- "One More Mouth" (Solo Acoustic)
- "Good Man" (Solo Acoustic)
- "Best for the Best" (Solo Acoustic)
- "Thin Blue Flame" (Solo Acoustic)
- "Here at the Right Time" (Solo Acoustic)
- "Blame It on the Tetons" (written by Modest Mouse)
- "Harbortown"
- "Peter Killed the Dragon"
- "Monster Ballads" (Early Version)
References
- ^ Ydstie, John (2006-05-11). "On 'Animal Years,' Josh Ritter's Sense of Place". NPR. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
- ^ "Review: Josh Ritter - The Animal Years". www2.oberlin.edu. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
- ^ ">Naming Josh Ritter's band? I win! « Blog « Hacked by 4Ri3 60ndr0n9". modernacoustic.com. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
- ^ Josh Ritter Plays A Girl in the War At CAP Event on YouTube
- ^ "Josh Ritter: Letter From America | Chart Attack". 2006-04-26. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
- ^ girlinthegloaming (2007-08-16). "Girl meets Mark Twain". Girl in the Gloaming. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
- ^ girlinthegloaming (2007-12-11). "Desert radio: Monster Ballads revisited". Girl in the Gloaming. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
- ^ http://www.washingtontimes.com, The Washington Times. "Josh Ritter goes solo". Retrieved 2016-07-02.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
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- ^ The Animal Years by Josh Ritter, retrieved 2018-01-12
- ^ "The Animal Years - Josh Ritter | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
- ^ Phipps, Keith. "Josh Ritter: The Animal Years". Music. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
- ^ Clarke, Betty (2006-03-17). "CD: Josh Ritter, The Animal Years". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
- ^ Legat, Michael. "Josh Ritter - The Animal Years Album Review | Prefixmag.com". Prefixmag.com. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
- ^ "Josh Ritter The Animal Years | Album Review | Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
- ^ "On 'Animal Years,' Josh Ritter's Sense of Place". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
- ^ "Album Review: Josh Ritter: The Animal Years - The Ruckus | Record Reviews, MP3s, Videos". www.whatstheruckus.com. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
- ^ King, Stephen (2007-02-01). "The A-List". EW.com. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
- ^ "'The Animal Years' Re-Issued in Deluxe & Vinyl Editions". Josh Ritter. Archived from the original on 2011-02-05. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
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