Stream Josh Ritter’s new album, Sermon On The Rocks
Singer-songwriter Josh Ritter releases his new album, Sermon On The Rocks, on October 16th. Recorded with his band, the Royal City Band in New Orleans, Ritter plays to the lighter side of his muse, in contrast to the post-divorce hangover of his 2013 release The Beast In Its Tracks.
Writing about the album on NPR Music, Stephen Thompson says:
As its title suggests, the album is Ritter’s foray into what the singer himself calls “messianic oracular honky-tonk,” often dispensed via a kind of traveling-preacher/snake-oil-salesman persona. Which means, in turn, that Sermon On The Rocks is lighter than usual on the sincere rumination that has marked many of its predecessors.
Without fail, Ritter – who creates music at an exceptionally creative level – continues to grow and mature on every record he makes, and Sermon is no exception. He rarely writes the same song twice from album to album, and musically Sermon is playful and adventurous, signaled by the first single, “Getting Ready To Get Down.” There’s some new sounds and beats in Ritter’s trick bag this time around, and his versatility is staggering.
Below, listen to Sermon On The Rocks via NPR Music. WXPN Welcomes Josh to Union Transfer on Sunday, Febraury 21st. Go here for tickets and more information for the show.