Josh Ritter - Girl In The War EP

Four albums under his belt, Idaho-born Josh Ritter's songwriting abilities are earning him a reputation tantamount to the likes of Dylan, Cash and Springsteen. His latest offering contains several previously unreleased tracks, and tells poignant tales of modern America that are delicately delivered with melodic guitars, heavy pianos and soaring organs. The simple yet literate lyrics are complemented by his alluring, tender vocals, most notably on the title track - the story of a man fearing for his lover in Iraq. A fine example of modern folk-rock, it also features a bold take on Modest Mouse's 'Blame It On The Tetons' and demo recordings of two tracks from critically acclaimed album The Animal Years. [Suzanne Mitchell]