Today: Something Old

I was reminded today of my love for Josh Ritter. He's not classic rock like I usually have in my "Something Old" post. I'm not recommending brand new music here but but come back tomorrow to check out his new EP, "Bringing In the Darlings." I've seen Josh twice in concert and he is amazing live. He has so much energy and his lyrics are incredibly descriptive and poetic.



One of Josh Ritter's coolest songs is "The Temptation of Adam" off his 2007 record, "The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter." It's not even my favorite of his, which would have to be the beautiful "Bone of Song" off "Hello Starling" (2003), but it is such a cool way to tell a really compelling story through song. I love songs that can surprise me. This video is great, too, because it shows what Josh does best. Simple, so as to not detract from his amazing music.

Today: Something Old

The reason I like Van Morrison so much is because he uses his voice like an instrument. It's one more sound that he uses to create the overall sound of the song. It almost has the same effect as a trumpet or other brass in songs.



My favorite Van Morrison song is "Tupelo Honey" off his record of the same name. The record was released in 1971, but this song feels like it comes from another time. It's a beautiful blend of southern rock and old storytelling. The best line is, "Men with insight, men in granite. Knights in armor bent on chivalry."