Josh Ritter's Heaven, or Someplace as Nice is a brand-new set of original songs meant to be heard together.
Featuring legendary jazz guitarist Bill Frisell (appearing courtesy of Blue Note Records), this nine-song collection was recorded live in the studio over the course of just a few days, with minimal overdubs -- it was recorded quickly, and we wanted Josh's fans to hear it quickly.
This is a cozy, intimate album designed to be heard around a campfire, or late at night at home with a stick of incense burning. Josh has referred to this as his "cosmic cowboy mini-album," which seems apt - these are new, original songs that sound old, played by an astounding group of musicians who know when to get out of the way and let the songs speak for themselves.
Notably, Josh penned "Only A River" years ago and it first appeared on Bob Weir's 2016 solo record Blue Mountain. Bob Dylan covered the song during live shows in Japan and Italy in 2023. Josh deepens his relationship with the track by recording his own studio version for the first time on Heaven. This will be a surprise release, with a focus on Josh's longtime fanbase.
Featuring legendary jazz guitarist Bill Frisell (appearing courtesy of Blue Note Records), this nine-song collection was recorded live in the studio over the course of just a few days, with minimal overdubs -- it was recorded quickly, and we wanted Josh's fans to hear it quickly.
This is a cozy, intimate album designed to be heard around a campfire, or late at night at home with a stick of incense burning. Josh has referred to this as his "cosmic cowboy mini-album," which seems apt - these are new, original songs that sound old, played by an astounding group of musicians who know when to get out of the way and let the songs speak for themselves.
Notably, Josh penned "Only A River" years ago and it first appeared on Bob Weir's 2016 solo record Blue Mountain. Bob Dylan covered the song during live shows in Japan and Italy in 2023. Josh deepens his relationship with the track by recording his own studio version for the first time on Heaven. This will be a surprise release, with a focus on Josh's longtime fanbase.
STAFF COMMENTS
Barry says: Plaintive guitar, woozy slides and bucolic atmospheric touches sit beneath Ritter's beautifully echoic, syrupy smooth vocals. Sitting nicely among the new school of ambient-leaning folk-country.TRACK LISTING
The Bride
Stretching Wire
Shadows / Stars In The Crown
(Still) the Still Of The Night
Where The Dream Ends
Only A River
Just A Few Tears, Pt. 2
I'm Not Smiling