My Dylan is Better Than Your Dylan

Josh Ritter (solo/acoustic) -- 1/29/07 -- The Birchmere -- Alexandria, VA

We've all read it in countless artist reviews over the years..."this guy is the new Dylan." That phrase no longer has any meaning, but critics will continue to use it to describe the next big thing with an acoustic guitar. Idaho-native Josh Ritter is not the new Dylan or Springsteen. He does what he does without trying to be anyone but himself. And that's why I am a new fan. And that's why I believe in him. Grinning from ear to ear througout the night, Josh Ritter told stories, played guitar, sang his songs, and had the seated audience hanging on every word. When he asked us to picture Dick Cheney on drums behind him for a song, we did it . . . at least I did. And Dick didnt miss a beat.

In his Entertainment Weekly column, Author Stephen King gave Ritter's latest album, 'Animal Years,' the top spot on his 2006 year-end album list. He calls it, "The best album of the year in a walk, and maybe the best album I've heard in the last five. Mysterious, melancholy, melodic...and those are only the M's. Songs like ''Girl in the War'' simply do not leave the consciousness once they're heard, but the album's real gem is the strange and gorgeous ''Thin Blue Flame.'' This is the most exuberant outburst of imagery since Bob Dylan's ''A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall,'' in 1963. The Animal Years is an amazing accomplishment."

You may be wondering what Stephen King knows about music and why his opinion matters. And its because the guy wrote Misery. Respect.

Here is a video montage put together to Josh Ritter's song 'Kathleen':