I know it's not too cool to like singer song writers on this here board... but if anyone can name a better American singer song writer than Josh Ritter, please let me know.
Singer-songwriter is such a weird term. Like, isn't Billy Corgan technically a singer-songwriter? He sings and writes the songs. Can't we come up with a more specific term for "someone who plays acoustic guitar, generally unaccompanied"?
Agree that we need some clarification here. Folk singer/songwriters under the age of 40 perhaps? Otherwise I'd have to say no one comes close to Costello or Dylan.
I was very impressed with Ritter's showmanship and stage presence, his endearingly warm smile draws you right in. Yes, I do think he's a tremendous songwriter for his age. His song structures are complex, he has quite a vocabulary, weaves good stories and virtually no piece is linear.
His two backup musicians were very talented as well.
Yada, what was that metal box that his guitar player used on a couple songs?