The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter - Josh Ritter
The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter Image
Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score
9.0 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 36 Ratings

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  • Summary: It's the fifth album for the Idaho-born singer-songwriter.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Lost At Sea
    95
    The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter finds namesake and frontman Ritter boldly claiming musical territory with a reinvented sound, turning from the meticulous arrangements and somber ruminations of his previous album to a more daring, moxie-charged approach that yields some of the freshest, most captivating songs of his career.
  2. All Music Guide
    80
    Historical Conquests is above all a fun record. It's got all of the heartache, acute observation, and crushing truth that fans are used to, but it never preaches without a wink and, most importantly, sounds as good blisteringly loud as it does drifting out of a clock radio in the garage.
  3. Uncut
    80
    The Josh Ritter who appears here is primarily a writer of quality pop songs.
  4. New Musical Express (NME)
    60
    The urge to dislike Josh Ritter is somewhat overwhelming. But, like a diseased puppy with an adorable smile, it's just impossible to take him out back with Pa's shotgun because he still has an ear for a good tune--even if it is one of Dylan's.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Dstrahs
    10
    Strongest Josh Ritter album, I love every song on it. It is one of the few albums I can listen to the entire album at one and repeatedly. His use of variations on a single chord structure makes for a great musical coloration. Rapid fire lyrics on the first track are very impressive. One of the best lyricists today.… Collapse
  2. ChrisC.
    10
    Not only the best record of the year, but the best record in a decade.
  3. Ricko
    8
    Josh Ritters 5th studio album keeps to the high standards he's set out so far in his career. This is probably is biggest attempt at breaking into the mainstream radio market. A lot of the songs have been polished here and you definitely get the feeling that a record company had more of an influence here than on any other record. It has some great pop songs and overall is very good, however I'm glad that on the follow up to this - "So Runs the World Away" he went back to the more folky sound.… Expand
  4. time
    7
    I thought he died a few years ago? I loved him in Threes Company

See all 23 User Reviews

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