Sermon on the Rocks
by Josh Ritter
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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  1. Magnet
    Oct 16, 2015
    85
    In guitar lines that are jittery with pop portent, hosting a sharp-witted party for nonbelivers everywhere. [No. 125, p.61]
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  2. NOW Magazine
    Nov 4, 2015
    80
    Ritter draws liberally from the well of himself, others and the Bible, and it's a fun ride.
  3. Mojo
    Oct 28, 2015
    80
    The recurring hallmark is Ritter's literate storytelling. [Nov 2015, p.94]
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  5. Uncut
    Oct 27, 2015
    80
    Sermon On The Rocks is a wild ride, with producer Trina Shoemaker adding vivid colours to the singer's rolling rock gospel. [Dec 2015, p.78]
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  6. Boston Globe
    Oct 16, 2015
    80
    Singer-songwriter Josh Ritter is moving fast on his eighth album, but he never puts a foot wrong. The 12-track collection, produced by Trina Shoemaker over two weeks in New Orleans, is positively giddy with wordplay.
  7. Rolling Stone
    Oct 29, 2015
    70
    With his latest, Ritter has achieved the near impossible, fully reimagining his own art while still holding close to what's always made him special.
  8. AllMusic
    Oct 16, 2015
    70
    Sermon on the Rocks is an album where Josh Ritter allows himself to have some fun while showing that his skills as a songwriter have emerged unscathed after his divorce, and it suggests that his future is as bright as ever.
  9. Blurt Magazine
    Dec 7, 2015
    60
    Sermon on the Rocks should speak to anyone with an ear for melody and an appreciation for a commanding, compelling delivery. Whether or not this broadens Ritter’s reach remains to be seen, but even if it falls short, be assured that it’s still excellent regardless.
  10. Exclaim
    Oct 16, 2015
    60
    It will always be a pleasure to hear Ritter's songs, to spend some time in his warm, rich universe. But he needs a new band, badly.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Ricko
    Apr 26, 2016
    8
    A dark affair by Ritter's standards, melodically and lyrically, "Sermon" stands up to his best work at it's best. Like pretty much all of hisA dark affair by Ritter's standards, melodically and lyrically, "Sermon" stands up to his best work at it's best. Like pretty much all of his albums, this is a solid and consistent record from start to finish and he's sounding more and more like Nick Cave as the years go by. No bad thing there. To pick at the album, I would say that too often it lacks urgency, something Ritter may not necessarily be associated with but has been capable of making up for when he's been at his best. IT's the points where he boosts the tempo that this record catches fire to some extent. Opener "Birds of the Meadow", "Young Moses", "Where the Night Goes" and "Lighthouse Fire" are the highlights.… Full Review »
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