''Golden Age of Radio'' is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter
Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter (born October 21, 1976) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and author who performs and records with the Royal City Band. Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics. In 2006, he was named one of ...
. It was Ritter's first album to be released nationally after he was signed to
Signature Sounds
Signature Sounds Recordings is an independent record label specializing in Americana and modern folk music. Jim Olsen and Mark Thayer founded the label in 1995 to promote acoustic musicians who were playing in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Signatu ...
. According to his official website, ''Golden Age of Radio'' was originally self-released in 2001 and passed out at shows. This self-pressed version contained a different, solo version of the title track called "Country Song," different mastering, and a different track order.
Critical reception
The album was received enthusiastically by critics, who frequently compared him to musicians such as
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney Drake (19 June 1948 – 25 November 1974) was an English singer-songwriter known for his acoustic guitar-based songs. He did not find a wide audience during his lifetime, but his work gradually achieved wider notice and recognit ...
,
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
, and
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian-American singer and songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, joining Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Richie Furay ...
, but failed to reach a large audience in the United States. The album was a success in Ireland, where, thanks to good word-of-mouth and an opening spot on
The Frames
The Frames are an Irish rock band based in Dublin. Founded in 1990 by Glen Hansard, the band has been influential in the Dublin rock music scene. The group has released six studio albums. In addition to Hansard, the band's current line-up incl ...
' tour followed by frequent headlining gigs, Ritter is now considered "a minor celebrity."
Track listing
All songs written by
Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter (born October 21, 1976) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and author who performs and records with the Royal City Band. Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics. In 2006, he was named one of ...
.
#"Come and Find Me" – 3:52
#"Me & Jiggs" – 3:07
#"You've Got the Moon" – 3:12
#"Lawrence KS" – 4:15
#"Anne" – 3:42
#"Roll On" – 4:19
#"Leaving" – 3:56
#"Other Side" – 3:27
#"Harrisburg" – 3:55
#"Drive Away" – 4:09
#"Golden Age of Radio" – 3:31
#"Song for the Fireflies" – 4:29
Personnel
*
Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter (born October 21, 1976) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and author who performs and records with the Royal City Band. Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics. In 2006, he was named one of ...
–
voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal tract, including talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, shouting, humming or yelling. The human voice frequency is specifically a part of human sound production in ...
, guitar, piano
*Zack Hickman – bass, guitar,
mandolin
A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...
, organ
*Jason Humphrey – electric guitar
*Darius Zelkha – drums
Deluxe edition
''Golden Age of Radio'' was reissued on April 7, 2009, as a two-disc Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition includes the complete original studio album along with a second bonus disc. The bonus disc contains solo acoustic versions of the original tracks (re-recorded by Ritter in
Nashville
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and the ...
of June 2008) as well as b-side and remix tracks, music videos, and a full color lyric and photo booklet.
Track listing of Deluxe Edition (Bonus CD)
#"Come and Find Me (Solo Acoustic)" – 4:01
#"Me & Jiggs (Solo Acoustic)" – 3:01
#"You've Got the Moon (Solo Acoustic)" – 3:03
#"Lawrence KS (Solo Acoustic)" – 4:28
#"Anne (Solo Acoustic)" – 2:21
#"Roll On (Solo Acoustic)" – 4:00
#"Leaving (Solo Acoustic)" – 3:13
#"Other Side (Solo Acoustic)" – 3:35
#"Harrisburg (Solo Acoustic)" – 3:43
#"Drive Away (Solo Acoustic)" – 3:39
#"Golden Age of Radio (Solo Acoustic)" – 4:31
#"Song for the Fireflies (Solo Acoustic)" – 3:27
#"A Country Song (Original Recording)" – 3:04
#"Don't Wake Juniper (Studio B-Side)" – 3:44
#"Come & Find Me (Jackdrag Remix)" – 4:08
#"Other Side (Jackdrag Remix)" – 5:50
#"Me & Jiggs" – Music Video/Multimedia Track
#"Other Side" – Music Video/Multimedia Track
References
External links
Josh Ritter official websiteLyricsBonus CD Lyrics
{{Authority control
Josh Ritter albums
2002 albums