The Animal Years

The Animal Years is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Josh Ritter.[1] The album was originally released in the UK on March 20, 2006, and in the United States on April 11, 2006. It was Ritter's first album released on V2 Records.[2] A double-disc deluxe edition was released in Ireland on January 17, 2010, and in the US on February 15, 2011.

The Animal Years
Studio album by
Josh Ritter
ReleasedMarch 20, 2006
RecordedMarch–May 2005
StudioBear Creek and Engine Studios
Genre
Length49:22
LabelV2
ProducerBrian Deck
Josh Ritter chronology
4 Songs Live EP
(2005)		 The Animal Years
(2006)		 In the Dark – Live at Vicar Street
(2006)
Singles from The Animal Years
  1. "Girl in the War"
    Released: April 11, 2006
  2. "Lillian, Egypt"
    Released: May 29, 2006
  3. "Wolves"
    Released: July 25, 2006

In 2010, Ritter's band was given the name "The Royal City Band" (a reference to the song "Thin Blue Flame" from The Animal Years).[3]

Background

Before performing "Girl in the War" at the 2006 annual dinner of the Center for American Progress in Washington D.C., Ritter stated that he intended to "write about [the United States of America], but [instead] it all came out sounding like a love song."[4]

Ritter has said that the life and work of Mark Twain were a great influence on The Animal Years, in particular Twain's books Life on the Mississippi and Letters from the Earth.[5] When analyzed alongside Twain's biography, lyrics from multiple songs on The Animal Years seem to make textual reference to the life and times of Mark Twain.[6] The most intriguing example may be the enigmatic song "Monster Ballads", which contains references to both the 19th-century decline of the Mississippi River steamboat at the hands of the railroad and the fictional character Huckleberry Finn.[7] Paying homage to Twain, Josh Ritter performed in a white suit while touring to support The Animal Years.[8]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic80/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
The A.V. ClubA−[11]
The Guardian[12]
Prefix Magazine8/10[13]
Slant[14]

As with Ritter's previous albums, The Animal Years was praised for its lyricism and storytelling.[15] Additionally, the use of piano throughout the album was recognized.[16]

Stephen King rated The Animal Years the best album of 2006 in an article for Entertainment Weekly.[17]

Track listing

All songs written by Josh Ritter.

  1. "Girl in the War" – 4:23
  2. "Wolves" – 4:04
  3. "Monster Ballads" – 4:05
  4. "Lillian, Egypt" – 3:24
  5. "Idaho" – 3:51
  6. "In the Dark" – 4:41
  7. "One More Mouth" – 3:29
  8. "Good Man" – 4:09
  9. "Best for the Best" – 3:58
  10. "Thin Blue Flame" – 9:38
  11. "Here at the Right Time" – 3:40

Credits

Personnel

Production

Deluxe edition

The Animal Years was reissued as a two-disc deluxe edition, first in Ireland on January 17, 2010, then in the United States on February 15, 2011. The deluxe edition includes the complete original studio album as well as a bonus CD with Ritter performing a solo acoustic version of the entire album (recorded in Nashville in June 2008). The bonus CD also includes four b-sides, an enhanced video for "Lillian, Egypt", new artwork, and liner notes by Tom Ricks.

A vinyl version of the deluxe edition was released in the United States on January 25, 2011. The LP also includes a copy of the bonus acoustic CD.[18]

Track listing of deluxe edition (bonus CD)
  1. "Girl in the War" (Solo Acoustic)
  2. "Wolves" (Solo Acoustic)
  3. "Monster Ballads" (Solo Acoustic)
  4. "Lillian, Egypt" (Solo Acoustic)
  5. "Idaho" (Solo Acoustic)
  6. "In the Dark" (Solo Acoustic)
  7. "One More Mouth" (Solo Acoustic)
  8. "Good Man" (Solo Acoustic)
  9. "Best for the Best" (Solo Acoustic)
  10. "Thin Blue Flame" (Solo Acoustic)
  11. "Here at the Right Time" (Solo Acoustic)
  12. "Blame It on the Tetons" (written by Modest Mouse)
  13. "Harbortown"
  14. "Peter Killed the Dragon"
  15. "Monster Ballads" (Early Version)

References
  1. Ydstie, John (May 11, 2006). "On 'Animal Years,' Josh Ritter's Sense of Place". NPR. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  2. "Review: Josh Ritter – The Animal Years". www2.oberlin.edu. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  3. ">Naming Josh Ritter's band? I win! « Blog « Hacked by 4Ri3 60ndr0n9". modernacoustic.com. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  4. Josh Ritter Plays A Girl in the War At CAP Event on YouTube
  5. "Josh Ritter: Letter From America | Chart Attack". April 26, 2006. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  6. girlinthegloaming (August 16, 2007). "Girl meets Mark Twain". Girl in the Gloaming. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. girlinthegloaming (December 11, 2007). "Desert radio: Monster Ballads revisited". Girl in the Gloaming. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. http://www.washingtontimes.com, The Washington Times. "Josh Ritter goes solo". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  9. The Animal Years by Josh Ritter, retrieved January 12, 2018
  10. "The Animal Years – Josh Ritter | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  11. Phipps, Keith. "Josh Ritter: The Animal Years". Music. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  12. Clarke, Betty (March 17, 2006). "CD: Josh Ritter, The Animal Years". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  13. Legat, Michael. "Josh Ritter – The Animal Years Album Review | Prefixmag.com". Prefixmag.com. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  14. "Josh Ritter The Animal Years | Album Review | Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  15. "On 'Animal Years,' Josh Ritter's Sense of Place". NPR.org. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  16. "Album Review: Josh Ritter: The Animal Years – The Ruckus | Record Reviews, MP3s, Videos". www.whatstheruckus.com. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  17. King, Stephen (February 1, 2007). "The A-List". EW.com. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  18. "'The Animal Years' Re-Issued in Deluxe & Vinyl Editions". Josh Ritter. Archived from the original on February 5, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
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