Josh Ritter Comments on Some of His Peers & Heroes

Josh Ritter [performs tonight at Webster Hall]. When he spoke to us recently, he filled us in on some of his opinions on some of the biggest questions of the day.

Last year Stephen King, who Ritter has never met, wrote in [Entertainment Weekly that The Animal Years] was his pick for  #1 album of the year. This is Ritter's thoughts on that illustrious pronouncement: “I grew up reading his books. And to get a compliment from a writer, someone who appreciates the craft of writing, especially one that I respect and admire, that’s a huge thing. I extend the invitation—I’m sure one day we’ll meet up.”

On his favorite singer: “Gillian Welch is the end-all, be-all for me. I could listen to I Dream A Highway all day.”

On The Decemberists and Bright Eyes. (Both of them, and Ritter, all have lyrics on their new albums about being in the belly of a whale.) “I’m throwing down the gauntlet,” Ritter jokes. “My belly-of-the-whale song is better than yours.”