Album Details

• Artist: Josh Ritter
• EP:
To The Yet Unknowing World
• Label: Pytheas
• Year of Release: 2011
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: MusicCritic on 2011-02-25

Following up his generally impressive 2010 release So Runs the World Away, Josh Ritter has released a six track EP, which features a combination of previously unreleased demo tracks, as well as a few remixes and alternate recordings from his previous record. Designed to be a companion record to its predecessor, To The Yet Unknowing World should be taken at face value for what it is – you can expect there are keepers to be found, but also a few tracks that are destined to do little more than collect a bit more dust on your record shelf.

The EP starts off with studio B-sides of ‘Galahad,’ a great song that is no stranger to Ritter’s set lists, and the not quite as good ‘Tokyo!’ and ‘Wild Goose.’ Following a slow start though, things pick up with alternate versions of three highlights from So Runs the World Away. A simple acoustic guitar and piano version of ‘Lantern’ starts off the trio, and is followed up by Remixes of ‘The Remnant’ and ‘Rattling Locks.’ Both songs end up with a much more dark and atmospheric feeling to them, which lends itself really well to these songs, as both are arguably improved from the original recordings. Put it all together and, as one might expect, To The Yet Unknowing World is hardly an essential addition to your Josh Ritter library, but is still not without its charms should you feel so inclined to pick it up.

Trent Depue

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