The Historical Conquests of... (2007)

In the modern hierarchy of Dylan/Springsteen acolytes, 30-year-old Josh Ritter stands surprisingly tall. The Idaho native has made an almost stealthy ascent, releasing several fine folk-pop CDs over the past five years. His latest, The Historical Conquests of..., a sprawling diorama of down-home rhythms and thoughtful lyrics, isn't immediately striking. But there's a joy in unfurling the half-submerged melodies and wry, tender sentiments — from the sadness of ''The Temptation of Adam'' to the roadhouse glee of ''Real Long Distance.'' A-

Download This: Hear a 45-second clip of ''Empty Hearts'' at www.joshritter.com/historical