Bringing in the Darlings

Released in early 2012, Bringing in the Darlings serves as a transitional bridge in Josh Ritter's discography, arriving between the sprawling, ambitious So Runs the World Away and the more somber, divorce-focused The Beast in Its Tracks. This 6-track EP is notable for its brevity and its unusually bright, romantic tone. Recorded with a lean ensemble, the project emphasizes Ritter's gift for classic pop-folk songcraft. Unlike his more literary works, these songs are structurally straightforward, leaning into 1960s-style folk-pop influences and Brill Building melodicism. The track 'Love Is Making Its Way Back Home' became a fan favorite, accompanied by a notable stop-motion music video. Critics noted that while the EP lacks the 'epic' scale of his previous work, it succeeds as a showcase for his pure melodic instincts and vocal warmth. It remains a distinct outlier in his catalog for its consistent optimism and lack of narrative irony.