Folk singer Josh Ritter has a unique style of music and creates songs with lyrics that are deep and meaningful without being overly burdened by cliches. In fact, he’s such a good writer that he’s written a novel. But not one too leave music behind, the man behind 2007′s The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter is back with a new album and its first single.

The previously described “ornate and orchestral”-sounding album, now titled So Runs the World Away, marks Ritter’s sixth LP overal and first since first in almost three years. And despite taking quite a bit of time, undoubtedly some of which could have been spent working on that novel, to complete, Ritter is pleased with the entirety of the album.

“So Runs the World Away took me over a year to make. I’m proud of the fact that I’ve never recorded a song for a record that I didn’t believe in absolutely and that didn’t feel, in its writing, recording, and performance, like a moment of real inspiration,” the musician wrote on his website.

The album is scheduled to be released on May 4th. Until then, grab the first single, “Change of Time”, for the price of an email address below. You hear the new material at any one of Ritter’s upcoming tour dates.

Josh Ritter 2010 Tour Dates:
04/24 – Galway, IE @ The Live Lounge
04/25 – Limerick, IE @ Dolans Warehouse
04/29 – Belfast, IT @ Festival Marquee at CQAF
04/30 – Kilkenny, IE @ Kilkenny Rythym & Roots
05/07 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theater of Living Arts
05/08 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
05/10 – Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head Live
05/11 – Durham, NC @ Carolina Theater
05/15 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
05/19 – New York, NY @ Town Hall
05/20 – New York, NY @ Town Hall