Rouse

Track Listings

1. Make Way for the Family

2. Mellow

3. Together

4. Way of the World

5. People

6. Superfunk, Pt. 1

7. Superfunk, Pt. 2

8. Funky Operator

9. Buggin' Out

10. Here We Go

11. Rouse!

12. Where Does Your Heart Grow

Rouse,Family Tree,Family Affair,Pop,R&B

Rouse

Tracks:

Sweetie
Italian Dry Ice
Hollywood Bass Player
God, Please Let Me Go BAck
Nice To Fit In
Pilgrim
Domesticated Lovers
London Bridges
Snowy

Amazon.com

Since his debut record showcased a youthful Nebraskan with an open road of promise, on through the five albums that followed Josh Rouse has followed that road in dawdling, nomadic spurts across America and the Atlantic to Spain, where he now lives his life and makes his music. Annually, it seems, Rouse re-emerges to say hello, streaming his pop awareness and weaving stories in the simplicity of songs, always with an air of candor and reticence. Thus, there are few bombshells on his seventh release, one flowing with lustrous arrangements and Rouse's pacifying voice. Though his guitar serves as the conduit, the music is fused with modest horns and gentle organ fills, with buoyant songs such "Hollywood Bass Player," "Domesticated Lovers," and "London Bridges," along with the jazzy "Pilgrim" and the splendid rocker "Nice To Fit In" leading the way. No longer the naïve Midwesterner from a decade ago, this is the globetrotting Rouse who has found a home in Spain--and deserves to find another in your record collection. --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews:

Glad you're happy in Spain but not the same J.R........2007-08-02

Time was when no one could match Josh Rouse for peppy pop hooks and music that just darn-it made me smile. 1972 or Nashville was always guaranteed to cheer me up when I was down. Starting with Subtitulo he seems to be connecting more with the Establishment. The latest effort sounds pretty much like the house band in a cocktail lounge, or Mantovani - horns, strings and something called a mellotron. JR seems to be going more for a cool-jazz vibe. He has apparently grown up and left the fun music behind. I did enjoy Hollywood Bass Player a lot, but the rest of it is forgettable, music to have in the background at your bridge party.

Average customer rating:

WOW! What a nice surprise!
Not Josh's best but still great
wish there was more of it
Hopefully this is a sign that we can expect more from the two of them together.

She's Spanish, I'm American

Manufacturer: Bedroom Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bedroom Classics Vol. 2
Country Mouse City House
Subtitulo
Easy Tiger
Live at the Record Exchange Ep

ASIN: B000N0WCOY
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Tracks:

Car Crash
Jon Jon
The Ocean Always Wins
These Long Summer Days
Answers

Product Description

On the heels of his most recent album, Subtitulo, Josh Rouse forms a new side project featuring his girlfriend (artist Paz Suay) under the name, "She's Spanish, I'm American". The five-song EP features playful duets between Josh and Paz as they share stories from their adventures together. The songs give listeners an upbeat, refreshing sound, full of light-hearted lyrics laced with lots of romance. "I thought it would be fund to do something with Paz cuz I like her voice. I like female singers with accents and I had some songs I thought she would sound good on. We both like to come up with cover Images so it seemed like a perfect reason to start a project." Rouse stated. The initial recordings were done in their apartment in Valencia this summer, upon returning from several months of touring in support of Subtitulo; Paz shared, "spending some time on the road during the last US tour was a great and fun experience. So, when Josh came up with the idea of doing something else together; as a collaboration, it sounded very good to me." They sent several tracks back to their friend in Nashville, Daniel Tashian (who has written and played in Josh's band in the past) to add live drums, keyboards and guitars.

Album Description

Josh Rouse forms a new side project featuring his girlfriend (artist Paz Suay) under the name, "She's Spanish, I'm American". The five-song EP features playful duets between Josh and Paz as they share stories from their adventures together. The songs give listeners an upbeat, refreshing sound, full of light-hearted lyrics laced with lots of romance.

Customer Reviews:

WOW! What a nice surprise!.......2007-06-13

Car Crash and The Ocean Always Wins should definitely be on the radio. The other songs are way above average, as well.

Josh and Paz - if you read this, you should DEFINITELY keep this up - you're seriously on to something.

I couldn't be happier with this, but it's more poppy and different from the Josh Rouse CDs, but if you're a JR fan, I don't see you being disappointed!

Not Josh's best but still great.......2007-05-24

This is not Josh Rouse's best album, that would be "Nashville," but hey it's Josh Rouse so it's still pretty good. I enjoyed hearing the interplay with Paz Suay, his girlfriend, and she's got a pretty nice voice herself. This is a nice little EP.

wish there was more of it.......2007-05-15

i love josh rouse, first time hearing the female artist,now a fan. wish it were longer!

Hopefully this is a sign that we can expect more from the two of them together........2007-04-13

Well if your first thought is anything like mine, let me calm your nerves - this album features neither DJ Jazzy Jeff nor the Fresh Prince. What? No love for a He's the DJ, I'm The Rapper joke? You're right. That was bad. Ok, so rather than that actually being my first thought, I have been excited for this EP since I heard it was being made. Josh Rouse and Paz Suay are back at it...musically. After what I consider a successful first collaboration on Josh's latest album Subtitulo, the two teamed up for five more songs. This is a great EP.

01. Car Crash I love the jazzy beat to this song. It is a little higher tempo than material Josh has done before and despite the morbid lyrics about wanting to die in a car crash, it makes for a very refreshing sound.

02. Jon Jon They waste no time before jumping right into the second track. Everyone has a friend named Jon Jon who seems to always be in trouble and can't find his way out of a bottle right? Me neither, but this is another optimistic tune with less-than-optimistic lyrics. It is probably a theme we should get used to on this short album, especially since we're two for two on songs I like. Paz handles this one alone vocally.

03. The Ocean Always Wins A little backstory here is that Josh Rouse and Paz Suay were living in two separate places on separate continents and had agreed to move to New York City together. Before she had a chance to leave to meet him, he surprised her by moving to live with her in Spain. This song is either an accurate or fictional account of someone who is about to cross the ocean to be with the one she loves. It is beautifully sung and could put Paz Suay on your list of favorite female vocalists.

04. These Long Summer Days Josh Rouse re-enters the album vocally here. I like this song a lot. As we approach the comfort of the warmer months this is a gentle reminder of the carefree feeling summer brings.

05. Answers Josh Rouse has a very delicate and comforting voice. He showcases it very well here. I like this song, too, but just not as much as the other four on the disc. He gets a little more experimental with the sound on this track and it doesn't do much for me.

Average customer rating:

A Warm Embrace
Glad "I" discovered him!
Fantastic...As Expected
Soothing, yet cheerful... perfect for reading
Smoother than silk sheets

Subtitulo
Josh Rouse
Manufacturer: Nettwerk Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Nashville
Under Cold Blue Stars
1972
She's Spanish, I'm American
Dressed Up Like Nebraska

ASIN: B000EHQ850
Release Date: 2006-03-21

Tracks:

Quiet Town
Summertime
It Looks Like Love
La Costa Blanca
Jersey Clowns
His Majesty Rides
Givin It Up
Wonderful
The Man Who?
El Otro Lado

Amazon.com

Josh Rouse is about as consistent an artist as they come. After 2003's apt-sounding 1972 and 2005's equally sepia-tinted Nashville, the risk was that Rouse would abandon his stonewashed sound and aim for something artificially on the ball and of the moment. Hasn't happened. Subtítulo, so named because the artist has curled himself up in the culture of his adopted country, Spain, is as stuck in the '70s as anything he's produced, only this time he's sprinkled on Basque-country flavoring. "Quiet Town" paints so pretty a picture of sleepy romantic Euro villa life that it comes across as a kick in the shin to daydreaming suburbanites; "Summertime" effectively recreates long days by Grandma's kidney-shaped pool; "It Looks Like Love" cops a Seals & Crofts soft-rock creaminess that goes down so easy it really has no business presenting itself in this decade; and "Jersey Clowns" clambers along thoughtfully, sweeping unsuspecting listeners up in a low-decibel tale of love gone wrong. Two Spanish tracks, "La Costa Blanca" and "El Otro Lado," look more out of place here than they sound; the first is instrumental, and the second is sung in regular old Rouse-ian English, give or take a few surprising Rufus Wainwright-like flourishes. Pick an adjective to attach to this disc, and invariably you'll come up with a tepid one like "nice." But you'll mean it in the best way possible. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

A Warm Embrace.......2007-05-11

Josh Rouse's latest, "Subtitulo," is a breezy collage of acoustically arranged numbers. Of my two very favorite tracks, "It Looks Like Love" starts with a throbbing beat and Josh's breezy vocals, "And just when you start believing in it, it looks like love is going to show its face." "Wonderful" juxtaposes a ponderous melody with a tinkling piano and a George Harrison-like counter-melody that blossoms into a garden of good feelings, "It is the morning love, you have found me." Other tracks like the beautiful opener "Quiet Town," the bouncy carnival-like "His Majesty Rides" & the emotionally laden closer "El Otro Lado" make this a very strong CD. Rouse's music is soft, gentle and crosses the airwaves like a warm embrace. Enjoy!

Glad "I" discovered him!.......2006-12-30

I'd never heard of Josh Rouse until John Mayer wrote about Rouse's "Bedroom Classics Vol. II" in his blog... and raved about it. I asked Santa for Subtitulo for Xmas, and I just love it. I'm not even sure how to describe it; in some ways it just eludes classification. The first song, Quiet Town, reminds me a bit of Mayer's "Stop This Train" on Continuum. He sounds a bit like John complete with excellent falsetto. On "Summertime" Rouse's voice turns a bit raspy... different, but appealing, in a Leon Redbone kind of way. My words fail me for a description of the rest... some songs sound kinda pop-y, others a bit techno, some folk and jazz sounds mixed in... it's very unique and unlike anything I've listened to recently. But I really love it. It's completely listenable, and just makes me want to turn my friends on to this "unknown" music. I just had to hear the artist that "makes John Mayer flip on the inside and the outside," and I'm glad I took the chance and bought this CD sight unseen, so to speak. It's a keeper, a great addition to my music collection which I will definitely be listening to for a long time. I will be buying other Josh Rouse for sure.

Fantastic...As Expected.......2006-12-22

I have been following Josh Rouse's career since he released Dressed Up Like Nebraska. Every album he records is simply outstanding in my book. Each can stand on their own. On Subtitulo, Rouse continues his catchy, easy-feeling songwriting, but now it seems like he's growing both musically and lyrically. I'll let the songwriter speak for himself. Buy it! I recommend this and all Josh Rouse's albums.

Soothing, yet cheerful... perfect for reading.......2006-11-25

Following in the steps of the excellent "Nashville" album, this is one of those albums I like to set in the background while reading for hours. It's cheerful, mellow, lyrical, and most of all, soothing. If this sweet and quietly catchy music is what living in Spain leads to, then there's no pressure to move back to Nebraska.

Outstanding tracks: Summertime, Givin' it Up, and His Majesty Rides. Actually, all the tracks are consistently outstanding. If you like it, you'll love his previous albums, "Nashville" and "1972."

I recommend it for people who enjoy Keane, Jack Johnson, Coldplay, Joseph Arthur, Pete Yorn, Sondre Lerche, John Mayer, Matt Nathanson, Teitur, Ben Kweller, Guster, the Jayhawks, Amos Lee, and Sufjan Stevens.

Smoother than silk sheets.......2006-08-17

Rouse's love for 70's easy-listening shows through all his music, but don't let that fool you: This artist has a GREAT sense of groove and drive behind his understated vocal delivery. To me, that combination of drive and voice is a big part of what makes his stuff have so much staying power.

"Subtitulo" is very sensual, tasteful, and playfully romantic, making it a perfect release for Rouse's "Bedroom Classics" label. It's 10 songs breeze by like a drive in the country, and you may find yourself hitting the repeat button more than once in a sitting.

Rouse's lyrics and vocal delivery are carefully crafted and more sophisticated than the genre that inspired him. In the delightful track "The Man Who...", Rouse has even found a female vocalist whose delivery is similar to his, and the pairing is perfect.

Average customer rating:

This is his best...
Stronger than 1972
Buy it
Better than James Blunt.
BRILLIANT

Nashville
Josh Rouse
Manufacturer: Rykodisc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Subtitulo
1972
Under Cold Blue Stars
Home
Dressed Up Like Nebraska

ASIN: B00070FV3Y
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Tracks:

It's The Nighttime
Winter In The Hamptons
Streetlights
Caroli
Middle School Frown
My Love Has Gone
Saturday
Sad Eyes
Why Won't You Tell Me What
Life

Amazon.com

Don't be fooled by the title of Josh Rouse's fifth solo album. Yes, the singer-songwriter lived in the commercial country music capital for nearly a decade. Yes, he has been known to use the occasional pedal steel guitar. And okay, there is a soft southern lilt to his voice. But there are no rhinestone-studded cowboy hats or tattered American flags to be found in this "Nashville," an album of gentle AM radio nostalgia and understated folk-rock beauty. Influenced in equal parts by Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan, and the Smiths, Rouse moves gracefully between intimate acoustic ballads ("Saturday") and handclap-drenched pop songs ("Winter In The Hamptons"), all the while delivering more personality and deft songwriting than his platinum-certified neighbors could ever conceive. -- Aidin Vaziri

Amazon.com

No, Josh Rouse hasn't gone country. Despite the steel guitar of studio veteran Al Perkins snaking through four of these cuts, Rouse's music retains the pop bounce and sunny romanticism (tempered with heart-on-sleeve vulnerability) that make John Mayer sound like Jon Spencer by comparison. Recorded as a fond farewell to Nashville--the city where the Nebraska native has lived for the past decade--the album could serve as a sequel to Rouse's previous release, 1972. With the Bowiesque phrasing of "Middle School Frown" and "Sad Eyes," the plaintive, Neil Young-style harmonica of "My Love Has Gone," and the soulful reverie of "Saturday," Rouse runs the gamut of retro influences from what his music celebrates as a more innocent era. He's even divided the CD into a (poppier) side A and a (moodier) side B, where the propulsive insistence of "Why Won't You Tell Me" provides a change of pace from the laid-back intimacy that prevails. Throughout the album, the stripped-down, largely acoustic arrangements behind Rouse's wispy voice add to the sing-song charm. --Don McLeese

Album Description

Nashville is filled with an atmosphere reminiscent of Neil Young's "Harvest" and Bob Dylan's "Nashville Skyline." His special affection for that city in Tennessee is played through a more elegant palette. From the pedal steel in "It's the Nighttime" to the haunting strings in "Streetlights" to the fragile piano intro of "Sad Eyes," Josh has pulled out all the stops on this album.

Customer Reviews:

This is his best..........2006-12-03

I'm a big fan of this guy and this is his finest album - a press play classic. It reminds me of an early America album named Hat Trick, chock full of hooks and harmonies and strings that you may not even notice at first. Too bad an album like Nashville is not big hit - record companies and radio have forgotten what good pop music is. Its amazing to me why albums like this are not accessible - you have to go online or have XM to discover artists like Josh Rouse.

Stronger than 1972.......2006-09-06

I was apprehensive about buying this at first mostly because I was not all that impressed with Josh Rouse' previous album `1972' (2003). After reading reviews that described `Nashville' as the adult pop record of the year so far, I decided to buy it anyway. I must say that `Nashville' is essentially a continuation of where `1972' left off, yet I feel that this is much stronger than the previous record. What remains of the previous record is the same polished production and perfect playing with the same bouncy rhythm. The songs although they don't particularly stand from one another are of a rather higher standard in comparison to `1972'. It was always the honest song writing that I loved about Josh Rouse albums in the first place anyway and not the production but I must admit I prefer the more lo-fi production on `Dressed Up Like Nebraska' and `Under Cold Blue Stars'. Josh does manage to really create that unstoppable rhythm that made previous albums great but which I felt was slightly lacking on `1972'. Lyrically it's same old themes of love, shame and loneliness.

I've listened to `Nashville' about ten times now and I find that I'm enjoying this album much more than I expected to. `Nashville' is a blend of `Under Cold Blue Stars' (my personal favourite Josh Rouse album) and `1972'; if you liked both of them then you'll love this. This is a wonderful sugar coated pop record of a high calibre, which gives you the impression you listening to happy music when actually you're not. Excellent.

Buy it.......2006-08-29

You know what... this guy sounds like Freedy Johnston!

Oh, what the heck. This album rocks. Buy it!

Better than James Blunt........2006-06-15

Why isn't Josh massive. He should be. Pop song craft to the max. Uplifting, catchy tunes, intellegent but not obtuse lyric, top-notch production and arrangement. He is the standout amoung todays mainstream singer songwriters, a group that includes James Blunt and David Grey. Fav. tracks.."My Love has gone", "It's the nightime" and "steetlights".
P.S. Our 6year old knows the words to all the songs, always a good sign.

BRILLIANT.......2006-04-05

I'll take this song by song,

Track1, It's the nighttime - It's like entering a studio and hearing a rather exhuberant refreshing voice singing a song you can't wait to hear again after it ends. It get you into the mood for the rest of the cd

Track2, Winter in The Hamptons - Surprisingly beautiful start, upbeat, somewhat incomplete chorus

Track3, Streetlights - The first moodshift. Instantly makes you a part of a beautiful photograph with it's subtle vocal influenced difference. "I Can't just meet in the corner and act like we're old friend..." Says it all [a very original track, immediately resuscitates my mood]

Track4, Carolina - An OK generic track not meant for my ears. He mentions the word "Nashville" in this song for the first time on the record

Track5, Middle School Frown - A definite stand out track for me, I love the song title this man employs. "Middle School Frown" is a semi nostalgic mood battle a man is fighting. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. *makes me go numb*

Track6, My Love Has Gone - Okay fellas! I'm gonna stand up on my chair and announce this is the best song on the cd. It's the first track I heard from this album and is simply achingly beautifully sung. The music is superb, the vocals are original, this man is a star

Track7, Saturday - Phew! This is gonna be difficult cause with every passing song I'm sounding more like an enthusiastic teenager who's got his first musical uplift. (Im 21) Let's just say this song is perfect for every person out there interested in this album

Track8, Sad eyes - Beautiful mood compliment of a song. I dont need to describe it, just read the title , yet another stand out

Track9, Why Won't You Tell Me What - Piano Jazzy start, you feel like you're sitting in a recording studio while contemplating the end of the record (haha) Nothing special for me. Maybe a weak track. He doesnt need backup vocals but gets it anyway

Track 10, Life - Acoustic start. This song reminds me of Ben Lee. Ben Lee is a great,great artist if you check out his new album, "Awakae is the new sleep" Anyhow Life is a good song but not a stand out cause NASHVILLE offers way too much musical depth and creativity. On Life, Mouth organ makes a comeback and it's like the credits rolling. Lyrics are worth learning up

Overall Rating for the album - 9/10

Should you buy this? Yes
Should you recommend this? No, unless it's to a loved one and you like sharing emotions.

Average customer rating:

Video - why?

Bedroom Classics Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Bedroom Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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She's Spanish, I'm American
The Smooth Sounds of Josh Rouse (DVD & CD)
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Dressed Up Like Nebraska
Home

ASIN: B000FGU414
Release Date: 2006-01-01

Tracks:

neighbor-hoods
the last train
oh, i need all of the love
soul'd out
daylight savings time

Product Description

5 songs. JOSH ROUSE is pleased to announce the first release on his new label, BEDROOM CLASSICS, VOL 2, an EP that picks up in a series of which began at the turn of the century with the first volume. According to Josh, Bedroom Classics, Vol. 2 consists of 5 tracks, some instrumental and some with my voice. Im excited about it, its really moody and different from anything Ive put out. Indeed! Largely inspired by Joshs love of film scores, Vol. 2 will be available in limited quantities.

Customer Reviews:

Video - why?.......2007-04-30

Great music, but I only play cd's on a stereo or surround system. The first disc eventually gets stuck on the final track after some dreadful noise which I am sure could damage your speakers. If this is the video, it should play on a surround sound system, if not, then at least cut the final track so that the video is on its own. Will probably experience the same on the second disc when I get to listen to it, if not, the first dics must have a problem.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful chill album
Great Album
wonderful pop record.
1972
I was there.

1972
Josh Rouse
Manufacturer: Rykodisc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Nashville
Under Cold Blue Stars
Subtitulo
Home
Dressed Up Like Nebraska

ASIN: B0000AM6K2
Release Date: 2003-08-26

Tracks:

1972
Love Vibration
Sunshine
James
Slaveship
Come Back
Under Your Charms
Flight Attendant
Sparrows Over Birmingham
Rise

Amazon.com

In this song cycle inspired by the year he was born, the wispy-voiced Rouse conjures (or imagines) the era's essential groovy vibe, from the title track's homage to Carole King's "It's Too Late" to the Brady Bunch bounce of "Love Vibration" to the flutes, falsetto, and jazzy guitar licks of so many of the retro arrangements. Yet Rouse's spin on the era transcends simple nostalgia, as the lyrics aren't always as buoyant as the sunny musical interplay, with "1972," the psychedelic soul of "James," and the piano-driven "Slaveship" all suggesting a darker tinge within this world of lollipops and rainbows. The bass pulse of "Comeback (Light Therapy)" has a hypnotic effect beyond the time warp, although a come-on line such as "it's the end of the night and I'm feelin' sexual" (from "Under Your Charms") would have sounded as lame in 1972 as it does three decades later. Apparently, those barely old enough to remember the '70s are doomed to repeat them. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful chill album.......2007-07-09

What a great album. So easy to listen to, and every song is good.

I will have to get more of his albums and check them out. I really like this guy as a good singer/songwriter.

Great Album.......2007-07-07

A great album from start to finish. It is my third album of his, and they are all among my favorites.

wonderful pop record........2007-02-20

a lot of care seems to have gone into the production of this recording, and it pays off. the sound achieved is rich with a depth of clarity that really is stunning coming out of my stereo speakers. wonderful songs, too. "sparrows over birmingham," is the real stunner here, a beautiful slow number that had me hitting the repeat button a few times. the title track "1972," "rise," and "under your charms," are also slow numbers that really stand out. the mid-to-up tempo numbers are all excellent with fine infectious melodies. all in all, a wonderful pop music recording. i highly recommend it.

1972.......2006-08-23

Fabulous Album. Unique and interesting work. Josh Rouse is honest, uncomplicated, and unpretentious in 1972.

I was there........2006-03-20

If you were there(I was 17),you've heard this already,like you heard most good rock and roll the first time around. That being said,yes this is a faithful rendering of the way music sounded back then BUT- although Josh replicated the sound/songwriting to a T,it is almost a throwaway compared to his other material. You want Josh? Start with any of his other albums first. By the way,Nashville,his next album after this,was a great return to form.I am breathlessly waiting for the new one.

Average customer rating:

Seek no more... Josh Rouse is it
Excellent Album by an amazing performer...
No question, one of the best
Not what I expected
Essential Listening

Under Cold Blue Stars
Josh Rouse
Manufacturer: Slow River Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Home
Dressed Up Like Nebraska
1972
Nashville
Subtitulo

ASIN: B00005UOWM
Release Date: 2002-02-19

Tracks:

Twilight
Nothing Ever Gives Me Pleasure
Miracle
Christmas With Jesus
Under Cold Blue Stars
Ugly Stories
Feeling No Pain
Ears To The Ground
Summer Kitchen Ballad
Women And Men
The Whole Night Through

Amazon.com

Under Cold Blue Stars, the third album from native Nebraskan Josh Rouse, is full of elegant, melodic pop songs that are deftly understated but carry hooks as catchy as Coldplay's (whose music the opening song, "Twilight," uncannily evokes). This is music for folk in love with Americana and timeless pop; it's a gentle hinterland of melancholy and hope. The loose concept behind Under Cold Blue Stars is that of a fractious couple in the late 1950s, trying to come to terms with their lives and relationship. "Christmas with Jesus" is an unashamedly beautiful realization of their struggles, as is the upbeat title track, which touches on sources as diverse as Nils Lofgren, the Cure, and even Bruce Springsteen (albeit, a Springsteen shorn of all pride and aggrandizement). All this adds up to make Under Cold Blue Stars rather special. --Everett True

Customer Reviews:

Seek no more... Josh Rouse is it.......2005-09-13

If you feel that America has lacked a good singer-songwriter to fill in the shoes of the Bob Dylans and the Cat Stevens of the past, seek no more. With thought-out lyrics and a blend of alternative with bits of folk, pop and a country feel, Josh Rouse leaves an indelible mark in all his albums I have had the luck to listen to. But having also heard his productions "Nashville", "Home" and a good part of "1972", I feel confident when I say that "Under Cold Blue Stars" (2002) is perhaps his most solid production to date.

Some claim Rouse has a sound that reminds of Coldplay. I think this is a very shortsighted description of his music. His poetic and musical palette flirt with your imagination transporting you to the places that his songs visit, whether they are a dark country road late at night "under cold blue stars" or a bright and upbeat evening under the lights of a downtown. If you are seriously searching for a blend of folk and country with a pop touch, stay away from Jack Johnson. Rouse's unique art is what you are looking for. If you want to listen to more music like his, try Joseph Arthur and Paul Brill.

Excellent Album by an amazing performer..........2004-07-13

This is one of the most hypnotic alternative albums of the decade! I love this cd. There really are no words to describe how great the music is. The songs are all beautifully performed and the melodies are all intoxicating and catchy. I'm not usually a fan of male vocals but I love this album. Definetly one of the best cds I have ever owned.

No question, one of the best.......2004-06-22

If you like heartfelt acoustic rock, this is the album for you. Josh's laid back, matter of fact voice blends perfectly with the funk rhythm on Under the Cold Blue Stars (think almost Remy Shand) and the moving Nothing Gives Me Pleasure. I can shut my eyes and imagine myself walking through Manhattan late in a January evening with the wind nipping at my face. Despite that, no matter what my mood is, there is something on this album that speaks to me each time I play it and the complex layers always keep me coming back to this album, time and again. You won't go wrong with this album, there's not a weak song on it.

Not what I expected.......2003-10-22

I first heard Josh Rousse on a Various Artists album, and this was the first Josh Rousse album I've purchased. I was dissipointed to find out that it wasn't much like the song of his that I heard (Laughter). The album itself is not bad, it has a easy-going, laid back feel, similar artists would be Jack Johnson and Duncan Sheik. The tracks mold together, giving it a somwhat bland feel to it, but overall worth the money.

Essential Listening.......2003-06-17

Under Cold Blue Stars is one of my favorites. Josh Rouse has a talent for writing wonderful songs and he shines on this disc.
Every tune is a keeper...The highlights are:

2. Nothing Ever Gives Me Pleasure
3. Miracle
4. Christmas With Jesus
5. Under Cold Blue Stars
6. Ugly Stories
8. Ears To The Ground
10. Women And Men

7 Excellent songs out of 11 great songs. Not Bad.

Tracks:

Laughter
Marvin Gaye
Directions
Parts And Accssories
100M Backstroke
Hey Porcupine
In Between
And Around
Afraid To Fail
Little Know It All

Amazon.com

Nebraska-born Josh Rouse calls Nashville, Tennessee, home. And now, after writing songs for the follow-up to his intimate 1998 debut (Dressed Up Like Nebraska) from the confines of his living-room couch, the twentysomething singer-songwriter decided "Home" would be a fitting title here. Backed by a cache of cello, violin, horns, vibes, and Wurlitzer, Home delivers a newfangled punch without jumbling the simplicity and gentleness that was the first record's charm. Rouse's sentiments, emotions, and melancholy drift more on the folk or country side of songwriting. But his pleasant, whispery vocals and hook-filled melodies--especially on "Hey Porcupine," "Afraid to Fail," and "Marvin Gaye"--convey more of a pop spirit. --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews:

Rouse vs. Adams.......2006-02-03

I commented in my previous review of "Nebraska" that the singer Rosh Rouse can most closely be compared to is Ryan Adams. Adam's music is ok and I never was a huge fan, but his music may be a bit more polished than Rouses'. Rouse writes some great guitar hooks and uses some horns, violin, some slide guitar, and a little piano that give his music it's alt-country feel. "Laughter," "Directions," and "Afraid to Fail" are catchy pop songs, while "Parts and Accessories," and "And Around" are two of the best slower numbers. This may be a little bit over-produced and is nothing revolutionary, but is a solid cd filled with good music. Worth a shot.

Early and Good.......2005-01-05

Requires repeated listening. After hearing the entire album a few times you should appreciate just how good it is...

Boring.......2003-03-04

Josh Rouse's brand of alt pop blandness falls neatly into the singer songwriter schmaltz genre so popular with tired middle aged professionals who wistfully wonder where their youth went. Boring enough to be instantly forgettable once it has stopped playing but annoying enough to grate while playing, HOME has little to recommend it, the best song is probably `Directions' but it is definitely a tune you can do without. Advice for the eclectic buyer, never, never buy an album that contains a song with `porcupine' in the title, you'll save yourself some grief. Recommended for people who can't remember the names of bands they like.

home is where I want to be.......2003-01-03

Hearing a CD like this makes you wonder why the radio plays what it does. Sure, theres some decent stuff on the radio, but theres rarely the talent like this that should be on the radio.
I found Josh Rouse while watching the beautiful Vanilla Sky, I heard Directions and had to find it. Little did I know I would soon have 3 new Josh Rouse CDs. And Home is definitely my favorite. The songs speak to me and Im sure to many other people.

As I get a little older, my musical tendencies continue to change. I got hooked on the "alt-country" scene with Whiskeytown a while back after a long love affair with the Doors classic, poetic rock and my long time mistress, techno-house music. This is just a damn fine CD that has the ability to catch anyones ear and keep it listening. Im pretty much all over the map in my musical tastes lately, but Josh Rouse deserves a listen from everyone. The songs speak of love lost and found and lost again, and make you believe that just maybe love does have a chance and that we are addicted to it no matter what it does to us

every track has a insanely irresistable lyric, riff or hook. its useless to fight the desire to hear them again. Standout tracks are definitely Directions, with its amazing changes in pace from relaxed beat building with each chorus. you cant help but follow Josh in the Direction hes going to.
Marvin Gaye is just a great track that lazes along with the ease of a beach vacation, asking to let the sun shine in and make love a reality.
And Around slows down with a cowboy bar elegance and drifts in the air around you. lamenting, but always hoping another chance is around.

anyone can relate to these songs and I doubt no one could resist their catchiness.

Trumping "Nebraska".......2002-12-14

Roots rocker Josh Rouse made a giant creative leap between his debut album "Dressed Up Like Nebraska," and his sophomore effort, "Home." "Nebraska" was a relatively conventional rock album containing just enough twang to get Rouse labelled as "alternative country." With "Home," the rural trappings in Rouse's songwriting are gone and taking their place is a solid mainstream rock album of the kind that used to be hugely popular back in the 1970s.

The album kicks off with a triple threat of excellent tracks, "Laughter," "Marvin Gaye" and "Directions," that all contain sweet pop melodies and strong hooks. The rest of the material is not quite up to that standard, but "In Between," "Afraid to Fail," and the horn-laden ballad "Little Know it All," that closes the record are all first rate. At only ten tracks and under 40 minutes, the album is short by today's standards, but still sweet.

Tracks:

Suburban Sweetheart
Dressed Up Like Nebraska
Invisible
Late Night Conversation
Flair
The White Trash Period Of My Life
A Simple Thing
A Woman Lost In Serious Problems
Lavina
Reminiscent

Album Description

Josh Rouse's 1998 debut album, A collection of vignettes soaked in raw emotion and wrung out, elegantly. Sort of Freedy Johnston meets Nick Drake, Rouse's vocals resonate with a can't-quite-put-your-finger on it longing, making his music as much about what's left in it, as it is about what's left out. 10 tracks. Slow River.

Customer Reviews:

check this out too.......2006-07-08

I am a huge fan of catchy, quiet folk music with insightful lyrics. If you enjoy this album then I strongly recommend that you check out the following:
1) Ghosts Of The Great Highway by Sun Kil Moon
2) Kings Avenue Joe Kile
3) Subtitulo by Josh Rouse

Very solid album.......2006-01-30

I listended to a few sound clips from this album and ultimately ended up buying it. It was a definitely a worthwhile purchase. I guess the singer that Rosh Rouse can most closely be compared to is Ryan Adams. I don't own any of Adam's albums, but have heard several individual songs off his various cd's. He has always been one of those artists that I felt that I should like, but just could not get into. My guess is that fans of Adams will surely enjoy "Nebraska," but maybe not as much as "Love is Hell," or "Heartbreaker." Josh Rouse's music is probably a little more mellow. He uses a lot of violin, some slide guitar, and a little piano that give the music it's alt-country feel, but somehow I feel Ryan Adam's music is more country-ish. There are some great pop songs here including "Dressed Up Like Nebraska," and "Late Night Conversation," and some fantastic slower songs like, "Lavina," and "Flair." Very catchy music with great hooks.

A diamond.......2005-08-29

This record is a diamond, this music is too beautiful. Neither Whiskeytown nor Ryan Adams could have done that.

Just a little of what I needed.......2005-04-27

Being from Nebraska myself, I respect this guy's talent. I'm also a fan of acoustic music, so therefore, i liked this cd. One day, while searching the web, I came across Josh Rouse. I said, "Who on Earth is this guy?" I checked him out and pretty much started to dig what he was singing.
I really like Rouse's voice, it's unique and unlike anything I've ever heard. Some of my favorite songs on this album are Dressed up like Nebraska, invisible, flair, lavina, and reminiscent. Josh Rouse's music is, in my words, relaxing and easy to fall asleep to, which is a good thing. Check it out

cute girl on the cover, but the cd stinks.......2004-08-29

Needs a lot of work, i was let down

Rouse: Symphony No. 2/Flute Concerto/Phaethon

Average customer rating:

Astounding
A Magical Flute Concerto
Exceptional in All Regards. A Must Have CD!
More Bark Than Bite!
WOW!

Rouse: Symphony No. 2/Flute Concerto/Phaethon

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Der Gerettete Alberich / Violin Concerto / Rapture
Christopher Rouse: Symphony No. 1; Phantasmata
Christopher Rouse: Passion Wheels
Higdon: City Scape / Concerto for Orchestra
Aaron Jay Kernis - Colored Field · Musica Celestis · Air / Truls Mørk · Minnesota Orchestra · Eiji Oue

ASIN: B000003D2E
Release Date: 1997-05-27

Tracks:

I. Allegro - Christoph Eschenbach
II. Adagio - Christoph Eschenbach
III. Allegro - Christoph Eschenbach
I. Anhran - Carol Wincenc
II. Alla Marcia - Carol Wincenc
III. Elegia - Carol Wincenc
IV. Soherzo - Carol Wincenc
V. Anhran - Carol Wincenc
Phaethon - Christoph Eschenbach

Customer Reviews:

Astounding.......2004-07-15

I'm writing about the flute concerto only here. The other pieces on the disk are also good, but nowhere close to what Rouse pulled off for Carol Wincenc, so I just want to focus on it, and let others take up the slack.

As other reviewers have noted, Ms. Wincenc's interpretation of the concerto is amazing, and flutists everywhere have her to thank for a) commissioning the work and b) turning what is extremely complex and difficult music and making it sound... wonderful. She is on the top of my list of favorite flutists and I do everything I can to hear her play. As of yet there is not another recording of this concerto, and I'm willing to bet that for awhile there will not be one as good as this one (it's unbeatable kind of like Dawn Upshaw's Gorecki Sym. #3). As this work begins to gain popularity I hope this album sells well.

The Music

The gems of the concerto are the Ahnrans (songs), which are the first and fifth (last) movements. They are similar - the first begins and the last ends in a sort of palindrome - 1223221, arca sacra, something that is the same backwards as forwards - with a percussion riff and then a mysterious flute motif leading into beautiful music into atonal chaos to the elegy back to chaos back to beauty back into mysterious flute motif and ending on that same riff - but the true interest is in the emotional beauty of the "songs" themselves, both with full string harmonies with the flute quite literally soaring over it all in some of the most beautiful music in the literature. Wincenc makes it sound easy - you'd never know it's so hard your lips feel like they're going to fall off after about twenty bars (piano/pianissimo melodies up to high C, and LONG!).

The music is emotional. It is, ostensibly, about death: the third movement contains an elegy to a boy who was murdered in England, and the emotions surrounding terrible loss escape outward from there and pervade the piece, even (or especially) the beautiful Ahnrans. Another reason I like the reptition of the Ahnrans: you hear the first one, and you're like, "Wow, that was really nice, so sad and pretty" and then you go through the roller coaster of the inner three movements culminating in the death of a child, and then you get to hear the music from the first movement again, and you say to yourself "My God, now I understand what was happening in the first one." Coming full circle, you appreciate where you started. Like T.S. Eliot said,

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

"Little Gidding" (the last of his Four Quartets)

Which leads us to the inner three movements. I'll be honest and admit I don't like the second. Partly it's because the second movement necessarily is responsible for ending the first (dramatically, I might add), which is so nice, but also it's just not a very strong movement. Dubbed a "march," it doesn't really go anywhere. Of course, that's not entirely true, because it goes to the third movement.

The third movement is the summit of the piece, containing the dual-form D major elegy in strings alone that eventually climaxes in the thunderous brass and percussion orgy that actually hurt my speakers, and the most chilling chime hit ever. Against that is "flute driven insane by loss," the solo stretching farther and farther away from tonality and sanity into some really tortured and painful territory - quite fitting given the subject matter.

I also really like the fourth movement (4 out of 5 ain't bad). Of special note is a really cool section where the three flutes from the orchestra join the soloist and "flute madness" truly ensues. A scherzo "that keeps trying to become a gigue," it eventually succeeds, momentarily, before sort of derailing... it gets going really, really fast near the end and I just imagine some dancer spinning around and around, and then the accompaniment stops and the flute is left to sputter and trip and twirl down into the fifth movement.

Back into the fifth, already described, and there you have it, a wonderful flute concerto. The only complaint I have is that the piece is so integrated with the orchestra that the piano reduction doesn't do it justice.

A Magical Flute Concerto.......2003-05-15

Christopher Rouse is truly a special composer of today. His music has a very distinct flavor that is unique and always interesting.

The gem of this CD is definately the Flute Concerto. It is a beautifully written work that utilizes the expressive qualities of the flute. The Flute Concerto is steeped in nostalgia and manages to probe the heart.

Carol Wincenc performance of the Flute Concerto is amazing. She performs the concerto with a voice that is quite magical. She really draws the listener in with her expressiveness and alluring tone. It is hard to imagine any other flutist being able to perform this concerto and achieving the same amount of heighten emotion as Wincenc has done. Bravo to Carol Wincenc!!!

I hope that this Concerto will climb it's way up to becoming a standard flute concerti of the flute repertoire.

Exceptional in All Regards. A Must Have CD!.......2002-04-11

Listening to this disk today made me wonder how many other truly remarkable works of contemporary classical music I may have overlooked. The short version of this review is BUY THIS CD. It is remarkable in all regards.

Now for the long version. First, overall impressions:

Recording quality: A+, as good as it gets on standard CD

Performing quality: A, the orchestra seems to be very well rehearsed. The musicians for the most part seem to be totally confident in handling this at times technically challenging music.

Conducting: A+, Eschenbach seems to be totally committed to this music, the ensemble playing is tight, balanced, with glorious tone.

Composition Quality: A+, IMHO, the 2nd Symphony and the Flute Concerto are destined to eventually become staples for symphonic orchestras. Their time will come, hopefully much more quickly than it took audiences to appreciate works of some like Mahler and Bruckner.

Rhythmic Interest: A+

Orchestration: A+

Emotional Content: A+

I consider these performances inspired. At the end of the Flute Concerto I pictured myself hearing this live, jumping up, and repeatedly shouting BRAVO at the top of my lungs. I don't recall reacting this way in a home listening experience before.

I intentionally did not read the program notes prior to listening to this music. The first of movement of the 2nd Symphony is completely engaging with wonderful rhythmic drive. It is interrupted by the 2nd movement where it immediately becomes clear the composer has been inspired by something that has given him great pain and a sense of deep loss. I learned later it was the death of a fellow composer and friend.

I tend to become most attached to works where composers have attempted to deal with their deepest, most profound, and sometimes most painful emotions. It's perhaps why I have been so attracted to Mahler, among others. The 2nd Symphony makes my "A" team in this regard.

I may have to create a new category for the Flute Concerto though. Can a work be TOO BEAUTIFUL to listen to? I have never thought of such a concept before. I recently listened to the Mahler 10th which has one of the most beautiful, moving flute passages I can think of. This work completely trumps Mahler in that regard and has what is without a doubt the most beautiful, emotionally moving set of flute melodies I have ever heard.

But not all is beauty. These two works seem to deal with profound tragedy, pain, and loss, too. The Flute Concerto is a truly remarkable work, and is easily my favorite all-time "concerto".

The Phaethon, while no doubt a fine work, was anti-climatic after having heard the 2nd Symphony and Flute Concerto. In fairness to it, anything would have been anti-climatic after what I experienced listening to the Flute Concerto. Do you ever get the sense that time has stopped while listening to a work of music? I have only had that happen once or twice before. It happened while listening to final two or so minutes of the Flute Concerto.

In summary, this is a truly remarkable release. I hope everyone will take the time to listened to it in a totally quiet (it has very wide dynamic range) environment, on a good sound system (audiophiles will rejoice. This will make a great test CD to take to the store when auditioning new equipment), and with no distractions.

Enjoy. Keep a box of tissue handy just in case.

More Bark Than Bite!.......2002-03-31

Rouse's Symphony No. 2 is an agitated, bombastic storm of ideas - it jackhammers from start to finish. And, although it is executed like a fireworks display, the Houston Symphony captures very little beauty or wonder, and even less heart. The Symphony gives off the impression of a shimmery layer of noise, but it lacks an inner monologue and leaves one feeling hollow. In contrast, Rouse's Flute Concerto, which is lighter than air and occasionally even feels new age, occasionally borders on the saccharine. It allows some breating space mid-disc and makes for an interesting juxtaposition with the rowdy Symphony and the epic Phaeton. Rouse's Phaeton is probably the best piece on the disc. Phaeton is a small tone poem that conveys the listener along a mythical and violent journey. It is percussive in the same manner as the Symphony No. 2 and will hold your interest throughout.

WOW!.......2001-06-05

This is one amazing composer! And maybe this is the best of all his CDs. Phaethon is a short but shocking chariot ride in sound. His first symphony is one of the greatest of our time, and this second one is a worthy companion: deeply felt, searing, sometimes almost unbearably violent. But maybe the flute concerto is the most special. I have seen this piece performed live, and not only were many in the audience in tears but also I noted that a number of the orchestra members were crying as well. I know that this makes the music sound like a downer, but it is so sensitive and so consoling that it just has to be heard.

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