Josh Rouse – Nashville

Josh Rouse
Artist: Josh Rouse
Title: Nashville
Label: RYKO
Rating: 7/10

CORPORATE LINE: Following up his great ode to the Seventies album 1972, Nahsville is Josh’s opus to his home for the last ten years before his recent move to Spain. This is his love letter to the city that made him whole and to the parts of the city that go unrecognized by the general public.

Nashville is filled with an atmosphere reminiscent of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon 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.

THE GREAT:
“It’s The Nighttime” – Certainly those who are looking for one thing will get another. This sounds more like a song you’d hear on your local country music radio station. Even if you sought folk music it’s impossible not to enjoy this song.
“Winter In The Hamptons” – I have no clear idea what the song is about—and it doesn’t really matter. Driving down the road on a balmy afternoon doesn’t seem like the perfect setting and yet it played over a few times and felt just right.
“Sad Eyes” – This song sucks you in as it builds and builds to a lush climax.

THE AVERAGE:
“Streetlights” – A major downer after the huge tracks that come before it.
“Carolina” and “Middle School Frown” – Rouse writes very good melodies however the tempo starts to wear on you after a while.
“Saturday” – A gorgeous ballad. Would you call it great? Depends on if you are in the mood for that ballad or not. There are some ballads that are great irregardless and this isn’t one of them.

THE BAD: Nothing.

FRANKLY: Josh Rouse makes music you want to hear. Nashville is a little like swallowing honey—its good for a while but then it becomes too much of a good thing.

+ Rae Gun


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