HomeВ is a step forward in confidence for Rouse after theВ often dark and stifling Dressed Up Like Nebraska, the best songs here are much more memorable. As with Dressed Up Like Nebraska, ChesterВ is accomplished and substantial, but I still prefer RouseвЂ™s more eclectic later albums. вЂThatвЂ™s What I KnowвЂ™ utilises a horn section, вЂ™65вЂ™ touches a white soul sound, while вЂI CouldnвЂ™t WaitвЂ™ is subdued, with a languid harmonica the most prominent accompaniment. ItвЂ™s certainly interesting to hear Rouse with darker and more nuanced lyrics than his usual, and musically ChesterВ is a little more expansive than Dressed Up Like Nebraska, even though songs like вЂTable DanceвЂ™ and вЂSomehow You Could Always TellвЂ™ would have easily fit onto that disc. Wagner contributes the lyrics, while Rouse writes the music and provides the vocals. The ChesterВ EP pairs Rouse with Lambchop leader Kurt Wagner. IвЂ™ve always been a little bemused by AllMusicвЂ™s summation of Dressed Up Like Nebraska: вЂњThis is one of those classic discs one hears about, but seldom hears.вЂќ

Dressed Up Like NebraskaВ is solidly written, but itвЂ™s difficult to enthuse about, or write much about, although IвЂ™m sure that there are fans out there who value the low key and downbeat sound over anything else Rouse has done. The most memorable songs are the faster вЂLate Night ConversationвЂ™, the insistently strumming вЂFlairвЂ™, and the cello hook of вЂLavinaвЂ™, although вЂThe White Trash Period Of My LifeвЂ™ hasВ the most memorable song title. With a very homogeneous sound, the songs tend to blend into each other the hooks are there, but are more subtle than on his later albums. Josh RouseвЂ™s 1998 debut album features a low key indie-folk sound Rouse began the album on an 8-track recorder, although David Henry, who previously toured with Cowboy Junkies, co-produced and contributed bass and cello parts. Josh Rouse Album ReviewsДressed Up Like Nebraska | Chester (EP) | Home | Under Cold Blue Stars | 1972 | SubtГtulo | SheвЂ™s Spanish, IвЂ™m American (EP) | Country Mouse, City House 2006вЂ™s SubtГtuloВ marks the start of a second phase in his career Rouse relocated to Spain, and his subsequent releases often feel more light-hearted and less substantial, as well as often featuringВ a more Spanish flavour. Josh Rouse started his career with the worthy butВ dour 1998 album Dressed Up Like Nebraska, and over the next few years became more confident and more musically expansive, building up to 19вЂ™s Nashville, which arguably stand as his two best records. So Rouse is stuck in musical limbo, too clever for the mainstream but too white bread for hipsters, and heвЂ™s limited to fans of heartfelt, accomplished song writing. RouseвЂ™s thoughtful songs are in the wrong era to find a mass audience, while his fondness for pop hooks and straightforward sensibilities donвЂ™t win him friends at Pitchfork. ThereвЂ™s lots to like about RouseвЂ™s work, but IвЂ™m not sure that heвЂ™ll be remembered as a major artist.

His observational songwriting and gentle voice are sometimes reminiscent of Paul SimonвЂ™s 1970вЂ™s work, while his penchant for 10 track, 40 minute albums also makes him feel like a throwback. He also has a predilection for 1970вЂ™s soft rock, most explicitly on 2003вЂ™s excellent genre exercise album 1972. Nebraskan born singer-songwriter Josh Rouse grew up inspired by British bands like The Smiths and The Cure, and his music reflects both the homespun feeling of the American Midwest and the introverted yet poppy sound of the bands that influenced him.

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