josh Rouse - Nashville

Hi Simon,

There's a track on the CD with this months Uncut. Can't say I was too impressed but then I always find his stuff in isolation just doesn't grab you and yet when you take the albums as a whole it all comes together (if you see what I mean). 1972 being the obvious case in point.

Pay day today so "Nashville" tomorrow (although I'm not sure I should be buying divorce songs two days prior to getting wed!!!).

I'll report back here once it's in my filthy mits.

Mike

Paul Darwin introduced me to the delights of 2002's 'Under Cold Blue Stars', which I have.

Bob Harris has been playing tracks off 'Nashville' on his radio shows, and it does indeed sound very promising.

I shall be ordering a copy from the States.

John.

Just ordered a copy of Nashville from Amazon. Out of interest, why are you ordering a copy from the States John? Is it just to take advantage of the current favourable exchange rate?

Hi Jimmy;

It is the experience of myself and several friends with good systems, that CD's by American artistes sound better if made in the USA. We have several examples of the EU made equivalent sounding obviously inferior.

Marc Cohn's first (eponymous) album is a prime example - the difference has to be heard to be believed.

Price wise; with p&p - it's about the same. I'm prepared to wait about 10 days for a better sounding disc. My prime supplier is Djangos of Portland Oregon, whom I can recommend.

I also use Tower USA.

John.

Probably a good time to reiterate that Japanese produced CD's are even better. I'm talking about what would be the standard item on the shelves of music stores in Japan.

I have a few of my real favourite CD's from Japan. No one can seem to explain their sonic superiority - quality of manufacture presumably?

The same applies to vinyl made in Japan.

See what's available here. Do an artiste search; then click on the relevant flag.

John.

Interesting. I may have to test your theory soon.....

Chaps

1972 is one of those CDs that I must have played 100 times. The more I play it, the more I want to hear it again.

I shall definately try some of his others.

Regards

Mick

Get the new one Mick. It is full of that play me again and again special ingredient.

Simon

OK I will give it a go.

Regards

Mick

Simon and Mick,

I'm not reknowned for agreeing with people too much on this forum but let's be clear about this. What a teriffic little album. I can't believe Mojo gave it three stars. Played it once and found it to be very immediate - something I don't associate with him at all. Played it again and fell in love with it. Played it every night since from start to finish. It's a little 'lighter' in tone than 1972 if you know what I mean but it may actually contain some of his best songs. Thusfar, totally impressed and, Mick, it'll be on repeat I promise.

Mike

PS: Antony and The Johnsons - you may have read the reviews and interviews and thought "hype". You would undoubtedly be right BUT, if you like Jeff Buckley and his ilk, Now I Am a Bird is an album you simply must hear. One of those "what the **** is that?" moments that come along all too rarely nowadays and stop you in your tracks.

Mike

Chaps

I ordered Nashville a week or so ago from the USA and it arrived this morning.

This is a brilliant CD and I predict it could even wear the CDS3 out because it is going to be played time and time again.

This is a truely superb piece of music.

Thanks for the tip.

Regards

Mick

I have no idea what you are all talking about. Who is Josh Rouse?
1972 is ordered first and I await with interest.
Exciting. Great. Thanks

Rasher

I hope that it presses the right buttons. IMO it takes a a real talent to make music which feels so unforced and immediate yet, at the same time, chock full of hidden gems which reveal themselves over many listenings.

Mick - Glad that you are digging the new one.

I'm seeing him play in London next week - strumtastic.

Just picked up Nashville from my local Borders - sounds very good. If I like it alot I am going to go back later and get 1972.

Here is a review from this morning's Sydney Morning Herald.

Josh Rouse, Nashville
Reviewed by Bernard Zuel
March 5, 2005

At first you may be only slightly moved by these songs. Given time, you could be swept away, writes Bernard Zuel.

Josh Rouse once referred to his oeuvre as music for divorced men in their thirties. I've no doubt they're listening (and finding the occasional resonance in some of Rouse's tales of the vicissitudes of love). But then so are perfectly happy twentysomethings, married 40-year-olds and anyone who has ever found themselves seduced by the possibility of a quiet pop song.

By quiet pop song I mean the kind of song that does not announce itself with flamboyance, does not poke you in the side until you throw up your hands and accept your fate but rather engages you in conversation, puts forward a calm but clear claim to your attention and then allows you to explore at leisure the many pockets of interest.

Though John Mayer is doing something similar (without the depth of Rouse), this kind of song rarely gets on radio because, apart from the fact most radio programmers wouldn't know a good song if it sat up and bit them, a quiet pop song won't register immediately on those "scientific" phone surveys the stations use. These songs need time. But like a meal that takes a bit longer than a microwave burst to prepare, they do reward you in full.

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AdvertisementIt's why on your first time round with Nashville you will be interested rather than swept away. (The album's title refers to the town Arkansas native Rouse lived in for many years before a recent move to Europe, rather than any musical style.)

Time with the recording brings insights, such as the way Rouse uses the low-key end of Todd Rundgren's grandeur, the intimacy of early '70s singer/songwriters and the relaxed AM pop style of the same period which saw the likes of Boz Scaggs and Little River Band make the kind of records we're still singing along to today.

Time, too, finds you charmed by the strong melodies and wraparound warmth of the sound, intrigued by the way the lyrics eschew bitterness, but aren't afraid of honesty, and finally seduced by the sheer attractiveness of the 10 tracks (arranged, old-school style, into side A and side B).

And you will succumb because a song such as Winter in the Hamptons - the feel of a car heading out of town; the sound of a cold weekend in front of the fire; the prettiness of snow on trees - makes too good a case. And once there, the deal is closed by the elegant arc of Sad Eyes, the James Taylor moves of My Love Has Gone and the sway of Carolina.

Chaps

I have played Nashville 3 times today, it is addictive. This is one you have to buy.

Regards

Mick

For me , addictive ,is the CDS3.

Nuno, whilst the CDS3 is undeniably a great CD player it's just an (expensive) black box with no CD in it

Got my pukka USA copy today - Superb album.

Bump!

John.

John

Do you have 1972

If not, buy it, it is on par with Nashville.

Regards

Mick

I am loving this album, it's one of those rare pieces of music that has me reaching for the repeat button.

I'd be very interested to hear of recommendations of similar artists, as I don't have anything like this (except for 1972).

Andy.

Andy;

I take it you've been to the Josh Rouse web-site?

I have another album of his - 'Under Cold Blue Stars'(2002) but I don't think it's anywhere near as good as 'Nashville'.

Dangerous ground - recommending 'similar' artistes; so I'm not going there.

Good luck.

John.

Andy B.

I am a braver man than John, after all that is how the forum works for me, 'if you like this....then try this'. Bought loads of new music this way myself.

I'm actually waiting for Josh Rouse to land on the doormat but I've heard several tracks. I'd try Richmond Fontaine: Post To Wire. Excellent american-folk-rock in pretty similar vein.

Wilco: Summerteeth has a rockier but perhap some similarities, although I find the last two Wilco albums (A Ghost Is Born, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot) more interesting.

Jim White : Drill Into The Substrate... is another to check out. Bit quirkier.

Bruce

Bruce,

Thanks, those are all new artists to me, I'll check them out.
The folk-rock genre is new to me, so there must be a heap of good music that I am missing. Could be expensive though!

Andy.