Josh Rouse - The Happiness Waltz - Printable Version +- Music Discussion (https://www.music-discussion.com) +-- Forum: Music Discussion (https://www.music-discussion.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=4) +--- Forum: Alternative (https://www.music-discussion.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=11) +--- Thread: Josh Rouse - The Happiness Waltz (/showthread.php?tid=8344)

Josh Rouse - The Happiness Waltz - Music Head - 22-03-2013 online listen tenth album never heard of him I got a Paul Simon/Seals & Crofts feel out of it most of it too laid back for me nothing I liked 1.3 from me and a converted 1.8 from allmusic web site - http://www.joshrouse.com/ from the album - A Lot Like Magic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k3qthQVmqE released Mar 19th, 2013 Bio - from allmusic Although born in Nebraska, singer/songwriter Josh Rouse moved to various cities throughout his childhood and subsequent musical career, driven at first by his father's military career and later by his desire to take inspiration from different environments. He paid tribute to his birthplace on his 1998 debut, Dressed Up Like Nebraska, and explored the influence of his adopted home state, Tennessee, with 2005's Nashville. Rouse later settled in Spain and explored the country's musical traditions, although his songwriting continued to exhibit the summery, rootsy appeal of his earlier work. As a child, Rouse spent time in California, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Georgia, and Arizona. Music was one of the few constants in a life filled with new towns, new schools, and new friends, and he took comfort in bands like the Smiths and the Cure. After receiving several guitar lessons from his uncle, Rouse began writing songs as an 18-year-old and molded himself into a skilled composer, eventually scoring a contract with the Rykodisc subsidiary Slow River. His debut album, Dressed Up Like Nebraska, was released in 1998 to widespread critical acclaim. He pulled up stakes shortly thereafter and resettled in Nashville, where he was befriended by Kurt Wagner, frontman of the chamber country group Lambchop. The two began writing together and issued a collaborative EP, Chester, in the fall of 1999. Rouse's second solo record, Home, appeared the following spring and was followed by Under Cold Blue Stars in 2002. He then launched a partnership with producer Brad Jones -- known for his work with pop artists like Marshall Crenshaw, Matthew Sweet, and Jill Sobule -- and the resulting album, 1972, was both an homage to the soft rock sounds of Rouse's youth and a deepening of his sound. Before the release of his next album, however, Rouse's marriage ended and he moved from Nashville to Spain. Released in 2005, Nashville served as a farewell to both the city and his marriage; it was also his most fully realized record to date, featuring Brad Jones' lush production and Rouse's poignant, nostalgic lyrics. Once in Spain, Rouse settled in the small seaside town of Puerto de Santa Maria and began writing songs shaped by his new surroundings. Jones eventually flew into town, and the two captured a relaxed and intimate vibe on 2006's Subtitulo. After the release of two EPs (Bedroom Classics, Vol. 2 and She's Spanish, I'm American, the latter of which was recorded with Rouse's girlfriend, artist Paz Suay), Rouse chose to handle his own production for 2007's Country Mouse City House. He also married Suay, became a father, and relocated to Valencia's Mediterranean coast. Rouse's eighth studio album, El Turista, was released in 2010, a full five years after his relocation to Spain. Living abroad for half-a-decade had left an indelible mark on the songwriter, who sang several of the album's tracks in Spanish. Ironically, the bulk of El Turista was recorded in Nashville with Brad Jones, a move that only strengthened the globe- trotting appeal of Rouse's songwriting. For the 2011 release Josh Rouse & the Long Vacations, the singer/songwriter drew from the AM radio sounds he grew up with, as well as present-day influences from his adopted home of Spain. His next album, 2013's The Happiness Waltz, jettisoned all the Spanish influences and returned to the sound of his early-2000s albums. Album Review - from allmusic After a couple of albums that incorporated the influences of living in Spain (flamenco guitars, Spanish lyrics,) singer/songwriter Josh Rouse changes course on The Happiness Waltz to make an album that would have fit in well with those he was making in the early 2000s like 1972 and Nashville. Weaving together elements of country-rock, soft rock, Americana, and classic singer/songwriter sounds, Rouse and his longtime producer Brad Jones create a tightly arranged, beautifully constructed sound that matches Rouse's smoothly crooned vocals perfectly. Acoustic and electric guitars are nicely layered, keyboards and nice sonic touches (like horn sections) fill the edges of the songs in with color, and the occasional pedal steel sounds really nice -- the duo know how to make a fine-sounding record. While there aren't any songs that are as hooky as the best songs from the aforementioned albums, there are a few that stick in the memory like the bubbly "Julie (Come Out of the Rain)" or the bouncy "A Lot Like Magic." The rest are pleasant and easygoing, but never really capture the imagination. Rouse sounds like he's cruising lyrically -- writing a song about writing songs ("Our Love") is usually a sure indication that someone is getting closes to the bottom of the inspiration barrel. Especially when the same song talks about putting the kids to bed. The reason it's hard to write him and the album off is that the song is absolutely beautiful, sounding like 10cc producing Al Green and creating a fluffy mood that is heartwarmingly sweet. It's a music vs. lyrics disconnect that happens again and again, and makes the album hard to get a grasp on. A little more passion in the vocals and songs that are actually about something would have made The Happiness Waltz a triumphant return, instead it feels like backtracking. It was time for Rouse to end his musical vacation and go back to his traditional sound; it's just too bad he takes it so easy. That being said, a mediocre Josh Rouse album is still good for a few listens, especially if you don't listen to what he's saying and just let the music's sunny warmth fill you up. Track Listing 1. Julie (Come Out of The Rain) 2. Simple Pleasures 3. It's Good to Have You 4. City People 5. This Movie's Way Too Long 6. Our Love 7. A Lot Like Magic 8. Start A Family 9. The Western Isles 10. Purple And Beige 11. The Ocean 12. The Happiness Waltz Josh Rouse - The Happiness Waltz - CRAZY-HORSE - 23-03-2013 very good call on Paul Simon MH... i dont like the song you linked,but neither do i not like it