Track Listing

1. It's The Nightime
2. Winter In The Hamptons
3. Streetlights
4. Carolina
5. Middle School Frown
6. My Love Has Gone
7. Saturday
8. Sad Eyes
9. Why Won't You Tell Me What
10. Life

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31232 in Music
• Released on: 2005-02-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .13 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Though he's titled his fifth album Nashville, don't mistake Josh Rouse for the Stetson-clad likes that normally emerge from America's Music City. Rouse is more of a sensitive singer-songwriter in a Ryan Adams vein, and on Nashville the acoustically-armed troubadour is accompanied by a full band from beginning to end. Stylistically, it's similar to his previous album, 1972, all shot through with mid-tempo melancholy (even the cover is blue), an effect that's heightened by the regular appearance of a wailing steel guitar (which even shows up amidst the sleighbells of the relatively upbeat "Winter in the Hamptons"). But really, its mood and tone is so consistent that few tracks really stand out (though "It's the Nighttime", "My Love Has Gone" and the aforementioned "Winter in the Hamptons" come close). Instead, the whole of Nashville has a pace and delivery that's so laid-back it risks disengaging the listener entirely. Those who make the effort, however, will find treasures in abundance on Nashville. --Robert Burrow

Album Description
Following up his great ode to the Seventies album, 1972, Nashville is Josh's opus to his home for 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 unrecognised 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.

CD Description
Fifth studio album from Nebraska-born singer songwriter Josh Rouse. Produced by Brad Jones, who also worked on Rouse's acclaimed 2003 release, 1972, this album treads a similar musical path, blending intimate vocals with melodic tunes. Thesingle 'It's The Night Time' is included.

Customer Reviews

it grows on you! Fine songs, well presented.
I knew nothing of Josh Rouse until I came across a track on an Uncut cover disc last year. On the strength of that I got hold of Nashville and have now lived with it for a year or so. I can now tell you that this is a brilliant album. Firstly the songs have great tunes. There isn't a bad track on here - and you will find yourself singing along. Lyrically there are some interesting ideas - `I sleep with the TV on - it's the only sound now love's gone' is such a great hook! Secondly this is a make you smile album - light, summery, and perfect for an afternoon in the garden. Thirdly the arrangements are interesting -it's well recorded and produced. The casual listener might dismiss this as MOR music and it's true this is not a country album. But if you like classic pop - you will love this. You might just put it into your all time classic albums list - I have!

Beautiful soundscapes
In the age of single track downloads, it's a rare pleasure to discover an album that does not leave you fidgeting with the skip button on the remote control every few seconds.

As the Amazon review suggests, the album does have a consistent feel and tempo throughout, providing the perfect backdrop to the end of a busy day. This might tempt some to place the album in the dull MOR / AOR category. If so (and I would argue the point), Nashville, like Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, is MOR with a touch of genius.

Despite the consistent feel, each track has its own identity that blossoms with every listen (another hallmark of a great album). As mentioned in other reviews, the songs span a range of styles with strong melody cutting through them all.

The nostalgic "Side A / Side B" track listing is a nice touch and the album's length - just ten well crafted songs - is perfect, a throwback to times when tedious seventeen-plus track albums were beyond the reach of technology.

The album is a gem - captivating, uplifting and most of all lovely.

Josh Rouse reaches peak form
What a fantastic album! Following in the footsteps of the brilliant 1972, I'd expected to be disappointed by a less inspired follow-up. How wrong can you be! Nashville takes everything from 1972 and cranks up the quality an extra notch or two. While the previous album contained 10 uplifting and well-crafted pop songs, Nashville repeats the trick, but contains more heart-felt, moving songwriting. It achieves the perfect mix of sing-along, harmony-filled tracks such as Carolina, Winter in the Hamptons and It's the Nighttime, with utterly beautiful, uplifting, building anthems such as stand-out tracks Sad Eyes, Middle School Frown and My Love has Gone, songs with the ability to break your heart and put it back together in the space of five glorious minutes. Highlights aside, there really isn't a bad track on the album. If you fancy cheering yourself up and ushering in an early summer, Nashville is the album to take you there.