Josh Rouse is one of the most underappreciated singer/songwriters of our time. If you’re asking yourself who Josh Rouse is, thank you, you just proved my point. Rouse just released his new album, Country Mouse, City House on July 31 to critical acclaim.
Rouse gained exposure when his song “Directions” was featured on the soundtrack to the Cameron Crowe movie Vanilla Sky. If your music lands on a Cameron Crowe soundtrack you must be doing something right. Country Mouse continues Rouse’s long line of incendiary albums in the singer songwriter vein of Elliott Smith or Ryan Adams.
The first track, Sweetie, contains Beatlesque harmonies and Cat Stevens style delivery. Rouse also possesses a deep affection for early seventies soul and nowhere is this more evident than on Hollywood Bass Player. Self produced, Country Mouse, City House sounds just as polished as Rouse’s previous albums.
Other key tracks include the cool cat strut vibe and Elliott Smith like vocals of Pilgrim, and the regretful tone and crying guitar of God, Please Let Me Go Back.
Josh Rouse is a master singer-songwriter whose time will come soon enough. If he only keeps releasing albums of this caliber, sooner or later people will take notice.
