Josh Rouse...

Man, I'm conflicted on this one. Josh Rouse has made a beautful record with the release of Nashville. It's really quite wonderful. It's not rewrting rock, in fact it's very locked into a long and honorable pop tradtion, but every record we listen to doesn't have to be the next great step in the continuing evolution of the rock opera. This record is simply 10 exceptional guitar based songs. My confliction is that I really think Rouse is a little too well known for me to blog about. I've always tried to make Bars & Guitars about the little guy. The struggling indie. The guy holed up in his room wrtiing wonderful songs that never see the light of day. Or something like that. Am I incorrect in assuming that pretty much everyone who reads Bars & Guitars already knows about Rouse, has already digested and loved 1972?. Maybe i'm wrong but I feel like posting songs from this record is asking for a cease and desist order. But I guess I'm going to roll the dice in the hope that there are those out there who haven't heard Rouse and really need to.

If you loved 1972 and are put off by the twangy implications of the name Nashville, fear not. Rouse has successfully combined the country introspection of Under Cold Blue Stars with the AM pop love of 1972. It's seamless and fun. If you like the songs please assuage my guilt by purchasing this suckah.

2 songs from Josh Rouse's recently released Nashville:

Winter In The Hamptons

Streetlights