Search - Josh Rouse :: Home

Listening to an artist blossom

Tom Nye (nyedog@aol.com) | Mansfield, Ohio | 03/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Josh's first full album ("Dressed Up Like Nebraska") showed a great deal of promise and this CD expands that growth. The songs resonate because they are extremely catchy but the arrangements are exactly what arrangements should be - they help to enhance the songs without overshadowing them. There are reminders of other artists, certainly - there's early Freedy Johnston, some Paul Westerberg, some Wilco and even some Phil Spector with a kind of mini-wall of sound encompassing cello, vibes, brass and assorted percussion. All that, however, is unobtrusive in relation to the songs themselves. Josh has made a big leap in maturity on this album and I feel myself being pulled into each song for a different reason. It's a line or a chorus or even his phrasing that makes the listener realize over and over the sense of excitement that one is discovering a young artist finding his voice - and seeming to do it in a very effortless way. But over everything else are the songs - accessible, hooky and full of themes and ideas that resonate. Whether it's about attempting to live your dreams ("Afraid to Fail"), friends who enjoy your failures too much ("Hey Porcupine"), the dangers of any path we choose ("Directions") or even the pitfalls of success ("Marvin Gaye"), they all connect and make the songs that much stronger. Time will tell, but at this point Josh Rouse seems like the real thing."

Home is where I want to be

gray | 01/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hearing a CD like this makes you wonder why the radio plays what it does. Sure, theres some decent stuff on the radio, but theres rarely the talent like this that should be on the radio.
I found Josh Rouse while watching the beautiful Vanilla Sky, I heard Directions and had to find it. Little did I know I would soon have 3 new Josh Rouse CDs. And Home is definitely my favorite. The songs speak to me and Im sure to many other people.As I get a little older, my musical tendencies continue to change. I got hooked on the "alt-country" scene with Whiskeytown a while back after a long love affair with the Doors classic, poetic rock and my long time mistress, techno-house music. This is just a damn fine CD that has the ability to catch anyones ear and keep it listening. Im pretty much all over the map in my musical tastes lately, but Josh Rouse deserves a listen from everyone. The songs speak of love lost and found and lost again, and make you believe that just maybe love does have a chance and that we are addicted to it no matter what it does to usevery track has a insanely irresistable lyric, riff or hook. its useless to fight the desire to hear them again. Standout tracks are definitely Directions, with its amazing changes in pace from relaxed beat building with each chorus. you cant help but follow Josh in the Direction hes going to.
Marvin Gaye is just a great track that lazes along with the ease of a beach vacation, asking to let the sun shine in and make love a reality.
And Around slows down with a cowboy bar elegance and drifts in the air around you. lamenting, but always hoping another chance is around.anyone can relate to these songs and I doubt no one could resist their catchiness."

One of America's best kept secrets

David Whiting | Rochester, NY United States | 12/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Both of his full length discs are very good, but "Home" is just about perfect. From the very first track, "Laughter", this disc sucked me in and held me in it's spell. I've seen Josh categorized as Alt Country or compared to David Gray, but however you care to categorize him, he simply demonstrates a mastery for writing understated substantive pop gems. At this stage of the game, he remains one of America's best kept secrets."