Rouse's guitar gets a Spanish accent
By Jeff Renfro
With his sixth full-length album, "Subtitulo," Josh Rouse breaks away from the influences that informed his earlier classics. The change is jarring, but nevertheless engaging.
"Subtitulo" follows the themes of great travel literature, explaining the sights and sounds of Rouse's move to Spain. The result is a delightful album, filled with beautiful melodies and wistful lyrics.
Rouse debuted in 1998 with the critically acclaimed "Dressed Up Like Nebraska." The album did not sell well, but created a small, loyal group of fans who appreciated Rouse's twangy melodies.
His break came a few years later with "Home" and the single "Direction," which was featured in Cameron Crowe's "Vanilla Sky."
Rouse followed his success with the psychedelic, classic rock influenced "1972" and the melancholy "Under Cold Blue Stars." Before the release of 2005's "Nashville," Rouse announced that he was taking a break and moving to Spain. Up to that point he was always willing to experiment, but kept his songs firmly rooted in a Midwest, acoustic style.
The major point of departure for "Subtitulo" is the rhythm section. The album is far from tango, but features drum and bass lines clearly influenced by traditional Spanish music. Diverse instruments are at work, with several songs featuring violins and tambourines.
The album opens with three notable songs. "Quiet Town" is an ode to his new home. In many ways it is the perfect opener, a transition into his new home. Opening with a twangy, picked guitar riff like those heard on his older CDs, it is altered by a samba beat.
"Summertime" mixes his new Spanish sound with familiar lyrics. "Here comes the summertime/the feelings in the air/I remember drive-ins, soap operas, and country fairs/and the feeling doesn't last that long/before you know it's up and gone" reflects his typical narrative.
"It Looks Like Love" is the third, and by far the best, track. It is on this song that Rouse shows that no matter what medium he works in, he can still write a fantastic pop song. The bass, bass drum and cymbal do the bulk of the work, but out of this spare arrangement, a catchy song is born. Eventually, piano and guitar fill the melody out.
Unfortunately, after the opening tracks, "Subtitulo" has few moments of brilliance. The songs begin to sound stock and can run together. In the hands of a lesser musician, the rest of the album would be intolerable.
Rouse can turn just about any ditty into a fun, rich song, even if this CD does not pack the punch of his earlier work. But if he combines the Spanish elements with his usual musical consistency, his classic quality will re-emerge.
Grade: B
Contact Jeff Renfro at (408) 551-1918 or jrenfro@scu.edu.