na: josh rouse, stars
Some Tuesday goodies for the post-Pitchfork hangover.
Josh Rouse, Country Mouse, City House: According to my own prejudices, I’m not supposed to like someone like Josh Rouse. Singer/songwriters with a straight guitar-pop background rank pretty high on my “avoid at all costs” list, and up until now, Rouse hasn’t done anything to make me think otherwise… that is until I heard Country Mouse, City House.
I don’t know if it’s that this Rouse record is actually better than his older stuff or if I’m getting a bit weepy in my old age, but Country Mouse is very good, pretension-free rock-pop album. I don’t want to overstate how much I like the record, but I do have to rep for the opening track, “Sweetie,” which gorgeously blends Being There-era Wilco and the sound and feel of Kenny Rogers’ ’70s recordings, a real easy feel that never asks too much from the listener. Definitely snag that track.
Various Artists, Death Is Nothing to Fear 2: New EP from Spectral (a Ghostly sub-label) with new songs from James T. Cotton (crunchy, awesome), Mikael Stravostrand (dunno who that is, but his track is deeeeeeep), Plan Tec (flimsy) and Geoff White (reminds me of Audion). Totally solid.
Stars, In Our Bedroom After the War: I defer to Todd on all things Stars-related. Glad to see this up so early, though.
ZE Records: Lots more records from the classic no-wave/disco label. Look for a Dozen on the site covering the best of the catalogue very soon.
Mondo Generator, Dead Planet: New record from Queens of the Stone Age bassist’s side project (one of many).
Yesterdays New Quintet, Yesterdays Universe: Prepare for a New Yesterday: More soul/funk mayhem from Stones Throw.
Hopewell, Beautiful Targets: New one from upstate New York band; AMG review compares them to ELO.
Uh.. aren’t you endangering your blog credentials to even whisper Kenny Rogers’ name with anything short of derision? Sure, we all like to play the Gambler sometimes, or maybe grab some of his chicken, but to cite his vocal stylings as being akin to ’70s AM gold… uh, well, you might as well throw in some Loggins & Messina, Poco, and a touch of the Captain and Tennille to make me stay away next time.
And I like “singer/songwriter guitar pop singers” like Josh Rouse! Y’know, before there were all these Jamie Cullum, Tori Amos, Michelle Branch, Rufus Wainwright players, you had to be a guitar pop singer if you were a singer/songwriter. Unless you were Carole King or Billy Joel.
Here’s a deal – you stay away from Kenny Rogers (unless discussing baseball) and I’ll stay away from talking about the ’70s. Deal?
But I grew up on Kenny Rogers! Even outside of the First Edition stuff! Still, I know I should stay away from discussing any of the singer/songwriter stuff — I normally do my best to.
What the hell is wrong with Captain and Tennille? What are you getting at?
Has anyone else noticed that Spoon’s new album sounds like Billy Joel in places?
Excellant.
Yancy, stay true to Kenny.
People need to give KR a proper reevaluation. Love will turn you around.