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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Nashville
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 18 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 31 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Rykodisc
Release Date: 22 February 2005
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock, Singer-Songwriter
Summary
The singer-songwriter follows his acclaimed effort '1972' with another album produced by Brad Jones. Don't be fooled by the title: it's not a country album, but rather, a farewell to the city Rouse has called home for the past decade (before moving to Spain).
Also By This Artist: 1972 Subtitulo Under Cold Blue Stars
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Entertainment Weekly
Persistently gorgeous. [25 Feb 2005, p.102]
ShakingThrough.net
Nashville validates the promise Rouse has exhibited since Dressed Up Like Nebraska, encompassing a gift for emotional detail and a fondness for simple, unadorned lyrics. It's an understated, impeccably played collection of heartfelt tunes about a time and place that can never be returned to.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
Somebody will really have to pull off a miracle to top Nashville as far as intelligent, honest and entertaining guitar pop goes in 2005. Or any other year.
Read Full Review >Uncut
If you liked 1972 in 1972, or liked '1972' in 2003, you'll find yourself swimming with this. [Album of the Month, Mar 2005, p.90]
Lost At Sea
If you like intelligent song writing with killer sing-along choruses, then you desperately need this album.
Read Full Review >Splendid
Nashville is further proof that Rouse is one of the best songwriters of his generation.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
Nashville may not have the immediate appeal of 1972, but it is just as strong and, with time, may even be remembered more.
Read Full Review >Delusions of Adequacy
Rouse’s ambiguity and storytelling, so strong on Under the Cold, coupled with the quirky pop pastiche that found it’s backbone on 1972, is what his latest effort is all about.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
These are great songs, regardless of categorisation. [Mar 2005, p.101]
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Rouse's primary gift remains his easy-flowing melodies, which are coaxed along by his cherubic rasp.
Read Full Review >Paste Magazine
Decidedly a pop record. [Apr/May 2005, p.150]
Austin Chronicle
Not as cohesive nor as musically alliterative as [Rouse's] previous breakthrough, 1972, this wistful, meticulous collection of short, (bitter) sweet strummers fits its nostalgic niche like a K-Tel bargain bin 12-inch.
Read Full Review >Stylus Magazine
Nashville is chock full of weeping slide guitar work, soaring harmonies, keyboards, and Rouse’s lonely breath of a voice pushing out from the relatively lush production.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
As with past Rouse efforts, Nashville is always pleasant, if unexceptional.
Read Full Review >Mojo
Looting a Smithsy guitar line for Winter In The Hamptons or aping Steve McQueen-era Prefab Sprout on My Love Has Gone momentarily lifts Rouse's gloom, but it is scant relief from the stillness at Nashville's core. [Mar 2005, p.106]
Blender
Lyrically, Nashville... is about as insightful as a Hee Haw rerun. But... his warm, reedy voice gives comfort where his words can't. [Apr 2005, p.125]
Under The Radar
Where artists such as Elliott Smith or Jeff Tweedy manage to express their unique creative personalities while they wield the traditional tools of the trade, Rouse's songwriting lacks a similar sense of urgency or drama, too often stumbling into amazingly trite cliches. [#9]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 31 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
eirik e gave it a9:
what a brilliant album - it should really be on all best music of 05 lists !
Michelle T gave it a9:
Almost as good as 1972 and different than the albums that came before.
dave w gave it a9:
A great album which if marketed correctly would make Josh Rouse a household name
Aileen M gave it a10:
Brilliant
Steve A gave it a9:
Fantastic, broadly appealing music from a clever mind with the voice to make itself comfortably heard. Too much homily is paid to artists that squeal their pain for our listening pleasure--Rouse does it without the misery, self-indulgence or gentility of the very young, though he's far from world weary. More importantly, his musicianship (and Brad Jones' production) are quite possibly the most tasteful of those that aspire to pop. They've freed themselves from the slavish hero worship heard on 1972, and bring greater subtlety to their beats and licks. This music is seductive and visceral enough to get the volume cranked up, yet complex enough to reward a position in permanent rotation. What do I mean? "Middle School Frown" sings with easy-strolling guitar--can you hear Jackson Brown; some Carol King? It will make you want to put the top down. Then you listen to the lyrics, and discover it's a story about the awkwardness of adolescence and crushes and missed opportunities, told from backwards-glancing maturity. Listen to it and tell me where you've heard better. The rest of the album is just as grand, articulate and wonderful. A keeper...
Liam O gave it a10:
My long commute to school on the LIE doesn't seem to be such a burden anymore. If his previous stuff is as good, or better as some have suggested, I can't wait to get my ears on it.
[Anonymous] gave it a6:
Sigh. Rouse's last album was SO good that I guess I had higher expectations for this. He's still a good songwriter, but this sounds too much like John Jack Mayer Johnson. College girls will love it, I'm sure.
