I thought the Random iTunes Fairy might serve up a little holiday spirit on Christmas Eve, but she went with this charming little number by Josh Rouse instead.
It’s the tale of a young man who plays bass in New York, France, and eventually Los Angeles. More of a sketch than a tale, really.
At any rate, I hope it’s festive enough to put those of you who celebrate Christmas in a nice mood heading into the big day.
My Favorite 2022 Albums
#2 – Going Places – Josh Rouse
One of this year’s biggest treats was new material from singer-songwriter Josh Rouse, one of my very favorite artists.
Going Places is his 14th full-length release and first since a 2019 Christmas album. The four-year span between this record and his last proper studio album, 2018’s Love in the Modern Age, was the longest of his career.
Singer-songwriter Josh Rouse just released his 14th studio album in the last 25 years. I’ve been following his career since 2005’s Nashville, still one of my favorite albums ever, and he has yet to disappoint.
Rouse’s new album is called Going Places, and it’s a return to the sweet soft rock that most typifies his style. It follows 2018’s Love in the Modern Age, a delightful detour into 80s synth-pop, and a 2019 Christmas album (cute, but proof that we don’t need new Christmas songs, even from our best songwriters).
Today’s random SOTD is the opening track on Josh Rouse’s 2007 album Country Mouse City House. It was co-written with his wife, Paz Suay (whom my wife considers a dear friend after they chatted for five minutes at a Josh Rouse concert in Asheville, North Carolina).
‘Sweetie’ beautifully captures the feeling of a young romance, ripe with possibilities. Two lovers “laughing in circles” and dreaming about sleeping on rooftops and riding bicycles — it sounds like the perfect European vacation, which makes sense given that the album was written in Spain.
Two Josh Rouse songs over the past three Random Weekends. Can’t complain about that!
Today’s track comes from Rouse’s 2015 album The Embers of Time, which he described as his “surreal expat therapy record.” These tracks find him battling depression and coming to terms with his own mortality. But while a couple of songs are on the morose side, this is mostly a life-affirming collection.
Meet Me In Montauk 