Gary Steel
I DON’T REMEMBER ever having listened to a Josh Rouse record before now, but then again, this kind of stuff doesn’t really stand sentry at the memory banks of the universe, demanding attention.
The Happiness Waltz is Rouse’s 10th album, and its 12 songs are heartfelt, and with a nostalgic, late 1970s AOR bent, with a touch of jazziness occasionally peaking through its satin sheets.
The sound tends towards melancholic, pleasantly reverbed, soft and luxuriant and philosophically analogue.
It’s all very nice, but Rouse isn’t the owner of a very characterful voice, or a notably assertive or original talent. GARY STEEL
Sound = 4/5
Music = 3/5
Josh Rouse – The Happiness Waltz (Yep Roc/Southbound) CD REVIEW
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sorry you didn’t enjoy this one – I certainly enjoyed a couple of his earlier releases – both Nashville and 1972 got good reviews in their time
Yeah this hasn’t really grown on me. Home and Under Cold Blue Stars are easily his best work IMO, but 1972 and Nashville are both also good as Craig mentions! The rest are a but same samey… great artist, you just need to go older.