Josh Rouse

Josh Rouse follows in the footsteps of such pivotal Midwestern singer-songwriters as Paul Westerberg and Freedy Johnston, crafting penetrating, melancholy vignettes akin to the former's sober solo material and the latter's This Perfect World. His work has drawn rave reviews from a variety of critical circles for its honest take on contemporary singer-songwritership, as well as for its relaxed, yet quietly edgy musical roundup of steady tempos, melodically supportive trumpet lines, gentle acoustic guitar strumming, and Rouse's wonderfully everyday vocals. Furthermore, his collaboration with Lambchop's Kurt Wagner proves his malleability -- their 1999 EP Chester saw the Nashville pair co-write five songs to excellent results. Fifteen years from now, Rouse could very well wield the same stylistic importance on the next generation of folky singer-songwriters that his influences have had upon his own work.