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Rating: Spatiotemporal Coordinates in Search of the “Perfect Pop Song”
The decidedly fortunate choice to part with a few euros and give them to the good Alessandro (for once not taking advantage even for a moment of his proverbial helpfulness) in exchange for Josh Rouse’s album, I owe to the lucid “Socratic” pen.
Who is Alessandro? Socratic pen?
Of course, sorry, how could you know... Alessandro is the owner of the blessed little shop near the office. One of the few left to face the stormy sea of a market overwhelmed by global downloading, a stubborn supporter of the music he loves, before anything else, a favored pusher.
But the other question is really bizarre if you’re not newcomers: it is Socrates, the DeBasico reviewer who has given us dozens of perfect pages. Gifted with a particularly effective instinct that allows him to spot pop talent among hundreds of faces, in the vastness of a babelic crowd. And a special predisposition to describe its fruits.
In short, in Socrates’ review of “1972” (2003), I discovered that the album dispensed “Ten songs of refined, imaginative, inspired songwriting...”. As if Rouse was plunging a probe into the title’s date to extract the spirit of an era and decline it into his personal style.
Tracing a temporal coordinate in the journey towards the eternal chimera of the perfect pop song.
Thus, I did not hesitate in front of the beautiful cover of “Nashville”: in which direction had that path unfolded?
The title seems to indicate a second dimension, this time spatial, useful for charting the course.
Nashville was Rouse’s adopted city for ten years, after wandering that led him to touch several states. Also the setting of a ended marriage.
But this album is anything but a predictable postcard sent from the country’s mother city.
It’s surprising to hear, rather, echoes of an English attitude: some traces of the Smiths, in certain guitars, (“Winter In The Hamptons” where even the voice occasionally leans towards a Morrissey-like inclination) the ethereal density of atmospheres that remind one of Prefab Sprout. While here and there, the long shadow, lightened into always crystal clear textures, of a rock with seventies roots is projected. A bit of acoustic Rolling Stones, as if they emerged purified from “Some Girls”, meeting indeed the Prefab (“Saturday”). A bit like the old Neil Young, in the piano’s stride sketching “Sad Eyes”, for instance. Before the tail explodes in choirs and strings that closes it.
But Rouse’s voice is capable of providing a personal and updated version of the hybrid it presents. It’s a measured voice that doesn’t shy away from becoming doleful and expressive, but eschews emphasis.
Traces “natural” and never banal melodies. One of the characteristics that run throughout the album and at times surprise for the apparent ease of so many, small, almost perfect moments.
As measured and attentive is Brad Jones’ production, which doles out the sonic substance in a balance that often touches the sought-after formal perfection.
A soft album, living on nuances. Destined for repeated listens that will reveal the details of a work at first glance homogeneous. Perhaps more than it should be.
Because if the goal that this wanderer songwriter (today residing in Spain) pursues is still the same, other coordinates will need to be charted.
The horizon on which the unreachable star of the perfect pop song shines brightly is indeed destined to continually shift as we push in its direction.
But ultimately the path is often the real goal of the journey.
And as far as I am concerned, there are many good, simple reasons in “Nashville” to travel it more than once.
Waiting for the next stop.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 It's the Nighttime (04:04)
You play your stereo loud
You got your headphones on
I see you dancing around
To your favorite song
It's ‘Who do you Love'
I wanna know his name
And does he feel like I feel
Is he standing in the rain
I'm out in the street
The city lights above
It's the nighttime baby
Don't let go of my love
You've come a long way baby
From your days at school
I heard you're really living uptown
I'm just a downtown fool
And would it be all right
If I took you for a ride
Took you out on the town
Maybe someplace nice
Out in the street
City lights above
It's the nighttime baby
Don't let go of my love
And maybe later on
After the late late show
We can go to your room
I can try on your clothes
You know I'm not the kind of man
To come on so strong
But when you look as good as you do
I knew it wouldn't be long
I'm out in the street
The city lights above
It's the nighttime baby
Don't let go of my love
It's the nighttime baby
Don't let go of my love
Yeah, It's the nighttime baby
Don't let go of my love, love
Don't let go of my love
02 Winter in the Hamptons (03:08)
Bah, dah dot dah, bah lah ba lah bah
Here we go, singing our songs with our soul
The winter has gone, where do we belong
We have stayed too long
Friday night, we’re so uptight we get stoned
Sit in the Hamptons, it is too cold
We have stayed too long
Spring is finally here and we’re so well dressed
It’s a talent and it’s our style
So put on your hat because the forecast is rain clouds
Bah, dah dot dah, bah lah ba lah bah
Bah, dah dot dah, bah lah ba lah bah
Never know, Americans seem such a bore
Embarassed and still we are hanging on
We have stayed too long
And we'll fly, take a trip, see the Euro sites
Our money is gone, where do we belong
We have stayed too long
Sick of living here, we’re such a mess
Cause the government, they’re all liars
So put on your hat because the forecast is rain clouds
Bah, dah dot dah, bah lah ba lah bah
Bah, dah dot dah, bah lah ba lah bah
Bah, dah dot dah, bah lah ba lah bah
Bah, dah dot dah, bah lah ba lah bah
03 Streetlights (04:24)
Rock and roll
You are envy, I am
So uncool
Still I want to do the best I can
Let's meet on the corner and act like we're old friends
We can talk about the streetlights
The people
Surrounding you
In a haze
Won't you tell me how it feels
To be a nervous man
At the wheels
You don't have a master plan
But you will start today
You will start today
I called you up
Cause I felt so guilty
Ended up
It was not such a pretty scene
Let's dump the ashtray, wipe the table clean
We can talk about the streetlights
The people
Surrounding you
In a haze
Won't you tell me how it feels
To be a famous man
At the wheel
You don't have a master plan
But you will start today
You will start today
You will start
When all of your fear is gone
And you're thinking that you're strong
Enough
To make the jump up to the big big sky, sky
We can talk about the streetlights
The people
Surrounding you
It's a strong pull
We can talk about the streetlights
The people
Going down
And you will start today
You will start today
You will start today
You will start
Today
04 Caroliña (03:30)
Down in Tennessee
Sits a girl alone
She sings along with her favorite songs on the radio
Only friends she sees
Are on TV
Magazine and movie stars are her only family
Yeah they're all she needs
Carolina's so
Happy on the outside
She keeps frowning inside
In the Nashville sky
Shines a diamond bright
Carolina says it's for the boys after midnight
She drifts off to sleep
And in her dreams
She lives in California in a mansion by the sea
Yeah that's who she could be
Carolina's so
Happy on the outside
She keeps frowning inside
Carolina's so
Happy on the outside
She keeps frowning inside
And then she wakes to find out
Her dream is real (It's real)
It's real (It's real)
It's real (It's real)
It's real
Carolina's so
Happy on the outside
And now she's smiling inside
Smiling inside (Inside)
Smiling inside (Inside)
Smiling inside (Inside)
Smiling inside
07 Saturday (04:22)
I would swim across the ocean
I would lay down on a bed of nails
But I’ll spare you all the bullshit
I will spare you all the desperate details
Saturday I’m on that plane
I’m flying home to you
And when our time is lonely and you know
When our time is hard to be away
And I’m playing my guitar in some basement club
A thousand miles away
Saturday I’m on that stage
I’m feeling down and blue
Saturday I’m on that plane
I’m flying home to you
Ooh, hell yeah
I’ll be home soon
Hell yeah
I’ll be home soon
I will treasure every moment
I will lay down on the couch and watch TV
And when you’re done with work
And I will take you to see a matinee
Saturday I’m on that stage
I’m feeling down and blue
Saturday I’m on that plane
I’m flying home to you
To you
Ooh, hell yeah
I’ll be home soon
Hell yeah
I’ll be home soon
Hell yeah
I’ll be home soon
Hell yeah
I’ll be home soon
08 Sad Eyes (04:48)
Southern style
Things are slow
You’re watching all the speeding cars
Moving like you wish you could
But oh, it’s too bad
Cause they’ve stolen all your happiness and good times
But I’m gonna get you into the light
And I’m gonna find a way that is right
And I’m gonna get you into the light
And make it okay
Sad eyes
You are the only one whose
Whose blue skies are gray
So don’t cry
You’ll be the only one to make them go your way
You’re so young
And so bored
You were staying out 'til late
Cause it was what your husband hated
But oh, it’s too bad
Cause he’s stolen all your happiness and good times
But I’m gonna get you into the light
And I’m gonna find a way that is right
And I’m gonna get you into the light
And make it okay
Sad eyes
You are the only one whose
Whose blue skies are gray
So don’t cry
You’ll be the only one to make them go away
Yeah you could make them go away
Took a lot of tears but all you had to find was
Sympathetic years, the ones you left behind yeah
Took a lot of tears but all you had to find was
Sympathetic years, the ones you left behind yeah
And I’m gonna get you into the light
And I’m gonna find a way that is right
And I’m gonna get you into the light
And make it okay
Sad eyes
You are the only one whose
Whose blue skies are gray
So don’t cry
You’ll be the only one to make them go away
Sad eyes (Took a lot of tears but all)
You are the only one whose (You had to find was)
Whose blue skies are gray (Sympathetic years, the ones you left behind)
So don’t cry (Took a lot of tears but all)
You’ll be the only one to make them go away (You had to find was)
Yeah you could make them go away
Yeah things are gonna go your way
Oh they're bound to go your way
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