Country Mouse City House
by Josh Rouse

Album details

US: 31 July 2007 on Nettwerk
UK: 16 July 2007 on Nettwerk

Recorded in a week in Spain, the singer-songwriter’s seventh album is intended as a wintry counterpart to its summery predecessor, ‘Subtitulo.’

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The critical consensus

If you enjoyed Josh Rouse albums in the past, you should enjoy Country Mouse as well, which, according to critics, does little to steer away from Rouse’s established early-1970’s gentle-rock formula. Both Amazon and the BBC find few surprises, but the former enjoys the "lustrous arrangements" and the latter generally approves of the "inessential, yet effortlessly pretty music." Gigwise, too, notes that the disc is lacking in innovation, but says that fact doesn’t detract from Rouse’s "knack for creating beautifully written catchy country-pop songs." No Ripcord concurs, stating, "Sometimes more of the same is just what you need."

Oddly, All Music Guide sticks with baseball analogies in their positive review, concluding, "While Country Mouse City House isn’t a towering home run, it is a stand-up double that drives in a couple runs." MusicOMH may even stretch that into a triple (if they knew anything about baseball), calling the album an "unhurried gem" that is "a real treat for enthusiasts and converts alike." The Independent notes comparisons to "the kind of thoughtful, easy-going country-rock sound arrived at by Rick Nelson." Magnet, however, finds the album a little too precious and too close to "’70s lite rock," while PopMatters states that "it suffers by comparison to Rouse’s best albums." Q generally likes the "cheery" album despite it being "neither vital nor essential." And Mojo comments that "quality control slips occasionally," while The Onion faults the "drippy lyrics and tiresome hooks" and Uncut complains that "for the most part, this merely drifts by." Finally, a disappointed Hartford Courant concludes that Country Mouse is "ultimately a letdown."

Rouse would do well to focus on the songwriting rather than the sonic affectations of a bygone era.

- Magnet

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. Sweetie
2. Italian Dry Ice
3. Hollywood Bass Player
   
   
4. God, Please Let Me Go Back
5. Nice To Fit In
6. Pilgrim
7. Domesticated Lovers
8. London Bridges
9. Snowy

Also on the web

• Official Artist Site
• Josh Rouse @ MySpace