Do you like Singer/Songwriters/Alt-Country/Americana or Indie-Folk, or do you have a unhealthy affection to the sadness, if so you may have a case of the Tuesday Blues!
Josh Rouse - Coat for a pillow (2015)
Josh Rouse is such an underrated songwriter. The Nebraska-born musician has been plugging away for years now and despite gaining a strong fan base, the lack of commercial success must play on the mind (and pocket). The industry has changed so much that unless you have a loop pedal and adolescence on your side, grafting is the only option. Rouse recently was quoted that his latest release, The Embers of Time, "..all kind of had this mid-life theme to them. I’m not 25 anymore. The music business and the entertainment business is tough to age in, ’cause you’re not new and not really old and cool. There’s just this desert in the middle you’ve got to get through.”".
If Josh Rouse is having a Mid-life crisis, what chance do I have?!? As someone in my early 40s, it is something that I can relate to and I'm dreading my next career change as time is not my side. Apart from a lottery win (never tell me the odds), I need to figure it all out or I'll be sleeping on the street.
'Uptown Funk' finally managed to wear me down, pretty hard when it's the number one requested track at home and the rest of the country for that matter. Despite it sounding a bit like James Brown's hideous, 'Living in America' and all the other awful funk the 80's had to offer (maybe that's the whole point). I can't help but love it. I do think Bruno Mars and his band are pretty tight too. I'm a fan of Mark Ronson (especially when he was predominately a Hip Hop DJ) and would have checked our his new album, Uptown Special, anyway. There are some very good moments but for me the space funk of Daffodils, featuring Tame Impala's Kevin Parker, stood out. It has spring connotations after all.....daffodils...trumpeting the arrival of spring. SFW:- Josh Rouse - Some days I'm Golden All Night (2015)
Josh Rouse has been one of my favourite singer/songwriters for a number of years. However, unlike his peers such as Ryan Adams / Conor Oberst, he still hasn't had the commercial breakthrough and credit that his fans think he deserves. Instead, he now lives near Valencia, Spain, enjoying the sun, sea and sangrias. It is a world away from his native Nebraska, but something he enjoys. His new LP, The Embers of Time, is out April 7th and it contains some of his best work to date. Give him a go and you'll be converted! Old Pa's Corner:- JD McPherson - Let The good times Roll (2015)
JD is new to me and this is a track from his new album of the same name as this track. This one 'chugs' along very nicely thank you and is enough to tell myself to check out the album and check out JD himself.
Shell Hunter:- Hot Chip - 'Huarache Lights' (2015)
Boom! First Calexico, now Hot Chip! My two perennial faves have released singles in the build up to new albums coming out later this year. I saw this on the BBC6 playlist and got the sort of excitement that a kid experiences when they inadvertently come across their hidden Christmas presents. Maybe a bit excessive, but I just love these guys and what they do. Wondering what the hell the title meant, I found out Huarache Lights is actually the name of a new pair of Nike trainers out that bring back an old skool 90s style. I had a look and they're okay, not worth the price tag in my book! Luckily, I don't feel the same way about the track! It's toe tappingly catchy and more than definitely a grower, bring on the album Why Make Sense? which is out May 18th!
Listen or even better, subscribe to our tracks of the week playlist here...
It's Tuesday, you're late for work, you've just stood in a puddle and it feels like it's going to be a long week, it's time for some music to match your mood.....
It's strange how some artists manage to keep on releasing quality music but remain relatively unknown to the masses. Josh Rouse must fall within this category. He's released over 9 albums, all of which have been critically acclaimed, and numerous demo's and live recordings, but if you ask anyone to name a hit, you'll probably hear "Josh who?"
"...Josh who?.."
This track was on a free CD and it got me hooked within the first 10 seconds with the 'sad' harmonica. But rather than 5 minutes of doom and gloom, it is melancholy with a 'happy ending'. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself at the time and this picked me up - I'd compare the song to a friend who'll take you out for a few beers and tell you to "stop moping around and sort yourself out!!!" - it was exactly what I needed. It actually features on the album "Nashville" which was a farewell to his marriage and the city of Nashville where he soon left to move to Spain.
It's one of these moments again, I was watching the movie 'Lincoln Lawyer' on Wednesday and just loved the song over the starting credits. I had to rewind and play it again, much to Michele's (current wife - 37 yrs) annoyance, I did not recognise the voice. The film itself is worth a watch (just) but it is definitely worth the effort because of the superb soundtrack, which I was aware of all through the movie. There is a tremendous remix version at the end, of 'California Soul' by Marlene Shaw ft Ya Boy, (original feat this Thursday). Anyway, I checked out the soundtrack after the movie and found that the song was by none other than Bobby 'Blue' Bland himself. What a fantastic track, what a voice, it is a soulful urban lament about loneliness, (she left him) although from 1974, I feel justified by including it (newish stuff) as the 'Lincoln Lawyer' soundtrack was released this year. And you just got to hear it.
Flycasual:- Roots Manuva - 'Watch Me Dance' (2011)
Hello. There's an impending album release from Roots Manuva and I'm excited as the gaggle of women slathering at the 'bed breaking' scene in the new Twilight trailer (disgusting!). I'm a huge fan of his humorous, off kilter and reggae infused Hip Hop as it's so uniquely British (MF Doom would be a US equivalent). There are two main versions of this song both produced by Sheffield badman, Toddla T. The one on Roots Manuva's album (below as a stream), shows a more soulful side to the rapper which is alot different to his previous offerings and the other, on Toddla T's album, is a far more dance floor friendly version of the song. I reckon this track could blow up and be Roots Manuva's 'Dizzee Rascal' moment. Not sure about the video though and by the looks of it neither does Mr Manuva.
Roots Manuva - 'Watch me Dance' (album version)
SFW:
Josh Rouse & The Long Vacations - 'Oh, look what the sun did'
"Josh boy!" Well that's what I drunkenly said to Mr Rouse after being overwhelmed when meeting one of my musical heroes, whist eating a falafel (hmmm) after his gig in Oxford a few years back. I'm not usually star struck, ok, I am. but I should have worked out something better to say... Anyways, I found this song after going to Josh (boy) Rouse's website and have got all excited in looking forward to more sunshine music from him. (He lives near Valencia - and no, I haven't tried to visit) His last album 'El Turista' is a gem, but if you are not familiar with his music, start with "Nashville" - you'll have a new favourite! I did!
