Best Of: Rykodisc Years

Josh Rouse | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 9, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Rhino / Rykodisc
• ASIN: B001D53BRA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,326 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Nebraska-born Josh Rouse started out on Rykodisc where he released five albums and two EPs of literate and engaging guitar pop, which garnered him both critical raves and a devoted following. Now, a decade after his debut, The Best Of The Rykodisc Years collects together highlights from those Rykodisc albums as well as treasures from Josh's own personal vaults, including 7 previously unreleased tracks, to produce over 2 hours of sublime music spanning 1998-2005. The Best Of The Rykodisc Years distills the essence of what Rouse calls his "first stage". Years and musical styles may separate these songs, but ultimately they are linked through the warmth of Rouse's vioce, the conversational ease of his singing and his unfailing melodic gift. From the folk-rock of 'Late Night Conversation' to the knowing country of 'It's The Nighttime', from the smart pop of 'Feeling no Pain' to the rhythmically sly white-boy soul of 'Comeback (Light Therapy)' - each bears Rouse's unmistakable musical fingerprint. Disc 1 features 19 favourites from Rykodisc releases - debut Dressed Up Like Nebraska (1998), EP collaboration with Lambchop's Kurt Wagner Chester (1999), Home (2000), Under Cold Blue Stars (2002), 1972 (2003) and Nashville (2005). Included are 'Directions', a song from Rouse's second album that also appeared on the soundtrack for the Cameron Crowe film Vanilla Sky and '65', referring to the highway that runs through Nashville, which is where he and Wagner recorded Chester when the two were neighbours. Disc 2 opens with the six songs that comprised Rouse's 2001 EP Bedroom Classics, Vol. 1, (pressed in a limited edition of only 750 copies and now an impossible-to-find collectable) and continues with 7 previously unreleased recordings including the demos for "Suburban Sweetheart" and "Christmas With Jesus" and outtake for "Cannot Talk":

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Astonishing Josh Rouse, September 17, 2008

By 

P. Lanier (near ATL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Best Of: Rykodisc Years (Audio CD)

If you haven't heard of Josh Rouse yet I'm not too surprised. He certainly isn't mainstream. Instead Josh has been crafting catchy melodies and concise albums with little or no filler; each album so different from the next it's difficult to market this artist as merely alt country (or rock, or pop, or 70's retro, or folk, etc.). He is easily the most talented and dynamic artist over the last decade to put music on compact disc.

The first disc is a great opportunity for a beginner to have a taste of everything. This collection includes a few of his favorite songs from all 6 of his albums with RYKODISC. The only drawback to hearing these tunes in an "arbitrary" order is the fact that you'll miss the context (the theme or prevailing influece) that Rouse provides in the original albums. Of course if you like what you hear then the real reward comes from listening to each individual record in it's entirety, each of which are better on their own merit than any "best of" collection could possibly be.

Of course I was familiar with all of Rouse's previous albums when I purchased this. Which leads me to why Disc 2 is a must buy for avid fans: Bedroom Classics Vol 1. Ladies and Gentlemen, these songs have been IMPOSSIBLE to come by until now. This is the rarest of Rouse -- only 750 EPs were put into circulation and the last time I saw one it was on Ebay 3 years ago with bids running as high as $130 for these 6 songs. There is also other pretty good unissued songs on Disc 2 but the main event is definitely The Rare EP in it's entirety.

Alright, quit reading this and add this awesome CD to your cart. Don't look back. Enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Truly a "best of", September 22, 2008

By 

Kyle (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best Of: Rykodisc Years (Audio CD)

Given the limitations of time (80 minute CD) and representation (at least one song from each of his proper albums), this "best of" fulfills its title about as well as it can. As a long time fan, I find the selections pretty accurately cover my favorites--with one glaring exception being the uplifting "Miracle" off the "Under Cold Blue Stars" album.

Josh Rouse is an adept storyteller with a knack for a gorgeous melody. His songs depict very real, relatable scenarios (and, accordingly, carry much emotional weight). At his best, these elements combine for dramatic effect, be it joyful and optimistic ("It's the Nighttime," "Rise," "Feeling No Pain") or heartbreaking ("My Love Is Gone," "Michigan"). Stylistically, he can handle an alt-country groove and 70's disco-pop with equal skill, ensuring he never lets himself get too redundant with his songwriting.

Disc 1 is about the best collection of modern adult pop you'll find anywhere. Disc 2 will be enjoyable for fans--especially the inclusion of all six tracks from the rare "Bedroom Classics, vol. 1"--but most of the demos here, while decent and interesting in their differences from the final versions appearing on other albums, are not nearly as impeccable as the songs on Disc 1.

CHECK OUT: "Dressed Up Like Nebraska," "Feeling No Pain," "Rise," "It's the Nighttime," "Michigan," "Suburban Sweetheart (demo)"

5.0 out of 5 stars Josh Rouse - Brings you sunshine and laughter, October 8, 2010

By 

Red on Black (Cardiff) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Best Of: Rykodisc Years (Audio CD)

Josh Rouse is a massively underrated artist and a songwriter who produces music of huge charm and top notch quality. His back catalogue includes such gems as "1972" and the truly fabulous "Nashville" which are albums so full of great songs that Rouse could have passed them off individually as a "Best of". Thus some advice if you are to jet off while the cold winds of winter blow to sunnier climbs or are staying put but want to lie back on the September Grass, watch the sky and clouds go by this is the ideal soundtrack. At minimum do something that you will never regret and download at least 5 songs from this splendid career spanning retrospective compilation (although no "Sparrow from Birmingham" is a blow).

While all the songs are gems perhaps starting with the following is the entrance to the Aladdin's cave -

"Winter in the Hamptons" - A sheer unadulterated joy and a classic pop song where he admits that we "Never know, Americans seem such a bore, Embarrassed and still we are hanging on, We have stayed too long". This sentiment probably prefigures a later move when he would decamp lock, stock and barrel to live in Valencia in Spain.

"Streetlights" - A sort of Paul McCartney sad ballad but underpinned by real warmth

"Laughter" - This song from the album "Home" has figured in a number of film soundtracks and you may have heard it. Hugely commercial and should have been a hit

"Its the night time" - A brilliant countryish song from the non country album entitled "Nashville".

"65" - A great double up with Lampchop's Kurt Wagner from the "Chester EP" although "Something You Could Always Tell" could also challenge for this spot."

And look I left "Sad Eyes" and "100m Backstroke" off this list. The point being that Josh Rouse is a veritable jukebox who you can dip into and be richly rewarded. This is a great and very reasonably priced Retrospective of his early career containing humongous amounts of music and a smorgasbord of styles. More than this if you do find enchantment here go back to the earlier albums and delve deeper where you will be richly rewarded.