Yep Roc

How much you like the new Josh Rouse album will depend on how much you like soft rock. Many of the arrangements on the record sport the kind of breezy, jazzy sounds that floated out of your AM radio in the ‘70s – easy listening salutes to the lighter side of love. Think Steely Dan without the ironic lyrics and snide attitude. True to the album title, Rouse sounds like he’s dancing along in a cheerful haze, blowing kisses at the sun and his listeners with a blissful smile on his face. The warm, buoyant melodies that support his relaxed vocals let you focus on his finely wrought lyrics, all delivered with his familiar, decidedly mellow drawl. Even on slightly melancholy tunes like “The Ocean” and “Our Love,” Rouse is able to retain an unshakable faith in the ability of love to soothe over his problems and make everything turn out all right.