Josh Rouse - Subtitulo

I only took one year of Spanish in high school, so Josh Rouse’s Subtitulo is just about right for me. Softly infused Spanish influences provide a delicate, understated flavor to Rouse’s standard Tennessee-bred concoctions. It’s a great piece for someone like myself who isn’t into Latin music that much but still appreciates the unique quality it offers. Spain, meet Nashville. Rouse pulled up his Nashville roots and moved to Spain shortly before recording Subtitulo, and the effect of the move is evident but not overwhelming. Visions of small European villages and timeless countrysides are quietly conjured. The album (especially its opening track) documents the transition from a hectic urban lifestyle to a slower moving way of life. It’s more of a rebirth than a fleeting vacation; and although Rouse fondly recalls his friends and life, you can tell he has been irrevocably touched by the culture change. Change is often good, and the balance of Subtitulo sways toward its benefits. At the same time Rouse is subtly embracing change, he outwardly contradicts it with the song “Wonderful,” in which he entreats his subject “Don’t change your way at all.” The desire to capture newfound love in a timeless landscape creates a meaningful contrast to the change that is inherent in the rest of the work. I am almost forced to like Josh Rouse as a songwriter, releasing Subtitulo on his own label (Bedroom Classics) and showing a true dedication to his music. The choice to do it himself seems to be worth it. The result is a pleasing collection of songs that play together nicely. “Jersey Clowns” was bit of a hair-puller for me, as it seemed to drag on, and sometimes the waters seemed a bit shallow underneath the pleasantness of it all, but the mood Subtitulo creates is undeniably good. [www.joshrouse.com]