Ryko

A luscious, soothing pop album in the Lloyd Cole/Freedy Johnson vein, Rouse writes low-key toe-tappers that accent his hang-dog vocals and hang-dog lifestyle. The paranoid lyric to CD opener "Laughter" sums it up nicely: "Think I got it all figured out/I think my plan is safe from laughter." It's as if even he doesn't believe he's doing what he's doing, which is trying to become a pop star. Throughout you'll think of The Blue Nile or late Roxy Music, though I doubt Rouse could ever be that ethereal. In fact, most of his comments are rooted in everyday contrivances, boredom and, ultimately, frustration. The lyric "Stay out all night and get high with your friends/Wonder why you don't get one thing done" from "Directions" seems to scream "that should be me," rather than "shame on you." Like the modern-day singer/songwriter that he is, Rouse's niche is in quietly turning the mirror on his world, and in the end, on himself.

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Rating: Yes