CMT Blog: Archive

I'm never really sure what direction Josh Rouse will take when he puts out a new album. This time the evocative singer-songwriter has drawn upon the music of Cuba, Brazil, Spain and Venezuela for El Turista. A Nebraska native who launched his music career in Nashville, Rouse bolted for Valencia, Spain, about five years ago. He now lives there with his wife and new child. As a longtime fan, it's taken me a while to warm up to El Turista because it's so different from the moody Under Cold Blue Stars or super-groovy 1972. But in the dead of winter, the album offers the pleasant diversion of a sunnier climate. Thus, I'll lead this playlist of new independent music with "I Will Live on Islands." If it's not too late for a New Year's resolution, I'm going to make that mine.

"I Will Live on Islands," Josh Rouse
"Best Forever Yet," Reckless Kelly
"Should I Be Concerned," Allison Moorer
"Rural Riffin'," Johnny Gimble
"Ripple Effect," Jenny Whiteley
"Estelle," Backyard Tire Fire
"A Side of My Soul," John Milstead
"What to Say," Daphne Willis
"The Door Was Always Open," Joe Pug
"Wake Up!" Suzi Ragsdale
"Always Raining on My Street," Eric Brace & Last Train Home
"Europa," Sam Weiser
"Tell Me Why," the Watson Twins
"Lyla Lou," the Marshall Ford String Band
"The First Date," Brand New Strings
"Hard to Change," Meg Hutchinson
"Rolling Away on a Big Sternwheeler," the Chapmans
"Wildfire," Michael Martin Murphey with Carrie Hassler
"Eminent Domain," David Via

Photo credit: Jim Herrington