Roots pop singer/songwriter Josh Rouse was born in Nebraska, living variously in California, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Georgia, and Arizona during the years to follow; obsessed as a teen with British cult favorites like the Smiths and the Cure, he learned to play guitar from his uncle and wrote his first song at 18. Signing to the Rykodisc subsidiary Slow River, in 1998 Rouse issued his debut album, Dressed Up Like Nebraska, to widespread critical acclaim; upon settling in Nashville, he was befriended by Kurt Wagner, frontman of the endlessly brilliant chamber country group Lambchop, and in the fall of 1999 the two singer/songwriters issued a collaborative EP, Chester.

Rouse's second solo LP, Home, appeared the following spring and was followed by Under Cold Blue Stars in 2002. For his next record Rouse hooked up with producer Brad Jones, and the resulting album, 2003's 1972, was both an homage to the soft rock sounds of Rouse's youth and an opening up and deepening of his sound. Before the release of his next album, Rouse's marriage ended and he moved from Nashville to Spain. Released in 2004, Nashville served as a farewell to both the city and his marriage; it was also his most fully realized record to date. Once in Spain, Rouse settled in the small seaside town of Puerto de Santa Maria. His next record, early 2006's relaxed and intimate Subtitulo, was recorded there with Brad Jones once again producing. After the release of two EPs (Bedroom Classics, Vol. 2 and She's Spanish, I'm American, a duet record made with his girlfriend, artist Paz Suay), Rouse released Country Mouse City House in August 2007. ~ Jason Ankeny & Tim Sendra, All Music Guide