I’m usually wary of thematic albums. Too often the effort often comes off as pretentious and forced with the narrative taking precedence over the music. Plus, I always feel guilty when I want to hear just one track instead of coming to some kind of grand understanding by listening to its entirety in one sitting. Nashville singer/songwriter Josh Rouse’s third album Under Cold Blue Stars is a wonderful exception to my acknowledged song cycle prejudice. By being not completely wrapped up in the effort to create a cohesive narrative, Rouse is able to concentrate on melody and textures that sometimes get lost in similar attempts. Under Cold Blue Stars is very loosely based on a Midwestern couple in the 1950s, but unless you were told this fact, it could just as easily be a more general album about, what else, but the joys and trials of the heart. Consistent throughout the album is a melancholic mood that blankets Rouse’s elegant arrangements and wind-swept landscapes with a wistful, old-fashioned quality. Unlike previous efforts, Rouse has added keyboards and loops that give his usually rustic sound a fuzzy, atmospheric vibe. The title track has an unmistakable R&B groove that shines with swirling keys and a surprisingly funky drum loop that defies his Nashville-via-Nebraska roots. Rouse’s dark, moody lyrical style is even challenged with the bright strumming of “Miracle” and the joyful (despite its title) “Nothing Gives Me Pleasure.” The gorgeous “Feeling No Pain” is so supremely addictive that I canned my intentions of listening to this thematic album straight through, and hit the repeat button twice.