I’ve always found comparisons between Rossen and Paul Simon quite easy to make – for his short stature, the old-before-his-time style and delightfully twisted fingerpicking but of course mostly for the wonder of his heavy and heartfelt folk songs. The difference between a Rossen song on a Grizzly Bear, Department of Eagles or solo record is pretty oblique. They all fizz equally with a graceful neuroticism suggesting the aformentioned, George Harrison (particularly the swooning slide playing) and Elliott Smith.
Words: Ian Lamont
