Louis Rosen
American Sunset
October 15, 2025
Reviewed by Alix Cohen
“A thinking man’s cri de coeur.”
American Sunset is a concept album by Louis Rosen that was written between Election Day November 5, 2024, and Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025. For some during that time, liquor and drug consumption increase, sleep became elusive, therapists Zoomed. Friends commiserated about rising prices, disappearing federal benefits, censorship, safety, bigotry, and corruption at an unfathomable scale. Musician and singer/songwriter (as well as an author and teacher) Louis Rosen wrote songs. The artist is low key, articulate, wry, thoughtful, sad, and seething.
“American sunset/You can see it from here/Off in the distance/Yet perfectly clear/Controlling the message/A circle of lies/The limitless profit/That influence buys.” The tune evokes Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes—
hypnotic, sinister.
“The Wheel Goes Round” is one of several spiritual takes on contemporary times. “The debt we accrue comes due…the hour comes all too soon…Not a soul should feel immune,” It’s a hip Bob Fosse dance—all sharp pelvis and splayed fingers; fate waits with mawing jaw. “Life on Earth” has a similar feel. We’re the blink of a universal eye, a speck on the history of earth, it seems to say. Its melody lulls, its tempo is like breathing; it’s a mantra. “Our past lies in the ocean/The future’s in the sky.” It’s an evocative melody.
Small, brightly painted circus cars disgorge endless clowns, defying all logic of spatial physics. Trump’s lackeys may not wear rainbow wigs and oversized shoes, squirt flowers and wield rubber chickens, but they’re as limitless, absurd, and obtuse as those confined to the big top. “American Oligarch Clown Car March,” with apt percussion, describes the parade.
“Executive Orders” takes the vision further, emerging as a calmly spoken litany, its content familiar and cumulatively horrifying. Dated events. Chinese water torture…Drip, drip, drip. Relentless. It’s vitriol is reminiscent of Brecht/Weil without the spit and volume.
“Candice and Me”—“Wake up each day/And help our garden grow”—leans into a wellspring of love for comfort and confirmation. Feelings land softly like dew on grass. “Still, one and one make two.” The music dips and rises like a helix; affection echoes.
On its tail “Gulf of Mexico” offers a romantic, hopeful vision of refuge and a rhythmic dance in the sand. Its sound is decidedly north of the border. “Run It Back” expresses the inability to run away or even look away. So much for Mexico. Repetition evokes siege.
“And Still I Sing”—A song for you/To guide us through this day”—tracks back to Candice. Whatever happens, we have each other. More hymn than ballad, the song is slow and tender; the backup vocals resonate.
Among the instrumentals, “Elegy” pairs funerary drums with delicate memories, rather as one might wish. “Tango for Charlie” is a smoky, sinewy dream; it’s quite beautiful but too short. An untitled epilogue feels like a walk in pristine nature, far from people. Like inhaling clouds.
All music and lyrics are by Louis Rosen, as are the acoustic guitar, vocals, and arrangements. The other musicians are Charity Wicks (piano), Peter Donovan (acoustic bass), and Andy Blanco (vibraphone and drums). The album will be available on all steaming platforms on November 7. Until Thanksgiving, it will be free to stream at louisrosen.com/american-sunset
