Album Description: After a breakthrough debut album, more than three full North American tours in one year a tour with Zero 7 and major TV performances, Jos‚ Gonz lez returns with his second album IN OUR NATURE. This latest opus sees Jos‚ Gonz lez coming into his own as a songwriter - with songs that are as instantly accessible as they are brimming with darkness and brooding intensity. Catch Jos‚ on tour this fall and on TV: Late Night With Conan O'Brien (9/28/07) & Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Amazon.com: Names like Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, and Tim Buckley are often used together, not necessarily to describe one exact sonic style of singer, but more as incredibly passionate verbs, to identify the strong emotions evoked when listening to these late legends' sparse melodies. Swedish-based Argentinian musician José González is likely to hear those classic names a lot in his future. González received critical underground love from his 2003 debut disc Veneer, but garnered more widespread attention as a guest vocalist for downtempo group Zero 7. The singer's gentle vocals and Spanish-meets-classical guitar style make a quietly compelling match, especially so on his sophomore CD In Our Nature, easily the best work--either as a solo or contributing vocalist--that he has released to date. The track that may well attract the most new eardrums is his sparse, whisper-soft cover of Massive Attack's "Teardrop" (a.k.a., the theme song to the TV show House), but many of his own tunes are equally endearing. War and world leaders were clearly on his mind when writing this disc, from opener "How Low"--in which González sings "Invasion after invasion/This means war/Someday you'll be up to your knees/in the shit you seek"--to the flamenco-affected track, "Killing for Love." All of these poignant--and at times pointed--lyrics are surrounded in lush, yet sparse melodies that make for music that is truly praise-worthy, bordering on timeless. --Denise Sheppard
A Different kind of Folk Bought this after I heard cover on "House" episode and had to track down the artist. Couldn't find it around town so had to but it online. Interesting tracks, not something I usually buy but after listening to them they're nice folkish-rock. I really like the use of music and lyrics and I enjoy the more simple songs with just acoustics.
neat!! okay..... if you like deep lyrics and low beat sound, this is for you. Just take your time and preview one on the songs.... then just run and buy it! Cheers!
A bargain basement José Feliciano minus cojones I have been a captive listener to this album for two weeks now, it has been played in my workplace, by someone else! I have had a good chance to listen to this album repeatedly.
I have to say that this album lack even the slightest trace of emotion, let alone passion. It really does sound like Mr. González is simply "going through the motions" on each song, as mechanically and as passionlessly as possible. His vocal timbre is vaguely reminiscent of the José Feliciano, but Mr. González lacks the finesse, fire, style and power of the great Feliciano.
The cover of Massive Attack's "Teardrop" is one of the album's low points. Elizabeth Frazer sang the song with no small degree of tension and élan. I can never understand a bloody word she sings, but she can and does move me with her interpretations. Mr. José González does not make the text of the song any clearly, but he does manage to make the song sound profoundly monotonous and exorcises any emotional content from it. Most of the rest of the album is delivered in the same dull, disinterested and depressingly listless way.
The instrumental accompaniment to the voice is provided by an acoustic guitar, which is played in a serviceable, but wholly unremarkable way. I am not sure what one is supposed to do with this album? The lyrics are hardly profound, the singing isn't "moving" in the slightest, it would make very jejune "chill-out" music, very prosaic and irritating "background" music, annoying café music, one couldn't dance to this album and it is hardly the stuff of teenage rebellion or rebellion of any sort! What did Mr. González hope to achieve with this album? Just sell as many units as possible? I guess that that can be an achievement of sorts.
I think that this is a first! A "Latino" album completely devoid of passion and fire, in fact, completely devoid of any emotional content whatsoever!
Defintley not star wars music! Folksy. Folks. Two words for you. Folks. See.
Imagine if Java the Hut was intertwined with Pamela Anderson. What would you have? A grainy soft tissuous porous filled meat sac mingled with beauty. Oh yeah, don't forget the classical guitar! keep in mind that Joses' last name sounds a lot like gonzo from the muppet babies. Could there be a connection? Great stuff! but if your cruisin in the battlestar galactica do you really wanna listen to Jose'Gonzo?...I hope this review helps.
5 STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Three Good Songs I bought this CD after having heard some of the mp3s on MySpace, those songs are his best songs, and really, there was no need to buy his CD after all.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
