Our Rating

User Rating

(No Ratings Yet)

Loading...

With a name like José González, you wouldn’t immediately suspect that he is a Swedish national. González was actually conceived in Argentina (where his parents are from) and before being born, immigrated to Sweden where he currently resides. José was introduced to music by his father, at a very young age. His early inspiration can be accredited to his dads wide-ranging collection of music, including two huge influences The Beatles and Bossa Nova.

At the age of 14 José picked up the guitar for the first time and learned to play acoustically from a Beatles tab book, again something that can be accredited to his father. Growing up he loved every type of music, some of his favorites included not only punk groups such as Black Flag, and The Misfits but also hip-hop groups such as NWA and Public Enemy. All the while he was playing punk rock, and trying to master the classic guitar on the side.

Through a series of probably uninteresting events, José left his punk days behind him and decided to pursue his education. Attending Göteborg University studying biochemistry, he dedicated the majority of his time to his studies. When José finished school in 2001 he decided he’d go for his PH.D and began setting up the steps that would lead him there.

However, out of nowhere, José received a phone call from a Stockholm-based indie label, Imperial Recordings, after hearing previous work José had done of an indie rock nature, and they were in awe. So they basically asked him if he would be interested in giving music one last shot. And on October of 2003 José emerged with the album we are going to be talking about today…Veneer. Veneer was released in 2003 in Europe, in The UK on April 25th 2005 and September 6th 2005 in the United States.

Despite the two year difference, Veneer had finally landed on the shores of the States and Unfortunately received little to no publicity or marketing which resulted in lackluster sales at the time. However, a blessing was about to be bestowed on González, The single at the time of arrival was his cover of fellow Swedish ex rockers, The Knives, song titled “Heartbeats”. The people at the Sony Corporation approached José about using his cover for an upcoming commercial for the Sony Bravia television set. And this really launched his career. The highly innovative and successful commercial introduced González music to the country just in time for them to check out the album.

Before we get into the meat of the review, as a music enthusiast, I would be contrite if I didn’t let it be known that I thought Veneer was actually one of the most underrated albums of the year in the United States, and deserved a hell of a lot more in terms of attention, than what it received.

José González plays classic guitar like it hasn’t been played in decades. His soft melodic voice which almost sounds monotone somehow serves a different purpose; the music fills you with energy rather then putting you to sleep. It makes you feel more playful then bored. It infests your ear drums like a good disease. Once you hear the first master stroke on his guitar, you become obsessed with the music.

José González music does something to the listener, with a voice that soothes you, he brings out your pain with mere words, and allows you to connect intimately with the music bellowing from his acoustic guitar….none more then his latest single for the album, the song “Crosses.” The song has heavy religious connotations, which read almost biblically. When listening to the lyrics the song on the surface just sounds great, but lost in that great instrumental seems to be a prophetic José channeling a message from God which he is preaching to the troubled souls populating our avenues and city streets. “Lay down your cross, don’t worry I know your burden is heavy, but I am here to guide you.” The music video which accompanies the single is equally as stirring. This ain’t your sister’s rock music. In a world where music is just background noise, and a thousand teenyboppers screaming “THAT’S MY SHIT!!!!” José González is playing music that matters.

This is where I usually continue and list like 2 or 3 songs that I think make the album better. On this album, I can literally name off the entire remaining playlist and have accomplished the same goal. This album is great from top to bottom, from Hints, and Stay in the Shade, to Deadweight on Velveteen and Love stain.

The Bottom Line: The album is a revelation and it breathes a breath of fresh air into a dying genre, however, it doesn’t matter to the public because no one has heard it. Worldwide the album has sold 500,000 copies, the majority over seas. In the eye candy music industry that exists today, unless your smoking hot, or have a catchy hook your music is Nye. José González is perhaps Sweden’s best export since dynamite.

When rumors surfaced that Lil Wyte had died…they were partially true. For most fans of the 2003 debut album, “Doubt Me Now”, the following he built up was swiftly destroyed by his horrible follow up, “Phinally Phamous”. The dreaded sophomore album, synonymous for ending most artists’ careers hit Lil Wyte hard, but was this just a sophomore slump or something more?

Tracklisting

1. Slow Moves
2. Remain
3. Lovestain
4. Heartbeats
5. Crosses
6. Deadweight On Velveteen
7. All You Deliver
8. Stay In The Shade
9. Hints
10. Save Your Day
11. Broken Arrows

Websites

Jose-Gonzalez.com
MySpace.com/JoseGonzalez

Record Label:

• Imperial Recordings

Release Date:

• 09/06/2005

Reviewer:

• Kevin Dank