I will forever rue the day that I neglected to write about José González. It was while SXSW 2006 was going full force and, as I was not actually in Austin, I was spending a great deal of time downloading and listening to the bands who were. There was a month in there where I really found out a lot about some fantastic music and about how I had yet to narrow my disgustingly broad tastes. I was all about the heavy, God’s Temple of Family Deliverance, the Maritime-classical, Duane Andrews, and the balladeers, Astrid Swan. But through my journey-into-blogging one man had eluded me, that man being Mr. José González. I hadn’t known that he was a super-mega-star across the waters, and I hadn’t known that he was on the brink of success here, but I did know that his music was amazing. Its classical eloquence took memories of modern day crooners and washed them from my mind. But one bloated plug after another, he began losing appeal as everyone seemed to fall in love with him as well. I fell victim to everyone-else-likes-you-now-I-can’t disease.

While listening to Zero 7’s latest release, The Garden, I once again became acquainted with José outside of the blanket of mainstream media. Now again listening to his intricate simplicity brings a tender chill and I can return to enjoying the man’s gift. I hope that in this age of music that sounds atrocious (Bob Dylan’s words, not mine) you avoid the disease and enjoy José González.

Jose Gonzalez: (AOL Music UK)

José González: (Official) (MySpace) (Wikipedia)

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Also: (José González “Down The Line” & “Killing For Love” Videos)