José González’s music is the audio equivalent of a nap in a hammock on a deserted beach, with the waves gently lapping at the sand and the afternoon sun warming your closed eyelids. This is not music you work out or dance to – relaxation is the price of admission to a José González album. As an English-speaking Swede born to Argentinian parents, he sings in three different languages. Be it Swedish, Spanish, or English, his voice – soft as an Angora sweater – plays a duet with the acoustic guitar he plays with the pads of his fingers, so quiet you can only make out every third word. It’s magical.

Damon Albarn (The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows, #13) has created 25 albums in 30 years – an album every ~1.2 years. Jenn Wasner (Flock of Dimes, #12) has created 9 albums in 14 years – an album every ~1.6 years. Local Valley is the González’s fourth album in 18 years. That’s an album every ~4.5 years! The Gothenburg, Sweden singer/songwriter’s songs aren’t the only things that move at a slow pace.

If you are unfamiliar with González’s previous work, but you enjoyed the Kings of Convenience (Peace or Love, #20), then I encourage you to slip into something even more comfortable. Don’t let the fun song shown in the video above fool you – most of González’s songs aren’t like this one.

There are a lot of other great videos from this album that all sound more like traditional José González. “Visions” is vintage González. The “El Invento” video is great, too; I love the lyrical treatment of this song – you can hear him sing while you read the native Spanish, but you can also read the English translation right there on screen. And check out “Head On” for the most “rockin” you’ll see him get (which isn’t much, to be sure)

I was lucky to buy tickets to see González coming up in a couple months. It’ll be good to get out into society again, and especially good to ease into it with José González singing gently in my ear. Buy the album, then buy tickets to the show and join me! You won’t be sorry.

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12. Head of Roses by Flock of Dimes
13. The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows by Damon Albarn
14. Collapsed in Sunbeams by Arlo Parks
15. Loving In Stereo by Jungle
16. Flying Dream 1 by Elbow
17. Screen Violence by Chvrches
18. Blue Weekend by Wolf Alice
19. Mainly Gestalt Pornography by Pearly Gate Music
20. Peace Or Love by Kings of Convenience
21. These 13 by Jimbo Mathus & Andrew Bird
22. Mr. Corman: Season 1 by Nathan Johnson
23. Home Video by Lucy Dacus
24. I’ll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to The Velvet Underground & Nico by Various Artists
25. Siamese Dream by Fruit Bats
26. NINE by Sault
27. Observatory by Aeon Station
28. The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania by Damien Jurado
29. A Beginner’s Mind by Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine
30. Where the End Begins by Knathan Ryan
31. Private Space by Durand Jones & The Indications

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