the first couple songs are slick and interesting, but after awhile this veneer wears thin. i just want someone to hand the guy another instrument. i mean, he’s not even that good. i could understand it if he was a virtuoso, but seriously, i can play as well as him, and ive never considered myself to be a very good guitar player. ive just been playing for over 10 years, so i guess im..whatever.
the point is that if youre going to stick with one instrument, youd better be one of two things:
1. virtuoso
2. damn good songwriter

jose gonzalez is neither of these things. some of the songs are good, dont get me wrong, but i cant imagine him sitting in the studio, play through once, add a couple overdubs, and say, “yep, that one’s done, thats a keeper.”
all these songs sound like sketches, and none of them are particularly good. his vocal lines are flat and follow the guitar lines closely, and whatever words he’s saying are partially drowned out because of it. and again his guitar work is mediocre. i suppose if you listen to a couple songs every now and then, hes not bad, but to sit down and really listen to the entire album is a bore.

i was just reading on him, and i hate how people feel this need to validate the artist based on their background. i guess it kind of makes sense, there’s too much music to just say “yea, they met in college and they play folk indie trip hop stuff, its pretty good.” its easier to move records if theres a shtick.