José González fans can finally hear his new record in its entirety via NPR’s First Listen. In its review, NPR says, “Gonzáez’s songs are slight little creations, with minimal words encapsulating big ideas and breezy pop melodies disguising weighty notions about life’s endlessly refracting illusions.” The album, Vestiges & Claws, (Mute) will be released next week on February 17. Two weeks ago, Pitchfork premiered the album’s second video, “Leaf Off/The Cave” which has received almost 58,000 views and the song is already getting tremendous support from KCRW, World Café, KEXP, and WFUV at radio.
Vestiges & Claws is González‘s first album in seven years and was produced by him in his home as well as Svenska Grammofonstudion, both in Gothenburg. It consists of years’ worth of musical sketches that in other hands might naturally sprawl wildly in sound and style, but on Vestiges & Claws, he has created a collection of songs that cohere just about perfectly, ensuring his position as one of the most important artists of his generation. Vestiges & Claws is the first album where he has chosen to include exclusively original material, largely revolving around ideas of civilization, humanism and solidarity.
“I think that might be where there is some sort of common thread on this new record: The zoomed out eye on humanity on a small pale blue dot in a cold, sparse and unfriendly space. The amazing fact that we are here at all, an aim to encourage us to understand ourselves and to make the best of the one life we know we have — after birth and before death. And also, I’ve been okay with using rhymes this time,” González said with a smile. He added, “In general I think that the lyrics are clearer this time. And a little less self-pitying.”
González will begin his North American tour in support of the new album on April 6 in Philadelphia, PA. See dates below.
José González 2015 North American Tour
April
6 – Philadelphia – Union Transfer
7 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
8 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
10 – New York – Webster Hall – SOLD OUT
11 – Boston – Paradise – SOLD OUT
12 – Montreal – Corona Theatre
13 – Toronto – Phoenix Concert Theatre
14 – Chicago – Lincoln Hall – SOLD OUT
15 – Chicago – Lincoln Hall – SOLD OUT
16 – Minneapolis – Cedar Cultural Center – SOLD OUT
17 – Minneapolis – Cedar Cultural Center
18 – Madison – Majestic Theatre – SOLD OUT
20 – Englewood – Gothic Theatre
22 – Salt Lake City – The Depot
24 – Portland – Wonder Ballroom
25 – Vancouver – Imperial – SOLD OUT
27 – San Francisco – Bimbo’s 365 Club – SOLD OUT
28 – San Francisco – Bimbo’s 365 Club – SOLD OUT
29 – Los Angeles – The Regent – SOLD OUT
30 – Los Angeles – The Regent
