Pick four songs from any band and you can tell a lot about their sound. This summer, I’m featuring #RockBlocks, four picks from bands across various genres. They might be wildly different from each other, but what binds them together is the fact that they’re all a part of my life soundtrack.
For music fans, the world of Jose Gonzalez is one of hyper-awareness. A world where every single note created by Jose’s voice and acoustic guitar matters. Having seen him several times live, I can attest to the fact that his shows always felt different compared to other concerts. The crowd observes attentively and silently at every word muttered and every pluck of his intricate guitar work, which often play two parts at the same exact time. “Crosses” was one of the first few songs that brought me into this world, one which I continue to escape to every so often.
While “Heartbeats” was the front door to Jose Gonzalez’s music for many fans, “Crosses” is the foyer. It welcomes you and draws you in. The musical marvel of rhythmic guitar and bass being played at the same time on an acoustic guitar and Jose’s captivating vocal presence are like the spiral staircase and chandelier. We stand here in this space in full admiration and we can stay there for quite a while. But when the time’s right, we also want to explore the rest of the house and see what each room in this phenomenal musical catalog has to offer.
“We'll cast some light and you'll be alright.”