Don’t you know that I’ll be around to guide you
Through your weakest moments to leave them behind you
Returning nightmares only shadows
We’ll cast some light and you’ll be alright for now
Crosses all over, heavy on your shoulders
The sirens inside you waiting to step forward
Disturbing silence darkens your sight
We’ll cast some light and you’ll be alright for now
Crosses all over the boulevard
The streets outside your window overflooded
People staring they know you’ve been broken
Repeatedly reminded by the looks on their faces
Ignore them tonight and you’ll be alright
We’ll cast some light and you’ll be alright

-from LyricsMania.com

Following the success of his first single, “Heartbeats” eversince it was used as the background song to the amazing Sony Bravia advert (see my earlier post), Jose Gonzalez has been (in his quiet singer-songwriter sort of way) riding high on the music radar. In his home country Sweden (he’s from Gothenburg), he is quite a well-known artiste already, but the news of his talents have finally reached beyond Scandinavian confines after his TV exposure in the recent months. It has also reached here in the UK, where Channel 4 aired a musical special on him a few months back, not to mention a sold out concert just two nights ago here in Glasgow. Since watching the TV special, yours truly has been on a futile search for the song, “Crosses”, which was a single that was released back in his home country before his international recognition.

Finally, thanks to the smart marketing and revenue-mining brains of his record company, this previously Sweden-only single has been re-released internationally. Good music is always blog-worthy, so I am implore anyone who gives this blog a visit to please click the links below to give his music a listen. The melancholic beauty of his songs hidden beneath just his voice and a guitar needs not much convincing, but merely needs to be shared.

“Crosses”
Jose Gonzales

Click here to watch the video
Click here to get the mp3

On the topic of exceptionally talented singer songwriter’s, I’ve also been listening to Sufjan Stevens. I have yet to muster enough cash for his album, “Illinois”, but it’s at the top of my wishlist along with Jose Gonzalez. Here’s a link to a song from the upcoming album “The Avalanche: Outtakes And Extras From The Illinois Album” that comes out this July. (Oh man, that makes three albums in my CD wishlist). The song is called “The Henney Buggey Band”, all folksy and upbeat. Enjoy.

Click here for Sufjan Stevens’ “The Henney Buggy Band”

Heads up to m3 online for showing me how blogs can be sources of fresh music (no, am not referring to own blog.am no narcissist). Will update blog with links to many other music blogs in future.

Other great finds: Sleaze rock gods Louis XIV. Double entendres with matching attitude. Twee pop fellas Boy Least Likely To. Give them a Google!