Poetic singer, songwriter and guitarist José González has made his upcoming album Vestiges & Claws available for streaming on NPR. Slated for release in eight days time on Feb. 17, the album is the first solo LP from the Swedish indie-folk artist since 2007's In Our Nature.
He commented on the direction of the album and the message he wanted to convey with his songwriting via a press release.
"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."
This is the first, full-length work from González since his album as a part of Junip when they released their self-titled sophomore LP in 2013.
González is preparing to kick off his first North American tour since 2008 this April with the help of Icelandic singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Olöf Arnalds as his opener. He will be hitting urban hotspots like Washington, D.C., New York City, Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago and elsewhere.
José González's 2015 North American Tour
4/6: Philadelphia @ Union Transfer
4/7: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
4/8: Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
4/10: New York @ Webster Hall - SOLD OUT
4/11: Boston @ Paradise - SOLD OUT
4/12: Montreal @ Corona Theatre
4/13: Toronto @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
4/14: Chicago @ Lincoln Hall - SOLD OUT
4/15: Chicago @ Lincoln Hall - SOLD OUT
4/16: Minneapolis @ Cedar Cultural Center
4/18: Madison @ Majestic Theatre - SOLD OUT
4/21: Englewood @ Gothic Theatre
4/22: Salt Lake City @ The Depot
4/24: Portland @ Wonder Ballroom
4/25: Vancouver @ Imperial - SOLD OUT
4/27: San Francisco @ Bimbo's 365 Club - SOLD OUT
4/28: San Francisco @ Bimbo's 365 Club - SOLD OUT
4/29: Los Angeles @ The Regent - SOLD OUT
4/30: Los Angeles @ The Regent
