Local Valley is the fourth studio album by Swedish singer-songwriter José González, released on 17 September 2021 by City Slang and Mute Records.[6][7]
Local Valley | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 17 September 2021 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Folk,[1][2][3] indie folk[4][5] | |||
Length | 41:55 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | José González | |||
José González chronology | ||||
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Singles from Local Valley | ||||
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It succeeds González's third studio album Vestiges and Claws, which was released in 2015, as well as the live album Live in Europe.[8]
Four singles preceded Local Valley, including "El Invento",[9] "Visions"[10][11] "Head On",[12] and "Swing".[13]
Background
editLocal Valley was recorded and produced by José González at Studio Koltrast in Hakefjorden and Studio Koltrast in Linné, Sweden.[14][15] "Line of Fire" is a re-recording of the 2013 song of the same name by González's band, Junip.[16]
Critical reception
editAggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.3/10[17] |
Metacritic | 76/100[18] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [19] |
American Songwriter | [1] |
Clash | 7/10[20] |
Gigwise | [2] |
The Line of Best Fit | 7/10[3] |
Mojo | [16] |
Pitchfork | 6.6/10[5] |
PopMatters | 7/10[21] |
Uncut | 8/10[14] |
Under the Radar | 8/10[4] |
Local Valley received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 76, based on 12 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[18] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.3 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[17] In an 8/10 review, Sam Richards of Uncut wrote, "His always inventive finger- picking is more expansive and fluid, his vocals less vexed, his melodies more direct. As a result, [second track] "Visions" might be the best song he's written since his 2003 debut single "Crosses"."[14] Victoria Segal of Mojo wrote, "Local Valley has no lows, nor any thrilling highs, but it's an even, easy pleasure from start to finish."[16]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by José González, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "El Invento" | 2:33 | |
2. | "Visions" | 3:55 | |
3. | "Void" | 3:09 | |
4. | "Horizons" | 3:16 | |
5. | "Head On" | 4:45 | |
6. | "Valle Local" | 2:23 | |
7. | "Lasso In" | 3:47 | |
8. | "Lilla G" | 2:00 | |
9. | "Swing" |
| 3:33 |
10. | "Tjomme" | 4:56 | |
11. | "Line of Fire" |
| 3:08 |
12. | "En Stund På Jorden" | Laleh Pourkarim | 2:42 |
13. | "Honey Honey" |
| 1:48 |
Total length: | 41:55 |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies an additional lyricist
Charts
editChart (2021) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[23] | 41 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[24] | 72 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[25] | 156 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[26] | 20 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[27] | 43 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[28] | 25 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[29] | 77 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[30] | 25 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] | 41 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[32] | 9 |
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[33] | 12 |
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[34] | 29 |
References
edit- ^ a b Zimmerman, Lee (17 September 2021). "Review: Jose Gonzalez Wanders Deep Into a Local Valley". American Songwriter. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ a b Giouras, Philip (16 September 2021). "Album Review: José González - Local Valley". Gigwise. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ a b Cromb, Dan (15 September 2021). "José González provides relief from modern life on Local Valley". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ a b Godfrey, Hayden (17 September 2021). "José González: Local Valley (Mute)". Under the Radar. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ a b Schonfeld, Zach (1 October 2021). "José González: Local Valley Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ^ "MUTE Bank - José González - Local Valley". MUTE Bank. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Co, Truth & (8 August 2021). "José González - Local Valley". City Slang. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "José González Announces New Album Local Valley, Shares New Song". Pitchfork. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ Monroe, Jazz (17 February 2021). "José González Returns With First New Song in 5 Years: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ "José González announces new album Local Valley, shares "Visions"". The FADER. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "José González announces new album Local Valley and shares 'Visions'". NME. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "Jose Gonzalez shares dreamy new single 'Head On'". 9 June 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ Kenneally, Cerys (18 August 2021). "José González previews first album in six years with new single "Swing"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ a b c Richards, Sam (October 2021). "José González – Local Valley: Former acoustic moper finds a joyful new purpose". Uncut. No. 293. p. 32.
- ^ "Local Valley". Bandcamp. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ^ a b c Segal, Victoria (October 2021). "José González – Local Valley: Fourth album from subtle Swedish-Argentinian singer-songwriter". Mojo. No. 335. p. 91.
- ^ a b "Local Valley by José González reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Local Valley by José González Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ Monger, Timothy. "Local Valley - José González". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ Garner, Shannon (21 September 2021). "José González - Local Valley". Clash. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ Horowitz, Steve (5 October 2021). "José González Softly Goes to the Local Valley to Find Himself". PopMatters. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ Redfern, Mark. "José González Announces First New Album in Six Years, Shares New Song "Visions"". www.undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – José González – Local Valley" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – José González – Local Valley" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – José González – Local Valley" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – José González – Local Valley" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – José González – Local Valley". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – José González – Local Valley". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ "Veckolista Album, vecka 38". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – José González – Local Valley". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ "Jose Gonzalez Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "Jose Gonzalez Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2021.