Bandbox Unboxed Vol. 34 – José González

Prepare your turntable for heavy rotation spinners vinyl fans, ’cause Bandbox is out to bring the record store to your own front door.

Groove is in the Bandbox

That’s right music fans, Team Bandbox is offering a truly tailor made vinyl club experience every month by letting you fill your box with artists and albums that fit your own personal tastes. As their slogan goes, it’s pretty much like having the record store delivered to your front door every month. And Bandbox is currently boasting a record store style variety of artists with a treasure trove of exclusive pressings you really do not want to sleep on.

Having it your way really is the Bandbox mantra. Offering subscribers the choice of a single album from an artist you adore, and a fresh edition of Bandbox’s artist-specific fan zine showing up every single month, the B-Box service has effectively made it possible to do a little bin-diving from the comfort your very own home. And you can now dig their vinyl+zine treasures for a beyond reasonable $29 a month. 

Did I mention Bandbox even offers FREE SHIPPING for members? They do. And that’s the icing on the record club cake. So what choose to get packed up in this month’s Bandbox? An indie folk stunner from Mr. José González.

Before we continue, you should know up front Bandbox’s format is designed to ease the nerves of folks wary of the record club scene. And yes, you can still choose to be surprised every month if surprises happen to be your bag. If you’re not feeling any of the album’s Bandbox is offering, you can also pump the brakes at any time by simply pausing your sub. It’s unlikely you’ll want to pause anything once you’ve signed up and experienced BandBox for yourself. Just know that your Bandbox experience will be every bit as amazing as you make it.

Let the Great World Spin

Whether you came to love his music with the indie rock outfit Junip, or discovered him via his solo efforts, you know José González to be an artist of singular talents. You also know his albums are all worthy of the Bandbox treatment. Thankfully, Team Bandbox tabbed one of his finest efforts for their exclusive, and they even boxed it up with their signature “deep dive” fan-zine. Here’s a quick look.

As with pretty much every José González release, Vestiges & Claws comes in a gatefold sleeve adorned with some truly jaw-dropping artwork.

And in case there were any question, Bandbox did did plenty of leg-work in bringing this re-issue to the masses. So much so they even got their name printed on the sleeve… which is pretty cool.

José González – Vestiges & Claws (2015)

The label “indie folk” might well turn a few folks off of this record because, well, without throwing any artist or bands under the bus, there’s been a glut of such acts hitting the scene in the past couple of decades, and the term “cookie cutter” can be applied to many of them. On paper, José González is admittedly very much part of the pack. But I can assure you there’s nothing “cookie cutter” about what this man can do with little more than a guitar, a few turns of phrase, and his own voice.

Throughout most of Vestiges & Claws, all you get form González is voice and guitar, with occasional bits of finger snapping, hand clapping, and other percussive flights of fancy. As has been the way with much of the singer-songwriter’s solo efforts, he turns that seeming simplicity into a soul-stirring collection of songs cracking with ethereal energy, rogue’s wit, and incisive emotional insight.

Like many of his past solo albums, Vestiges & Claws unfolds with a weighty sort of spirituality that’s bolstered by moody chord progressions and González’s haunting, whispery vocals. But there’s a wistful airiness in play here that ensures things never get too heavy. At times, Vestiges & Claws even feels pretty breezy… particularly by González’s usual standards.

Though Vestiges & Claws is inherently a folk album at heart, it somehow never really feels like one. Though it’s a far cry stylistically from González’s work with his more properly indie rock influenced outfit Junip, Vestiges & Claws feels a bit like a proper companion piece that group’s self-titled 2014 release. And to anyone interested in delving into the dreamlike sonic world of José González, either of those albums are about as perfect an entry point as you’ll find.

Just FYI – whether you’re new to the work of José González, or have been following him for years, you’re sure to discover tons of fascinating facts about the man in the pages of Bandbox’s accompanying zine. And yes, you’ll even find González himself discussing Vestiges & Claws in detail – including a full track by track breakdown of the album. Check it out.

And for anyone wondering about the wax, well, this “afterglow” mint effect is truly a sight to behold.

And it’ll no doubt bring the folky fresh vibes to any and every turntable it graces.

It’s the Bandbox You Want and the Bandbox You Need

The vinyl boom is here to stay, friends. And if you’re one of the many who’ve found themselves fervently swept up in the madness, you’re already aware there’s a million and one ways to get your hands on some sweet, sweet wax. While I’d always encourage you to shop first at your local record store, subscription vinyl clubs really are an excellent way to help fill in/round out your growing collection.

The great thing about Bandbox is that they ultimately leave the decision-making up to you. So if you’re looking to snag a copy of your fave band’s most popular album on snazzy colored wax, you can do that. Ditto for some of those overlooked albums chock full of tasty deep cuts. José González will no doubt delight in learning there are still copes of Bandbox’s Vestiges & Claws exclusive in stock. And yes, you can also pickup a couple of his other albums if your interested. Just FYI – you really should be. Happy spinning, gang!

A thousand THANK Yous to the folks at Bandbox for sponsoring this subscription. If you like what you’ve seen here, you can head over to the Bandbox website and sign up to have a sexy new Bandbox delivered to your own front door every single month. While you’re there, feel free to check out their podcast and merch section too! And be sure to check back soon to see what goodies we find in the next Bandbox!