In Our Nature
by Jose Gonzalez
  • Record Label: Mute
  • Release Date: Sep 25, 2007
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Paste Magazine
    60
    In Our Nature’s fingerpicked reveries, sonic gentility and lugubrious vibe might tug at your eyelids, but be warned: Its heavy-hearted sentiments are hardly the stuff of dreams.
  2. PopMatters
    60
    'Time to Send Someone Away' has an expansive, Atmosphere-style hip hop background with held-out strings and a broken, chilled beat. This actually suits Gonzalez’s dreamy vocals while the hiccuping, minimal percussive sound that serves as accompaniment on In Our Nature feels emotionally thin in comparison.
  3. Rolling Stone
    60
    Gonzalez hasn't done much to snazz up his sound for his second album, In Our Nature, another mellow folk record that, at its best, sidesteps coffee-shop commonplaces.
  5. Slant Magazine
    60
    These songs are never less than lovely, but they're never really more than lovely either.
  6. Mojo
    60
    He's a master of umbral moods, and in this respect at least, In Our Nature is a worthy successor to the phenomenal "Veneer." [Oct 2007, p102]
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  7. Under The Radar
    60
    There's no denying the power of Gonzalez, and the draw of his voice and guitar. But it's better heard in small doses, as over the course of an album his chosen sound feels limiting. [Summer 2007, p.73]
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  8. Q Magazine
    60
    It lacks the spark of greatness, although 'Cycling Trivialities' and 'Killing For Love' trundle along merrily. [Oct 2007, p.98]
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  9. Lost At Sea
    55
    As it is now, decidedly un-personal, In Our Nature falls flat.
  10. Filter
    54
    In Our Nature is a compelling but not fascinating portrait of an artist at ease in his element.
  11. Blender
    50
    Like his debut, is a coffeehouse classical-guitar-and-voice affair long on tonal beauty but short on melody and emotion. [Sep 2007, p.126]
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  12. Spin
    40
    This sophomore set from the Swedish acoustic troubadour is undeniably pretty but ultimately doesn't hint at much more. [Oct 2007, p.102]
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Awards & Rankings

82
#82 Most Shared Album of 2007

User Reviews

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User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. clem666
    Jun 18, 2023
    7
    An album that exudes humility and simplicity. With ten tracks and a running time of 33 minutes, this project showcases José Gonzalez's talentsAn album that exudes humility and simplicity. With ten tracks and a running time of 33 minutes, this project showcases José Gonzalez's talents as a guitarist. However, the brevity of the disc prevents us from getting bored by the monotonous tone and rhythm of the whole. The tracks really plunge us into a bubble of calm, while Gonzalez lulls us with repetitive hooks and short ideas.
    Surely not a masterpiece but still very enjoyable for these long summer evenings.    … Full Review »
  2. JasonJ
    Dec 6, 2007
    9
    This record is my only J.G. experience. 'Moody', 'Cerebral', 'Atmospheric' are all appropriate adjectives. If I This record is my only J.G. experience. 'Moody', 'Cerebral', 'Atmospheric' are all appropriate adjectives. If I were arch, I'd say that if Cat Stevens, the band America, and Jerve Villachez could spawn a love child somehow, that that would be a pretty good description of J.G.'s sound. I don't know anything about record production, but I'm pretty sure that this record would have been better if it had a producer with better ears, someone to clean up some of the muddiness of J.G.'s guitar work and to lay off the reverb for an already haunting sound. An enjoyable album. The songs are shockingly short and proletarian poetic. Enjoyable.… Full Review »
  3. Czar
    Nov 22, 2007
    9
    Beautiful album, Down the line Teardrop really blew me away.
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