Dan Gonzalez: Press/Reviews

Enchanting Spanish-style acoustic guitar dances throughout Public Square, the latest from Dan Gonzalez. The sound is so lovely that you may be tempted to focus soley on the music, letting words slip by. But that would be a crime. The Boston-based artist's intelligent lyrics focus on everything from the campaign against terror, to the irony of celebrating Columbus Day, to the plight of rich, bored, housewives.

Especially noteworthy are "Whatever Gets Me" ("This is only a test to see if they might scare me to death / With all those warnings on TV") and the enthralling "Be Careful of the Gypsies" ("Watch your money, these streets are dripping thieves / That's what I've been told").

It's rare to find this marriage of smart social commentary with great music, but Gonzalez has done just that, fair and Square.

Public Square [the album] is excellent.

...[a] literate topical balladeer.

Great is great, and you are! You have such a fabulous songcraft in every sense with a fine grasp of lyric writing, melody, arrangement, structures and performances both vocal and musical. Your lyrics especially shine bright.

Dan Gonzalez brings a delicate flavor to his music, like a fine meal. It's good for you too, as he is a folk singer in the truest sense of the word. Public Square's social justice theme invigorates and inspires as it delights and nurtures. The CD lived in my player for weeks. Dan Gonzalez, write it down, Dan Gonzalez.

WUMB Interview: Click to Listen

...thoughtful songs from this socially conscious Berklee grad.

[Gonzalez's] songs paint pictures more than tell stories...

...a great voice combined with spare, beautiful production and a slightly off-kilter world view. Dan never takes the easy way out, but he still makes it easy on the ears. Get to know this guy...

Gonzalez is the future of the singer songwriter. I've seen him live, and he is a masterful solo performer. A welcome relief from the monotony of other singer/songwriters that have come on the scene in the past few years. [His] CD is a must have. Senorita Jones is a particular favorite.

Dan Gonzalez is a rich, melodic voice that has something to say. Leaving no subject untouched, from a poignant exposure of loss in Maybe You Should Meet Her to the visceral reaction against the darker side of humanity in Animals, Dan Gonzalez makes poetry of what most of us feel in the depths of our soul but never know how to vocalize.

Dan brings a rare honesty to his music, allowing listeners to place themselves in...his songs? storylines. I look forward to hearing what comes next after such a strong debut.

Albums with a message often sound whiney and lack entertainment value. The unfortunate alternative is a collection of pop tunes devoid of substance. In this CD, Dan's captured the best of both worlds - highly entertaining and rich in meaning.

Being a musician and knowing about sound, it's difficult to just listen without thinking that this should be this way or that should be that. I call performances like yours "The Greyhound Experience", because I can sit back and leave all the driving to you. My girlfriend is an artist and when we are looking at something, she starts to explain to me how everything works and I say, "Don't tell me I just want to see the magic and not the trick." Your performance Thursday night was all Magic! Thanks!

Daniel Gonzalez of Brookline was honored with the Scott Benson Scholarship at Berklee College of Music?s annual Spring Awards. Gonzalez was recognized for outstanding musical and academic achievement. Each spring semester, students are nominated for awards by Berklee department chairs, faculty, and staff. The committee identifies students who have the potential to become a leader in the music industry.