If you haven't heard, Detroit-born Argentine singer-songwriter and former Elefant frontman Diego Garcia's second album, Paradise, is pretty and pretty good. Actually, I think it's one of my favorites of the year. Paradise, Garcia's second following the almost as amazing Laura (2011), is a collection of songs that finds Garcia in familiar form; updating the golden age of 70's and 80's era Latin ballads through the lens of indie music. With influences like Julio Iglesias, Leonardo Favio, Piero and Roberto Carlos, it's also clear he's got a thing for love songs. Love songs that are less cheesey and more piquant; tortured loves, laced with sadness.
Despite the Latin connection, the songs on Paradise are mostly sung in English, perhaps making it easier for a casual listener to fully enjoy. Even on the song I played at noon "Donde Estas", only the chorus was in Spanish. And what a beautiful, dreamy tune it was...