5 Albums Greg Gonzalez of Cigarettes After Sex Can’t Live Without

Explore the albums that shaped Greg Gonzalez’s dreamy sound and personal journey in music.

Music has this uncanny power to shape our lives, doesn’t it? For Greg Gonzalez, the enigmatic frontman of Cigarettes After Sex, it’s no different. His hauntingly beautiful love songs didn’t just appear out of nowhere—they were nurtured by a handful of albums that left permanent imprints on his soul and his artistry. Let’s dive into the five records Greg simply can’t live without and the stories behind them.

1. La Question by Françoise Hardy

Picture this: Greg, sitting alone in his car parked outside a bar called Black Market back in his hometown of El Paso, Texas. The air was thick with anticipation, waiting for a girl who was running late. To pass the time, he slid in Françoise Hardy’s La Question CD—an album he had just received in the mail after being utterly enchanted by her song “Tous les garçons et les filles.”

Then came “Doigts,” a track halfway through the album that struck Greg like a lightning bolt. The way Françoise’s voice floated over the melody sparked that familiar flutter of falling in love—an overwhelming sensation that imprinted itself on his young heart. In that moment, Greg knew he wanted to craft music with the same tender vulnerability and allure.

Fast forward about ten years, and fate brought him and his band together with Françoise herself in Paris. The connection was surreal; they were flying from Bangkok when Greg’s manager got an email—Françoise was a huge fan of Cigarettes After Sex! Meeting her for dinner turned into one of his most cherished memories, capped off by her gifting him a mix CD that featured “Doigts.” That track, the very song that inspired him, still holds a sacred place in his heart.

2. Floating into the Night by Julee Cruise

Back in the early 2000s, a young Greg was recording with his high school band at a music engineering school in Tempe, Arizona. On the side, he hunted through local record stores, and it was here he snagged an album that would become a huge influence: Floating into the Night by Julee Cruise.

He paired it with Cocteau Twins’ Treasure without fully grasping the profound impact these records would have on his future sound. While Treasure enchanted him, it was Floating into the Night that truly captivated his imagination. The ethereal “The World Spins” remains one of his all-time favorites—especially perfect for those quiet moments when snow gently falls.

What makes this album even more special is its collaboration with David Lynch, who wrote the lyrics and infused the whole project with his cinematic vision. Greg admired Lynch’s groundbreaking artistry, and when his own band gained recognition, Lynch mentioned how Cigarettes After Sex’s song “Sweet” gave him “hope for the future”—a compliment that still resonates deeply with Greg.

Though Greg never met Lynch in person, he treasures an advance copy of Lynch’s Cellophane Memories—a poignant keepsake especially given that Julee Cruise, Angelo Badalamenti, and Lynch himself have since passed away. Their legacy, though, lives on vibrantly through music.

3. Final Fantasy VI: Original Sound Version by Nobuo Uematsu

Here’s a fun twist: one of Greg’s crucial influences isn’t just an album—it’s a video game soundtrack. When he was about 11, he pulled a classic kid move—faking sick to stay home from school just so he could immerse himself in Final Fantasy III (later renamed Final Fantasy VI) on his Super Nintendo.

He would spend the entire day in the living room, eyes glued to the screen, lost in the world and more importantly, the music. Nobuo Uematsu’s soundtrack was unlike anything Greg had heard: delicate, strange, ambient, and melodic in ways that painted vivid pictures in his mind. It was a gateway to familiar places and far-off realms, and it sparked a desire to create music that could transport listeners just the same.

Even now, the soundtrack remains close to Greg’s heart, a reminder of youthful wonder and the magic that music can conjure. Funny how sometimes, pretending to be sick leads to the most unforgettable moments.

4. Kind of Blue by Miles Davis

If you think of music as a healing balm, Kind of Blue by Miles Davis is one of Greg’s lifesavers. During high school, he faced an intense and terrifying experience after taking LSD, which left him feeling disconnected from reality—like life was a simulation and his body would sometimes go numb. It was a daily battle with anxiety and a mind on edge.

To cope, Greg found solace in an unlikely combo: sipping lemon-flavored Theraflu (which made him drowsy) while listening to Kind of Blue on repeat in bed. The album’s intricate, hypnotic lullabies carried a calming, almost druggy sweetness that perfectly matched those moments of vulnerability.

This album became a lifeline, a musical sanctuary that helped Greg stabilize his thoughts and emotions. It’s not just a favorite record—it’s a testament to music’s power to save lives and offer hope when things feel darkest. Greg aspires to imbue his own music with that same gentle, restorative quality.

5. The White Album by The Beatles

Finally, there’s The White Album, which Greg affectionately calls his “unofficial No. 1 album” (though La Question holds the official crown). This Beatles classic isn’t just a record for him—it’s a vessel of family memories.

His mom, a devoted Beatles fan, knew every lyric to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and even took a single guitar lesson as a teen where “Hey Jude” was the song to learn. Meanwhile, his dad created a sweet memory by taking young Greg to Best Buy to pick up The White Album on CD. They’d come home, sit by the “big” living room stereo, and sing along. Greg fondly recalls his dad’s playful rendition of “Rocky Raccoon” and even the quirky “Revolution 9” with its repeated “Number 9” chants.

For Greg, this album is not just about the music—it’s about the warmth of those moments, the soundtrack to his childhood and the foundation of his lifelong love for music.

Final Thoughts

These five albums are more than just records on a shelf for Greg Gonzalez—they are the emotional, creative, and nostalgic threads woven through the fabric of his life and work. Each holds a story, a feeling, or a lesson that shaped who he is as an artist and a person. From Francoise Hardy’s whispery confessions to the timeless jazz of Miles Davis, from video game soundtracks to the familial Beatles singalongs, Greg’s musical taste is as rich and evocative as his songs.

What albums have changed your life like these did for Greg? Sometimes, the right record at the right moment can illuminate your path in unexpected ways.

FAQ

• Which album inspired Greg Gonzalez’s signature dreamy sound?
  Françoise Hardy’s La Question profoundly influenced his approach to intimate and vulnerable music.
• How did David Lynch connect with Cigarettes After Sex?
  David Lynch praised their song “Sweet,” saying it gave him “hope for the future,” and even sent Greg an advance copy of his album Cellophane Memories.
• Why does Greg consider a video game soundtrack essential?
  The Final Fantasy VI soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu sparked his imagination with its beautiful melodies and ambient textures, shaping his musical vision.
• What role did Kind of Blue play in Greg’s life?
  It was a soothing presence during a difficult period of anxiety, helping him find calm through its jazz lullabies.
• What family memories does The White Album evoke for Greg?
  It reminds him of bonding moments with his parents, singing along to Beatles classics and sharing musical experiences that shaped his childhood.

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