It’s telling that my favorite Devendra track is “Seahorse” off 2007’s Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon. At once a dusky Topanga folk jam, a Doors-style rave up and inspired psych workout, the song is a distant cry from Banhart’s early catalog on Michael Gira’s Young God Records. Most impressive is that throughout its ramshackle 8+ minutes it all manages to work without sliding off the rails.
September 2009: “Baby“, the first ‘postable’ mp3 from Banhart’s upcoming major label debut, What We Will Be, furthers this transformation from ‘freak-folk’ poster boy to genre-bending rocker — think of the track as a close cousin (and mellower) follow up to Thunder Canyon’s “Lover.” What We Will Be drops next month via Warner Brothers Records.
Saw him last month, he played this new song called “Rats” which sounded like Black Sabbath. I shit you not.
Thanks for posting this up! Very much looking fwd to this record!
My wife absolutely loves this guy. It took my about 4 years to finally come around. He’s so damn good. He slides in and out of styles so seamlessly that I rarely even noticed he’s 180’d on me. I was bummed he cancelled his show in Chico….