Devendra Banhart -- _Rejoicing in the Hands

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The promo copies are starting to emerge - anyone else had a chance to hear this yet? The thread on his first album is here and I know he's got fans on the board. Much as I liked the first album, I think this is even better -- a little less swirlingly chaotic and to its advantage. He still sings like the ghost of Tyrannosaurus Rex-era Marc Bolan at points, there's a variety of additional performers but often it still feels like it's just him. Currently my fave album of the year along with the Mountain Goats.

Oh yes, and Vashti Bunyan's on this as well. Nice!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 05:24 (twenty-two years ago)

And while I'm thinking of it, the kicker may well be the concluding "Autumn's Child," which is vocal and piano and is very, very moving.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 05:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Gee, I sure would love to hear this.

― Arthur (Arthur), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 06:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Mm.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 06:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, i'm sorta psyched as well. Hung out with him a few times and he's one of the nicest, most down to earth kids I've met in the 'biz' in a long time - the fact that he's so young and so, erm, acclaimed, you'd think it'd go to his head (paging David Ryan Adams).

Is it on Slsk yet?

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 06:42 (twenty-two years ago)

...it may have gone to his head, see photo in recent TONY.

― Venus Glow (1411), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 08:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh my - yeah, this is nice. Less scary and weird than Oh My Oh My, but made up for with beauty, ache, winterspring magic. Lovely: probably the best new record I've heard this year ('cept Kanye). I'll put a track or two on my blog some time soon.

― Sean M (Sean M), Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Vashti Bunyan? Out of nowhere cameo of the year?

― dleone (dleone), Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)

The liner notes are actually sorta cryptic on the point but she's listed as a contributor.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

the new one is much more straightforward. i still like it. his voice is great. i kinda miss the ramshackle loon vibe though of the first one. i hope he makes an album someday that sounded like the group he put together that night at the knitting factory in december.(the show with the great solo-acoustic roger adultery action!)

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

i kinda miss the ramshackle loon vibe though of the first one.

I was listening to that yesterday and while I enjoyed it I think a touch more focus actually plays to his strengths on the new one, as I sorta mutter above. Different strokes etc.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 12 February 2004 18:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Vashti Bunyan? Out of nowhere cameo of the year?

She is also recording with the Animal Collective when they go to England this spring.

― ano ano (Mitchell), Thursday, 12 February 2004 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I must hear this at once!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 12 February 2004 19:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Well seeing as you're coming down to LA this weekend and maybe SHOULD SEND ME YOUR PHONE NUMBER or something I dunno...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 12 February 2004 19:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm excited to hear a new album, because despite the fact that most of the first record wore thin with me after a month, I could hear a lot of promise in it.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Thursday, 12 February 2004 19:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Well seeing as you're coming down to LA this weekend and maybe SHOULD SEND ME YOUR PHONE NUMBER or something I dunno...

OKAY

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 12 February 2004 21:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh good.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 12 February 2004 22:31 (twenty-two years ago)

mmmmmmmmmm.

― toby (tsg20), Saturday, 21 February 2004 21:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Really? REALLY?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Saturday, 21 February 2004 21:47 (twenty-two years ago)

You tease.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Saturday, 21 February 2004 21:47 (twenty-two years ago)

SEND ME THIS NOW @D@M

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Saturday, 21 February 2004 23:33 (twenty-two years ago)

its on slsk. and its really nice

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 22 February 2004 20:28 (twenty-two years ago)

bah i really feel like hearing this

― prima_fassy (mwah), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:33 (twenty-two years ago)

b-but yr on slsk?

― toby (tsg20), Sunday, 22 February 2004 22:13 (twenty-two years ago)

ugh, i don't like this. maybe upon further listening.

― Chris 'The Big Ragu' V (Chris V), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

And while I'm thinking of it, the kicker may well be the concluding "Autumn's Child," which is vocal and piano and is very, very moving

Is this the Beefheart song?

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll have to check the credits again!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Recently got this. My girlfriend thinks he sings like one of the guys from Bugsy Malone and now I can't get that out of my head when I listen to it. That said, This Is The Way is a-floating my boat raddaboutnoww.

― Lynskey (Lynskey), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

It's not Beefheart's "Autumn's Child."

― Salmon Pink (Salmon Pink), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 17:55 (twenty-two years ago)

someone please change my mind on this. im a folky kind of guy too, i should like this.

― Chris 'The Big Ragu' V (Chris V), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Imagine he is singing through gauze.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 18:23 (twenty-two years ago)

hmm interesting...

― Chris 'The Big Ragu' V (Chris V), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 18:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Chris OTM, I had high hopes about this one after reading all the raves it's been getting on ILM, but it just didn't do anything for me, maybe I'm just not enough of a fan of fey folkies, but the whole thing just sounded kind of pretentious and fruity and borderline silly to me

― Josh Love (screamapillar), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, I think it's a lot more conventional than his first album. Also better, due to improved songwriting, singing and backing arrangements that almost always add just the right amount of weight to his performances. Really, this is the kind of record I'd hoped he would make when I heard his first one, and now I'm pretty curious about where he'll go next.

― dleone (dleone), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 19:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't see what there is to NOT like about it, Josh and Chris. It's beautiful - well written, well played. The double shot of "Will Is My Friend" and "This Beard is for Siobhan" is enough for me. Best of 2004, so far, EASY!

Do yall like Karen Dalton? Fred Neil? Margo Guryan? Because I think where the last record seemed to (most likely unintentionally) reference 'outsider' artists, this new one seems like it crept right up from the psychedelic Canterbury waters or something.

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't see what there is to NOT like about it

his voice is awful, but the taste for it can be acquired

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Is it awful? All those years of Marc Bolan love has conditioned me to that kind of singing!

I will be writing a review of it for the Seattle Weekly soon, which pleases me greatly. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:51 (twenty-two years ago)

ok upon further listening i decided it needs further listening. i love the guitar work, but his voice im not so sure about. i enjoyed the spanish song the best.

― Chris 'The Big Ragu' V (Chris V), Thursday, 4 March 2004 11:25 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

On first listen: it's less shambling and cloying than the last album, from which I got the feeling there was a warped genius in there somewhere. Rejoicing in the Hands is getting closer. Plus, it's beautifully recorded.

― mcd (mcd), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 15:09 (twenty-one years ago)

anthony kyle, you're a regular glass empty kind of a guy. fuck's sake lol.

truthfully (roo0000000000000th nose) have only heard/seen a tiny bit of this. long spidery fucking hands on this guy though. this is a good sign. ready to hear this shit properly - might be over or under whelmed... goddammit i'm curious tho'

― v1nnymiller, Wednesday, 28 April 2004 17:20 (twenty-one years ago)

uh oh, did Darn1elle send you, v1nny? I will come to the SF show next month.

my comment above was overstated a bit, I meant his voice can be "annoying", but anyone put off by the first record should give Rejoicing a chance because this is a much more accomplished record.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I really like this. For some reason, his voice reminds me of Jeff Buckley, and I love his guitar playing. And there are some gorgeous instrumental touches at various points as well. recommended tracks: "A Sight to Behold" & "Insect Eyes."

― Salvador Saca (Mr. Xolotl), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 18:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I've been listening to this pretty much incessantly since I got it last month. "The Body Breaks" is just a really beautiful track. I agree that it's more conventional than the last, but there is still some sort of intangible oddness to it that keeps me from classifiying as simply a guy with a guitar. He did a show here recently (san francisco) with joanna newsome, cocorosie and vetiver (whose album is about to come out and features devendra in a mighty way) and it was amazing to sit and be so entertained simply by a barefoot guy sitting indian style onstage. good stuff.

― jon pruett, Wednesday, 28 April 2004 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

There's definitely something mesmerizing about him.

― mcd (mcd), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 18:54 (twenty-one years ago)

i will look for this on my record shopping trip this evening. he was great when i saw him last week. he only played like five songs, though, and that was a bummer. seeing him in a school cafeteria in the middle of the day was... odd.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 20:51 (twenty-one years ago)

i got a used copy of the first one instead. i'll get back to you once i've listened to it in its entirety.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 22:38 (twenty-one years ago)

You know, he sounds a lot like the recordings I've heard by Charles Manson.

― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 23:14 (twenty-one years ago)

the first one isn't like the new one

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 29 April 2004 00:33 (twenty-one years ago)

that is, as I said earlier, if the first one puts you off (it may well), don't be deterred

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 29 April 2004 00:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Still the best record of 2004

tho I await Moz, Streets and Fiery Furnaces with baited breath

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Thursday, 29 April 2004 03:05 (twenty-one years ago)

"IBEH" will have to prove an unfortubate anomaly if the new Moz album is to be any gud.

― Aaron A., Thursday, 29 April 2004 03:28 (twenty-one years ago)

i rove this rots.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Thursday, 29 April 2004 05:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I hope Rove rots.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 29 April 2004 05:09 (twenty-one years ago)

IS SCOOBY DOO LOST ON YOU PEOPLE?

― Ian Johnson (orion), Thursday, 29 April 2004 05:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Rejoicing Rin Ra Rands

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 29 April 2004 05:12 (twenty-one years ago)

it is definitely bedtime homies!!

― Ian Johnson (orion), Thursday, 29 April 2004 05:44 (twenty-one years ago)

hearing this for the first time makes me realise how far i've come from epic song cycle monolith stuff, how bitty my taste is now. thats not a value judgement or anything tho. i think this is the first album ive bought this year. i'm still beguiled but boy do i miss the old lil sketchy moonshine. ("improved songwriting"!!! wtf nuh uh!)

― prima fassy (mwah), Saturday, 1 May 2004 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

The liner notes are actually sorta cryptic = understatement of the year, but anyway yeah anyway, woosh this is great... anybody heard VETIVER yet? it sounds like some kinda kooky psyche folke psupergroup http://www.midheaven.com/artists/vetiver.html

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Thursday, 20 May 2004 00:01 (twenty-one years ago)

vetiver... anyone? anyone?

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 28 May 2004 20:37 (twenty-one years ago)

anthony kyle, you're a regular glass empty kind of a guy.

Haha! OTM.

I prefer the first album.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 28 May 2004 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

me too. this one feels like a slap in the face now. but the word disagrees by the looks of it

― prima fassy (mwah), Friday, 28 May 2004 20:49 (twenty-one years ago)

world, o.

― prima_fassy (mwah), Friday, 28 May 2004 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I want to hear this Vetiver I do.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 28 May 2004 20:51 (twenty-one years ago)

boy do i miss the old lil sketchy moonshine

Well prima, this is basically what I wanted to say, but it would take me a whole para to do it and I still probably wouldn't quite convey what I meant.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 28 May 2004 20:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I've got this Vetiver. Listening now.

― Chris 'The Velvet Bingo' V (Chris V), Saturday, 29 May 2004 12:33 (twenty-one years ago)

not as big on the Vetiver. can't quite finger it. even more tossed-off?

― Beta (abeta), Sunday, 30 May 2004 14:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Vetiver samples.

― Momus (Momus), Sunday, 30 May 2004 16:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I think I like Vetiver better than Devendra. Less annoying in the voice dept.

― Chris 'The Velvet Bingo' V (Chris V), Tuesday, 1 June 2004 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

― Ian Johnson (orion), Thursday, 3 June 2004 05:38 (twenty-one years ago)

show last night. vetiver= need to get cd, newsom = amazing, banhart = intriguing, never heard before... he's got great lyrics, very goofy! what was he saying?"michigan state, i've never been to you" and "a snail's got my favorite slow" "cold's got my favorite snow" "my toes got my favorite feet" !!

― ron (ron), Sunday, 6 June 2004 15:20 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

I like this album quite a bit. Good songs, and the clearer sound suits him better than the cheap 4-track IMO. The production is excellent, just the right bits to go w/ voice and guitar.

But one thing I find lacking in Banhart, and it' pretty major, something that keeps him from being great, is that his lyrics do nothing for me. They seem like pretty standard indie rock placeholders, created because they sound interesting and for no other reason. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with that, but Banhart's music has an intimacy that makes me wish the lyrics communicated in a more direct way.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 16 August 2004 20:41 (twenty-one years ago)

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Devendra Banhart -- _Rejoicing in the Hands_