2008 Woodie Awards
New Album by Banhart Can't Be Classified
Devebdra and his band of gyspsies make beautiful folk music.
David McKinley
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: Online Exclusive
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It seems that on every new album Banhart, who was named by an Indian Mystic his parents used to follow, becomes more and more eclectic. He continues to pick up new styles of music and experiment with new sounds, so much so that he has created his own genre.
Banhart's new album "Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon," is no exception to the rule.
Banhart and his gang of bearded hippies can no longer be called mere psychedelic freak-folkers, as some critics like to define them. With "Smokey" the band defies any form of categorization or classification.
The eclectic mixture of tracks includes tunes in both Spanish and English, piano ballads, epic jams, tripped out reggae numbers and soul songs to boot.
The different styles of music on one album alone should prove that the band is not worthy of being lumped into just one genre or another, with other, "lesser artists."
However, if you are unconvinced, perhaps the impressive guest list is further evidence of Devendra's genius, for "Smokey," unique in its own right, features an even more exceptional company of special visitors.
The album opens with a slow and eerie Spanish tune entitled "Cristobal." On the track Banhart sings a haunting, multi-faceted lead vocal in unison with Gael Garcia Bernal, not a musician, but an actor, best known for his work in "The Science of Sleep," and "Babel."
"Smokey" also features Chris Robinson, lead singer of The Black Crowes, on an instrument called the Charango. Robinson plays the device, which looks like it would be more useful in a Picasso painting then a recording studio, on track three, an upbeat Spanish number called "Samba Vexillographica."
Banhart also includes a group of gospel singers on song number 10, one of the albums best, simply entitled "Saved."
To round out his strange list of friends Banhart includes Nick Valensi, lead guitarist for The Strokes, on a track entitled "Shabop Shalom." "Shabop" is a whimsical and humorous number about a Jewish boy who glances a Rabbi's daughter and immediately falls in love.
Overall the track sounds like it belongs on Frank Zappa's "Sheik Yerbouti" rather then a Devendra Banhart album, but it only further displays Banhart's growth and depth as an artist.
"Smokey," also features several more classic rock inspired tunes including the haunting, slide guitar filled "Bad Girl," the danceable, T. Rex-esque "Lover," and an airy, melodic track entitled "Seaside."
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