Rejoicing In The Hands

0/16 and I can confidently say this was the worst album I’ve ever listened to. Bless whoever gets this next

Siri, please find me better albums.. *Siri blinks* "I'm sorry, there are over one thousand albums in this list made in the UK so you will have some stinkers. Understood, thanks Siri.

This reminds me of living in halls at university and having to endure the faux-hippy twat upstairs playing his guitar and ‘singing’ to try and impress girls. It should never have been committed to tape, let alone appear in the this list.

I love the album cover, but have no clue what is in store. And after the first two songs I don’t have my bearings. I’m think I might be enjoying this - but I feel a little lost. Is this music from India? The songs hint of something exotic… or not? I’m not sure. I like the lyrics, and love the cracking and vibrato in the singer’s voice. By the time I get to “Poughkeepsie” I don’t feel any more grounded. When he starts listing Elvis songs I don’t know what to make of this. I feel like I may be in a parallel universe. This music is familiar and yet very alien. “Dogs They Make Up The Dark” happens and I don’t know if I like it or not. With “Will Is My My Friend” I’m sensing something really beautiful. But I still can’t bring it into focus. As I listen to “This Beard Is For Siobhan” I’m still unable to get a lock on this album or how I feel about it. I understand the words but this is really beyond me. Everything about this album feels just out of my reach. There’s something tantalizing and… amazing?… here, but I can’t quite grasp it. Nor can I walk away. The instrumental “Tit Smoking In The Temple Of Artesan Mimicry” happens then “Rejoicing In The Hands”… am I listening to something in the Asian tradition? As I listen to “Fall” I’m starting to think I need a guide. Did I say “Asian tradition” earlier? Here’s “Todo Los Delores”. The false start is enchanting. Who is Devendra Barnhart? What am I listening to? This album has affected me deeply. But it is also defying me. And I don’t know how I feel about it. “Insect Eyes” is really disconcerting. How can I be listening to a song and be so on the verge of love and hate at the same time?! As I listen I return to the cover art and it now feels soothing and sinister. “Autumn’s Child” is a dirge that draws me in while offering no satisfaction. The album ends. Listening to this was confounding, tantalizing, intriguing, maddening, soothing, familiar, alien. I am moved, repulsed, seduced, repelled and adrift. REJOICING IN THE HANDS confounds my effort to assign a score. It’s almost as if it has opened the door to a parallel universe. I have no idea if that is somewhere I want to be. Yet I am compelled to listen again… …on the second listen I really enjoyed this. Still not confident I know what this is all about, but I’m ready to take my little teeth out dancing and show them a real good time.

Loved the first few tracks, loved the last few tracks, but I got a bit bogged down in the middle. Overall, I like this Joanna Newsom-y kind of thing: a coffee shop guitar, quirky lyrics. The first lines and the last lines of the first song won me over right away and will be a hymn in my own personal church: "This is the soup that I believe in This is the smoke I'm always breathin' This is the way I share my breakfast ... Well we've known we've known We've had a choice We chose rejoice" I'm interested in hearing more from this guy.

This album is a gem, really liked several songs. He’s got a cool voice, simple but solid guitar work, and some clever lyrics. Best one in quite a while

I guess you either like his annoying voice or you don’t. I did

Devendra Obi Banhart - born in Texas. His first name was chosen by his parent’s guru and his middle name was from, you guessed it, Obi-Wan Kenobi. I can’t make this up. With this etymology, we have a quirky, artsy, original, intelligent singer - songwriter who sounds like an early days Tom Waits but sober.

It’s been a while since I listened to an album where I was praying that each track was the last one. First the good: His guitar playing is impressive and I really liked the instrumental track with the pretentious hipster name “Tit Smoking in the Temple of Artesan Mimicry.” Now the bad: This is the annoying kind of artsy shit that makes you want to listen to a Kiss album after it's over, even you don’t like Kiss. It's the bad kind of pretentious, not the good kind. That warble he kept adding to his voice just got more annoying as each track passed. The only thing that brought this up to 2 stars was the good mentioned above. I didn’t even give this one a second listen because I knew that the at best it would stay 2 stars but I might have just been annoyed enough to drop it down to 1.

This is a lovely album of sparse eastern tinged folk music. Lyrics are poetic and sung in a light and personal manner, but with enough tension to keep me interested. In many ways, this reminds me of Marc Bolan's music in the late sixties with Tyrannosaurus Rex. The album is utterly charming and highly recommended.

Such a new and interesting sound that I actually listened to this album twice yesterday. Will be adding it to my rotation.

Fiona appleesqe, but with less feeling, and a man. Enjoyed it.

I know I've listened to Devendra Banhart before, he's a very quirky folksy artist. I love his song "I Feel Just LIke a Child." This album definitely fits that mold. Great instrumentation and melodies. His vocal performances are strange, but still enjoyable. It's folk music on a few drugs. I enjoyed this, but didn't love it. Favorite tracks: A Sight to Behold, Insect Eyes, Dogs They Make Up the Dark. Album art: This one's really cool. The drawings seem simple, ancient, and kind of creepy. 3.5/5

Production: 8/20 Songwriting: 7/20 Innovation: 7/20 Bangers: 0/20 Emotional response: 4/20 =26 I have nothing to say except this was booooooring

Chilled and relaxing album that caught me on another mentally tender day. These sorts of simple acoustic folk albums always make me want to go venture into the nearest forest and go and immerse myself in nature, maybe befriend some wildlife, become a wendigo or something. I dunno. Either way this was a really pleasant album, and I think the beauty comes from the raw, somewhat unrefined nature of the album. This was just a nice and comfy folk album, and I appreciated it a lot. Favourite: Insect Eyes

Very enjoyable exotic sounding folky singer-songwriter album. In a way a pleasent mix of kiltro and nick drake. The soothing loose string guitar sound with the singer's crooning voice is simply a delicious meal for my ears. Wouldn't necessarily say it's as good Nick Drake or Kiltro, but still a big thumbs up. 8.7/10

Absolutely gorgeous. I only wish it was longer. Not quite 5 stars, but a well-deserved 4.

I would say that folk is my primary genre that I listen to and to me this is a decent early 2000s folk album. But as far as early 2000s folk goes there are much more notable albums missing from this list. Sufjan Stevens' Michigan had come out about a year before this and his album Seven Swans came out a little over a month before. Iron and Wine had also just released Our Endless Numbered Days which belongs on this list as well. That all being said I think it's still a good album and I'm just being picky because it is my genre of choice. I think there is a good exploration of different instruments and playing styles without being overwhelming. Which is something more experimental folk musicians struggle to achieve.

It’s ok. Venezuelan singer songwriter, mostly solo guitar, but also some string arrangements. Mostly under 2.5 minutes. I didn’t hate it, so not gonna go below 3, but I’m not sure I’ll ever listen again to be honest. There’s some interesting poetry and guitar playing here and there, but nothing that great. The vocals kinda go back and forth between compelling and slightly off putting. The title track is legit great. I think I’m more of a fan of the more mystical, almost indigenous folk sounding tracks like Fall.

superb folk - one could pick each from his first 3 - 5 albums. Soothingly wise lyrics. Minimalist yet concentrated choice of Instruments. A coherent soul as core of this art.

I was not familiar with Devendra at all, and I was blown away. This is a set of tracks that really feels like a bedroom in the mid 2000s.

Nice to get an album I know and love. This is the Way is a favorite song of mine. Like lots of great poetry, Banhart’s lyrics lie somewhere between nonsense and profundity. And his heavy vibrato voice delivers them perfectly. The fingerpicking isn’t overly complicated, but the songs don’t fall into folkie cliches. Eccentric and whimsical like listening to a familiar stranger play songs by the fire.

That was brilliant. Took me a little while to get on board with the singing but the slightly mathy riffs/timing is right up my street. Poughkeepsie, there was the sun and insect eyes stood out on first listen.

What an album!! Devendra's guitar playing is phenomenal. His quick picking technique is awesome. This was an absolutely phenomenal album by an artist I'd never heard of before! Absolutely beautiful. Something like Hozier but Unplugged. I like the record hiss that you can hear through most of the album. I also like how he left all of the imperfections on the record. It gives it an almost intimate feeling to the album. Almost like Devendra is just sitting around a campfire, dabbling on the guitar for a small audience. Favourite songs: Fall, Insect Eyes, A Sight to Behold, This is the Way, Will Is My Friend, Dogs They Make Up The Dark, There Was The Sun, Todo Los Dolores, Rejoicing in the Hands, When the Sun Shone on Vetiver, Tit Smoking in the Temple of Artesan Mimicry Least favourite songs: Poughkeepsie, See Saw 5/5

so good

The music here was so captivating. It took its hooks and snagged me, dragged me in and imprisoned me in its haunting beauty. Loved it.

Devendras music has always been close to my heart

Great folky album

Acoustic croony tallest man on earth esque

It turns out that I have mixed feelings about Devendra Banhart's oeuvre as I imagine it to be more than as it actually is. I've always associated him with Joanna Newsom and that SF freak-folk thing which I both like and dislike. Of course, I've learned over time that there's a lot more to his music than just that. Taking his records one at a time has been instructive, and this particular album I find thoroughly enjoyable and affecting. A surprise 5 stars today.

Very familiar with more recent DB records but I’ve never listened to this one before. Really enjoyed it, I think this style can often sound familiar or samey, but he manages to keep it interesting with his sound and lyrics. Mostly folky, sometimes lo-fi-y, always bordering strangeness. Most of this album wouldn’t be amiss on a Wes Anderson film, or pretty much any mid-2010s indie film.

Reminds me a lot of the Tallest Man on Earth. I loved just about every one of these tracks, especially Todos los Dolores and Insect Eyes. Eager to check out more Devendra. This is the kind of stuff I started this project for! I think if I were in a better mood I would go full 5 for this, but I'm cranky today and wasn't able to get as into it as I know I would other times

Plaintive and less “freak folk” than I remember—but still a singular statement

After getting a bunch of albums that were mediocre or worse, I have finally stumbled on an album that I think is really interesting. I not big on folk music, but there is something really compelling about this album. The production is great, bringing out the great qualities of his voice and fitting them perfectly with the guitar. The songs are consistently good, and they are variable enough in their structure that the album was able to keep my attention all the way through 4/5

00s album, they only keep 3-4 per year in the book so can't read the write up. Never listened to these at the time. Heard various artists I respect saying it was good, just never got around to it. I guess I was listening to Devotchka instead. With that and Devo, that was the allocation for DEV taken up. A really gentle, indie folk album which was perfect for a Sunday afternoon. Lovely finger picking guitar. His voice and singing style strays occasionally towards the annoying, but mostly stays on the right side of that particular boundary. It's also crucially not sad indie folk, which seemed to be everywhere at the time. Some of it is good but too much was definitely a bad thing. Sufjan Stevens being the most obvious example of the good. I think I'll listen to this again in quiet moments.

Very unique. A wholly new genera for me. Really liked it. Would def listen to again.

This was new to me, so we'll see how it holds up to repeated listens. For now, I'm really into it.

Pretty good mid-2000's indie folk. Well produced, great vocals, though it doesn't push many boundaries. The first few songs are great, but the album does fade away and I found myself losing interest by the end.

Oddball but honest - suffers a tinge of over-tweeness of the noughties but still a good record - at times haunting, at times delightful while being very well paced.

An album that I could kind of tell what it sounded like, but not how much I would enjoy it. It's a little trippy, little weird. The first track had me worried I'd hate it, but the record really grew on me. For some reason, paints a vivid picture of hanging on someone's outdoor porch in the dead of summer: it's hot, sticky, warm, but the conversation is too interesting to really care. Favorite tracks: "The Body Breaks", "Will Is My Friend", "Fall"

Very relaxing and chill album. Great acoustic guitar and vocals. Good intro to Devendra Banhart, he's got some other really cool music, I'll definitely be adding to my rotation. Highlights: -This is the Way -When the Sun Shone on Vetiver -This Beard Is for Siobhan -Insect Eyes

This is a very beautiful album. Banhart's singing is quite unique. The hollow/echo-y recording of the instruments really compliments it well and the combination really creates a dreamlike atmosphere. The way the instruments are recorded kind of reminds me of Blonde on Blonde. The songwriting is also good, enough variety to not get tedious over the 40 minutes of the album, yet maintains a consistent sound throughout. This album seems to have been slightly ahead of the current indie folk wave, Fall sounds like it could be an Alt-J song, also evokes Tallest Man on Earth and Fleet Foxes. Although I wouldn't call it groundbreaking given the long history this sound has. Overall, very much enjoyed, not excellent, but would definitely listen again. Fav Tracks: A Sight to Behold, This Beard is For Siobhan, When The Sun Shone on Vetiever

Imagine my surprise when halfway through 'Rejoicing In The Hands' I googled a pic of Devendra Banhart and… well, let’s just say it was not what I expected at all! I have a good friend (the very one who introduced me to this 1001 LP exercise) who does not appreciate any, and I mean any, pre-knowledge or references to movies he has not yet seen, preferring to experience it himself before entering into a discussion about its meaning. So in the event that he has not had the opportunity to listen to this LP, I don’t want to spoil it for him, or for any of the rest of you. Devendra Banhart, I believe, was born out of time. The arrangement and performance of the songs on 'Rejoicing In The Hands' are minimalist, mostly fingerpicking guitar ala 1960’s folk music, and a handful with an almost early 20th century American ragtime style. Many of the recordings have the sound and feel of live one-takers, captured in a tiny club right before closing, the permeating odor of stale beer and cigarette smoke that hangs in the air mingling with the unrealized desires of the three separate, remaining patrons. Nobody will be going home with anyone, or worse, with the one they didn’t really want in the first place at the beginning of the evening. Devendra’s vocals sound as if Devendra is familiar with this kind of longing; but, also, mercifully, with love. Both hurting and healing may be found in these songs. And sung in a voice that has learned to embrace and endure rather than avoid and deny life’s painful situations. The genre itself has been variously described as freak folk, new weird America (never heard that one), trippy-hippie tone poetry, ashram-appropriate (that one cracks me up.) I like the New York Times’ take on the whole thing: ‘free associative,’ meaning ‘the mental process by which one word or image may spontaneously suggest another without any apparent connection.’ Here’s an example to support that from the second to the last song on the LP: ‘And each strand of… hair is really insect eyes.’ Or the unexplainable (to me, at least) Elvis songs referenced at the end of ‘Poughkeepsie.’ How about this title for free association, the LP’s sole instrumental, ‘Tit Smoking in the Temple of Artesan Mimicry.’ I’m guessing Sigmund Freud, the deviser of the free association technique used in psychoanalysis, would have a field day with this one! All this is to say that it’s probably pointless to spend much time here analyzing Devendra’s lyrics- who knows if I’d hit or miss, or if it matters, or even if there’s a target at all? I did pick up, however, on an awful lot of references to the sun, which seems to shine through the darker places pervading this LP. There was a particularly lovely lyric on ‘The Body Breaks’ that represents this hope amidst the heartache. Following a lot of talk about the body breaking and aching, and that both you and I will get over it eventually, Devendra concludes: ‘The body stays And then the body moves on And I’d really rather not dwell When yours will be gone But within the dark There is a shine One tiny spark That’s yours and mine.’ I can only imagine the experience of listening to 'Rejoicing In The Hands' while backpacking, alone, up in the mountains, enduring the cold and darkness of the wee hours of the morning until finally the warmth of the sun's rays make their first appearance, the daily resurrection of light that the darkness cannot fully overcome. We are alive, thankfully in the Sun’s hands, rejoicing.

This would have fit nicely into the late 60s psychedelic scene. His voice reminds of someone, but I can’t put my finger on who – some reviewer compared him to Nick Drake (who Spotify sent me three times after the last song) but I disagree, other than the fact they are both solo singer-songwriters, playing acoustic guitars. The closest I can think of is Tim Buckley or maybe Ray Davies on a ballad like Sunny Afternoon – but weirder of course. Still it’s very original and interesting material, especially for 2004 and kudos go out to all the people who got this out there. The songwriting is the weak link for me, but with 16 songs sung unaccompanied on solo guitar, I’m not expecting more than a handful to really resonate and songs like A Sight to Behold and Insect Eyes I will definitely listen to again. Between a 3 and 4 for me.

A timely toych of winter melancholy to suit the season. This kind of low(ish) fi singer songwriter stuff will always work for me growing up on a healthy diet of Elliott Smith. Te strange elements of vaudeville, the beautiful guitar flourishes and the emphasis on the corporeal in the lyrics really set this one apart. DBs voice was maybe pushed a little far at times, and it threatens to sink into twee on many occasions, but I was won over. Fave track: Will Is My Friend

Unique and a little weird, but cool album

3rd listen: first two times I gave 3/5 and 3/5. This is the reason for this list: To introduce new albums that we would have never heard of. This is a gem. I'm very grateful to this 1001 project to bring this to my attention. After listening this time, I realized how much I love the album. Standouts (Just about every song!): This is the Way, A Sight to Behold, The Body Breaks, Poughkeepsie, Dogs They Make Up the Dark, This Beard is for Siobhan, See Saw, Todos los Dolores, Insect Eyes 4.5/5

This was great! Finding someone like this that I never heard of is what I was hoping for with this list. Easy 4 stars and could go to 4.5 on repeated listens

I am pretty sure I would find Banhart completely insufferable if I met him in real life. But for the duration of Rejoicing In The Hands, the quirkiness is interesting enough, although a bit too navel-gazing at times. There's also some charm in keeping in obvious guitar mistakes in the final recording.

Amongst the likes of Sufjan Stevens and Bon Iver in the folksy singer/songwriter scene, Devendra Banhart is a name that stands out. Haven't heard of him before but his delicate playing and storytelling can hang with the rest of 'em. He's sweet and sour at the same time, evoking bittersweet feelings of autumn days with only his guitar and voice. It's vaguely evocative of the more tender parts of Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors", while still remaining distinct. On a sleepy weekday morning, Devendra Banhart is a perfect way to appreciate the time.

My expectations were low for this record, as I remember the Pitchfork hype around Devendra Barnhart back in the aughts. It’s not as bad as I was anticipating; a decent left-field folk that probably sounded more ahead of its time when it was released than it does today.

Half the album was pretty decent. Kinda reminds me of Sondre Lerche (Dan in Real Life)

Weird - just weird and not in a good way.

This is the way opens up the album in a boring folk way… ( actually I normally do track by track reviews but I’am not feeling it today so I’ll just sum up my feelings after I’ve herd the album). Okay so here we have a middle class poshie that tries to act all hipster by singing like an old man and spurting the strangest lyrics to some actually decently picked acoustic guitars. I personally believe that all of this combined makes quite a boring experience overall not providing much sonic verity across the tracklist ( all 16 songs!) And yeah even if the average length for a given song is around 2 minutes 16 songs feels like way too long and he should’ve honed in on around 10-12 of them extending their run time to improve the experience. But yeah I don’t think it’s dreadful no where near one of the worst albums ever but still a 2/5.

Too much of the same whimsical acoustic guitar noodling. And 45 minutes of that ridiculous vocal..... nah!!

I was on a streak of boring, medíocre albums, and this one made me miss them.

Lo fi. Lo enjoyment.

false

Big no.

Odd

Torture

gyah, this is a rough listen...repetitive, meandering, pointless plunking. no desire to keep listening.

In theory I should enjoy this - acoustic folky vibe - however it's draab - Minor key central with weary vocals and lyrics...

This album really wins you over. When it started, I was sure I wouldn't like it based off the singing alone. It should annoy me, but when Banhart does it it's relaxing in a way. His songs are really well arranged, and the guitar playing is great. By the end, I really loved it, what a surprising find

I live for this kind of music.

I swear to god it sounds like sufjan was doing backing vocals on some of these tracks

I really loved this one. Great guitar work, great voice, loads of fun. Never heard of them but will seek it more.

- Jo - Hat mich absolut kalt erwischt und total mitgenommen auch nach dem zweiten Hören - Bin ja eigentlich kein riesen Fan von extrem kurzen Songs, aber bei dieser Platte hat das total gepasst, weil trotzdem komplette und runde Songs entstehen, und auch die sehr kurzen 1,5 Minüter sind irgendwie geil, ohne dass man sich danach nach mehr wünscht. - Lass das jetzt noch ein bisschen sacken, aber bisher wirklich ganz stark; ist voll mein Cup of Tea 4,5/5

Había escrito algo hermoso y la mierda esta no me lo guardó, la concha de tu madre, creador de esta mierda.

Indie folk album? Just one guy and his guitar & piano. I really liked it. The songs were soft, slow, haunting in parts, but beautiful. Insect Eyes was a really good song. The majority of songs were only 1-2 minutes long so the album really felt like it was moving at a breakneck speed despite the typically slow tempos. I want to listen again.

Favorited

Eine echte Entdeckung! Die schlichten akustischen Lieder haben es mir angetan.

a lot of the tunes sounded similar but the whole thing was good.

Heel leuk album. Fan van het genre, al zijn de teksten soms nogal vreemd

This album was fantastic!!

Devendra para mí es un dios!!

Amazing album!

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: A sight to behold, This beard is for Siobhan, Rejoicing in the hands, Fall, Todo los Dolores, Autumn’s child

I was aware of Devendra Banhart back in 2004 but somehow lost track of him. That’s a real shame because his music is so beautiful. Love the guitar, the folksy sound. Really glad to be reacquainted.

A bit of me

I loved this album. What a joyful experience. My favorite song was This Beard is for Siobhan.

Okay i do admit its really pleasant

What a surprise!! Did not know this guy at all and I liked this album a lot.

I have listened to this album before and didn’t think much of it at the time, I thought it was just fine and found the voice rather grating. Listening to it again was a bit humbling. I was entranced. It’s a beautiful album full of beautiful songs, even if the voice feels like the indie “welcome to my kitchen” stereotype. I listened to it like 3 times yesterday.

beautiful

Ktebt Zouz Saf7at Fy 3l Bouheli Mte3 Dostoevsky, Still Sick, Za3ma Corona Walla Bech Nmout?

This was pretty good. I don't know if I'm ever going to listen to it again, but if it were playing I wouldn't mind.

меланхоличненько хорошенький

Yuh

Never heard of this, but enjoyed it

This is the way Poughkeepsie The body breaks

I'm a sucker for this type of chilled acoustic folk music. He has the perfect voice for it as well.

Will listen again

This album really stood out with its simple acoustic guitar and unusual singing. Reminds me of an alt-J album

3,5/5. Sympas mais assez répétitif.

Nice singer songwriter stuff. Enjoyed "Todo Los dolores", "Will is my friend",

I was surprised by this album. I could tell it’s psychedelic folk almost immediately. Fav songs: a sight to behold, this beard is for siobhan

Good album! Saved the artist to listen more.

Nice acoustic guitar work.

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