Reviews (page 5 of 7)
Folky but in a strange way.
Its OK, some interesting bits in there
Its pretty but it drags. Michael Gira from swans produced it. Vashti Bunyan featured on it. He stood on the shoulders of giants and its aight.
I am not familiar with DEVENDRA BANHART and his third album REJOICING IN THE HANDS OF THE GOLDEN EMPRESS. Never even heard of him. After listening to REJOICING IN THE HANDS OF THE GOLDEN EMPRESS, this album is okay, I am surprised to find it listed in 1001 Albums, it really does belong here. In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, with DEVENDRA BANHART - REJOICING IN THE HANDS OF THE GOLDEN EMPRESS, this is the only album listed. Rate Artist: DEVENDRA BANHART (3.0) Rate Album (Year): REJOICING IN THE HANDS OF THE GOLDEN EMPRESS (US 2004 Original) (3.5) Ranking of DEVENDRA BANHART - REJOICING IN THE HANDS OF THE GOLDEN EMPRESS songs No. Title Length Ranking 1. "This Is the Way" 2:53 08.0/10 2. "A Sight to Behold" 2:26 08.0/10 3. "The Body Breaks" 2:43 10.0/10 4. "Poughkeepsie" 2:17 06.0/10 5. "Dogs They Make Up the Dark" 1:20 08.0/10 6. "Will Is My Friend" 3:04 08.0/10 7. "This Beard Is for Siobhán" 2:36 06.0/10 8. "See Saw" 3:22 08.0/10 9. "Tit Smoking in the Temple of Artesan Mimicry" 1:25 05.0/10 10. "Rejoicing in the Hands" 1:41 10.0/10 11. "Fall" 2:53 08.0/10 12. "Todos los Dolores" 2:30 08.0/10 13. "When the Sun Shone on Vetiver" 3:34 06.0/10 14. "There Was Sun" 1:31 08.0/10 15. "Insect Eyes" 5:08 06.0/10 16. "Autumn's Child" 2:40 08.0/10 US 2004 Original Release 121.0/160 = 7.56 / 2 = 3.78
Enjoyable
Now let's have another glass of wine 🍷. Listened on my walk to work and really enjoyed it.
Great relax and coffee house music, good for working, cleaning, and reading 3/5
Cute, some nice tracks on here
1/12/22
Only listened to half of it. It started to grow on my a few songs in, but overall its not really my cup of tea. Too.... spoken word and "hipster-folk"-ey.
Dit is tof, totaal onbekend, maar net genoeg gekkigheid om te intrigeren. Ga ik meer van draaien.
Dit klonk wel aardig, maar ging ook enigszins aan mij voorbij.
Nog nooit van de beste man gehoord maar dat viel best goed eigenlijk!
Leuk dat ik dit nu ken. Ergens in de verte moest ik aan Alt-J denken.
I enjoyed listening to this it made me think I was on a crusty canal boat on the murky sulpur canals of vuleeian in the outer gas lands of Saturn. Alien type crusty boat dwellers and I would gather round small sulphur fires toasting yang-o- Tuuts discussing a simpler life and our disenchantment with capitalism. And like this album as intriguing as that was it got a little staid after a while, some of the noise granted but overall it was pleasant.
Extremely pleasant background music. Crank it all the way to 4 in your local bistro.
Mixed feelings on this one. It was interesting, pleasant to listen to for the most part, but I also found it a bit dull. At its best parts it reminded me of Donovan. 3 stars.
This album triggers the olfactory memory of patchouli oil and B.O. wafting from Devendra's fans. This probably isn't a bad album just not just me for me. Autumn's Child is a beautiful way to end the thing
Rather delightful, folksy acoustic guitar and coo-coo singing, minimal 4-track arrangements. Restful, nostalgic, comforting.
Amazing guitar but not much else to lobe about this album. Sound got old quick. Lyrics were odd. Nothing too exciting
Fav songs: - A Sight to Behold - This Beard Is for Siobhan
This is alright, generally there are a couple songs per album that I really like by Devendra, and the rest are a bit boring. This one perhaps slightly better than that. At times it feels like he's saying strange things just to be strange which irritates me. Could be convinced that this album is better, but middle of the road for me.
I like this for about 3 tracks or so. I can see how some individual tracks could be used really effectively on a soundtrack or something but an entire album kinda wears out it's welcome with me.
I knew of "The Body Breaks" which I liked, but overall started it's alright. Interesting cadence and I like the folksy guitar, but nothing that made me want to listen again.
3,5 ilk birkac sarkidan sonra istenen verim alinamadi malesf
7,0/10 Muito bom
If I could rate it a 3.5 I would, it was a lot better than I thought it was. Sad vibes, but a vibe for sure
Sparse and in the folk introspective tradition of Nick Drake and John Martyn
Cool weird folk! I feel like I'd pick up the standout songs like a sight to behold for playlists and leave the rest behind.
3.7 - Reminds me of all things hipster: selvedge denim, striking facial hair, work aprons, tattoos of octopi, industrial lighting, growlers of IPA. Soothing, tender, well crafted. You remember the voice and the vibe but the songs are forgettable.
Mi trovo in difficoltà, inizialmente l'impressione è stata buona e lo stile mi è piaciuto, poi però mi è un pò pesata l'idea di ascoltare un disco tutto così acustico e praticamente usando solo chitarra e voce, infatti alla fine ho faticato. Apprezzo le sue doti sia di scrittura che canore ma manca un pò di sostanza per fare il salto. Lo considero comunque un 3.5 tendete al 3.
Decent album with some nice guitar.
It hit on the same notes as someone like Kimya for me, but it wasn’t quite the same or as impactful
Wish I could give it a 3.5.... its just not quite a 4 to me. Nice and chill album
Nice easy folksy music…not sure why it is included on the list as it doesn’t seem noteworthy
3/5 not my thing
I'm not sure about him, his sound is a lot of times too mellow or soft, but then some songs from other albums are amazing. Especially if he does them with clear Venezuelan folkloric influences, like Quédate Luna. Maybe after a couple of more listens some songs will shine
Good song writing, nothing too catchy.
Sweet little freak folk record, but Joanna Newsom does it better
Love the songwriting, his voice just isn't for me.
I'm a sucker for this sort of lo-fi, pastoral folk. I wish he was a baritone — more contrast in the singing would complement this music a lot better. But then Nick Drake already exists, so I'm not sure we'd need to invent him again.
Neo-hippy folk. Best Tracks: The Body Breaks, This Beard is for Siobhan, Rejoicing in the Hands
used to like in hs, decent now but a little cringe
Meh
Could have been better as an instrumental album, given his remarkable guitar playing, but it wouldn’t have done much to change that the album is very uninspiring.
I had no idea what to expect here. I've never heard of this artist and didn't know what kind of music to expect or even whether or not Devendra Banhart was a man or woman. Turns out it's a male folk singer. Not bad, not spectacular.
Well-sung, but kind of an odd style of music. It's got the vibe of an old half-crazy Southern lady singing to herself
I liked his sound! Of the era.
Very chill. Maybe a bit samesie. I thought it had similarities to Blanco White but Maya disagreed.
Much more mellow that I expected, but pretty good. I'm sure if I was paying attention to the lyrics I'd appreciate it a lot more.
it was chill
Great material for a singer-songwriter album, every song felt unique.
Folk. Sweet dreams
very lovely, will listen again
Not bad but ultimately fails to leave a Impress
Indbegrebet af singer/songwroter i die stilen. En mand og hans guitar og nogle følsomme tekster. Lidt for meget hippie agtig til mig og kedeligt
Nice gentle tones.
3.5 stars, chill album that I'd listen to again
Strong 3.5. Enjoyable folk album!
Can listen later
Nothing burger
2/5
Started fine and then got annoying as it went on
Quirky, okay for an occasional listen.
An interesting introduction. Sometimes a bit weird, sometimes quite o.k., sometimes sounds like Thom Yorke solo projects to me? But in total not exactly my jam.
This is not for me. It's fine, well done if you're into this sort of thing.
I know it is a fan fave but this one is a bit of a snooze for me.
This dude does not have the voice for this. The 40 minute runtime feels twice as long with these dreary, boring songs.
Bored. I knew a couple of his tracks from the previous album which got played on radio, but a whole album of this twee, folksy stuff is too much for me.
Bastante calmado y nostálgico
At first I thought I kind of like it. But then I listened to it again and no, I don't. It's not terrible though.
I feel like I have heard all of this before, just better. I also don't particularly care for his voice. What is it about this that makes it something everyone should hear before they die? NO IDEA 2 stars.
straight up hooting and hollering
please stop singing like that. pl ease
In fairness to Devendra I don't think this has aged well for me because of how many people did this vocal style terribly in the mainstream like 10 years later. But I mean there's nothing else that I like .
A melancholy album that wasn’t that good of a listening experience.
Nah not good
This isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever heard. But it’s pretty fucking close
Only slightly annoying. Still, was glad when it was over.
Not saying this is the precise moment the early 00s indie rock boomlet ended and something new took hold, but hoo boy was there suddenly A LOT of very precious music and this guy was their savant. It’s not bad exactly and I don’t find his voice all that irritating today, there’s just not a lot here aside from a kind of twee affectation that scanned as authentic in 2003-06 but now is just impossibly cringeworthy.
Get Jack White stoned'er than stoned. Make him sing his lyrics on shuffle and play the guitar with mitts on. There you go.
dosadno
Insufferably tepid "indie"… (actually it's very sufferable, which is why one wants to say it's insufferable sufferable—noone will risk a raised heartbeat during this, in essence)
I remember I liked this album a lot... not any more.
Album cover is funky. Folksy vibes. Started off strong and then spiraled into weirdness. (16 songs, 42 mins)
I like my folk so was excited to see an album I haven’t listened to before on the list, but left pretty underwhelmed
Definitely some interesting chord choices, but I just couldn't get into it at all. I'm not a massive fan of Bon Iver and this was like a worse version of that.
Not a bad album that had some very interesting moments (see "Poughkeepsie"), but overall I wasn't taken by it. I think its the type of album I might really enjoy if I was in a different head-space, which sort of speaks to the subjective gamble each album on this list is. Everyday i get a new piece of art to experience, but it may have an overall esthetic that doesn't agree with the circumstances in my life. I don't know...maybe I would always be unimpressed with this album, but maybe in another life it would be great.
Nothing wrong with it just not for me
Musically, I quite enjoyed a few of the songs on this album. He plays a pretty mean guitar, but I just don't care for the overall experience.
# Album Name: Rejoicing In The Hands # Artist: Devendra Banhart # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: I wanted to like this. There was a couple of glimpses. But its instantly forgettable. # Top Tunes: Siobhan # Would I listen to it again? No
stream of consciousness, the album
Didn't float my boat
This might have a time where it would be enjoyable…not sure when that would be…
I think I almost liked some things.
I love folk and I love picked guitar. I even still love the (now terminally uncool) folk revival of the 2000s. I should like this album, but there's something kind of unsettling about some of it that I can't quite put my finger on — either the vocal inflections or the weird nonsensical lyrics. I'm not surprised to read one of these songs was used in a horror movie soundtrack. (Insect Eyes, which actually I like.) I some of what I love about folk music is its connection to cultural heritage and the natural world, and its storytelling quality. Some folk music can be unsettling (see the murder ballad traditon), but still I think divorcing this style of music so far from those roots results in something that's not that pleasing to listen to. for me. One point for Vashti Bunyan cameo on the title track.
I found this pretty boring. Pleasant enough background music, I guess, but didn't it catch my attention at all.
Another album new to me. Pleasant enough, but nothing particularly grabbed me on first listen.
Quite enjoyed this which was new to me
I like some of the songs very much, a very solid two stars. Tom.
This album isn't bad. It's not annoying. It just kind of exists. The singing really isn't bad. The guitar and piano is fine. Just it never does anything that interesting. It never got me to want to keep listening.
Maybe has it’s uses for something?
Forgettable album and artist
While I greatly enjoyed much of the guitar work on the record, I just could not get into the vocals at all. To me it sounded like someone doing an intentionally bad impression of an indie vocalist, weird inflections and all. I realize this type of singing wasn't has cliche at the time, but unfortunately it just kept me from getting into the record. Also, while there were some decent lyrics on here, I really wasn't impressed with them overall. 2.5 -> 2/5.
I felt nothing
I tried a couple of times, but no. There's nothing here that grabs me and I find his voice fairly annoying. He's like the dime store version of Vic Chesnutt, who has a weird voice but such a great songwriter with a sense of humor too! Sorry, Dev. I just don't getcha! It's about a 2. Ya get a plus one for decent guitar bits.
joa. auch nicht wirklich meins leider, aber kann man sich auf jeden fall anhören. 2.44 sterne.
Mid folk. Basic acoustic guitar and basic singing.
White guy wanting to be a Rastafarian type music of the 2000s
AWFUL
Overly pretentious indie albums like this usually suck...so we'll find out if this is the exception. Unfortunately, it is not. It is very stripped-back indie folk with bad vocals and bad lyrics. Some of the songs have good hooks, but they're too short and don't really do much to the listener. Nothing on this album does much to the listener, honestly. I can hardly see why an album of 2-minute folk songs with annoying vocals and-more damningly- simplistic lyrics that mean nothing is considered essential listening. Lump this album in with all the other shitty hipster music and have a decent day.
Not something i wouldclisten to again.
folky troubador, with the feeling that these songs are captured in the moment, in flight there's an element of Larry The Lamb in the stylised vocals which became rather grating by track 5 - very reminiscent of Marc Bolan when his people were fair and wore flowers in their hair
album acustico nella media ma mi è piaciuto, nonostante alcune canzoni siano abbastanza ripetitive, comunque sonorità ok
clearly well made and talented, i just think it's twee (negative) and boring.
⭐⭐ Singer songwriter. Albumet börjar bra men drar sedan iväg åt ett håll som inte funkar för mig, det jag tycker är viktigt i denna genre är att det berör men tankarna jag får är snarare att det är sökt konstigt. Albumet har ok delar men det är inte ett album jag kommer lyssna på igen så det blir en 2a. Bäst är This is the way, A sight to behold
The compliers of this list have seemed to predicted this guy would get a decent following based on Spotify. But it is still meandering self important nonsense for the most part, should have stayed at a tedious open mic night 2*
Kevin Morby på Valium.
Lite för medvetet.
It's okay and has some good moments. No legend tho and imo also no significant impact on music history
Meh. 2 stars. Not my kind of music for a workout - should’ve listened to it on a roadtrip after a break-up.
Bit of a vibe at the beginning. His voice has a lot of character but that token tremelo sometimes gets on my nerves. Guitar remind me of the dodos. Similar time frame so maybe that was a part of the scene at the time. Not a super long album but does feel like it drags on.
Random Folk singer/songwriter stuff.
I came in expecting "freak folk" to be some kind of unhinged banjo punk. Instead: a man whispering over a ukulele for 45 minutes. I have learned what freak folk actually means, and I have feelings about this. Devendra Banhart is undeniably doing something intentional here — it's just that the intention seems to be making me question my life choices one mumbled verse at a time. 2/5 — atmospheric, inoffensive, and somehow exhausting.
No me gustó. Entiendo que Banhart tiene conocimiento exhaustivo de los géneros que conforman su música, pero a mí no me transmitió nada, de hecho el disco me aburrió y desesperó un tanto. No creo que sea mal músico, solo que no es para mí.
1.5
Started it fine and then got annoying as it went on
Strange singer-songwriter music by a guy I've never heard of. Not quite folk, but similar style. Not a great voice, but still not too bad. Can't say I disliked it but don't need to hear this again,
Fattar ej grejen
We have Tom Waits at home?
This Is the Way - 2/5 It's a Sight to Behold - 4/5 The Body Breaks - 3/5 Poughkeepsie - 2/5 Dogs They Make Up the Dark - 2/5 Will Is My Friend - 1/5 This Beard Is for Siobhán - 1/5 See Saw - 1/5 Tit Smoking in the Temple of Artesan Mimicry - 3/5 Rejoicing in the Hands - 3/5 Fall - 4/5 Todo los dolores - 2/5 When the Sun Shone on Vetiver - 2/5 There Was Sun - 2/5 Insect Eyes - 3/5 Autumn's Child - 1/5 Average score: 2.3/5 ⭐️⭐️ sounds like if the lead singer from alt-J decided to make folk music instead of indie-pop i've certainly heard worse albums and most of the tracks are (thankfully) short, but i started to feel really annoyed and agitated with the singer's voice between track 4 and 8. some tracks are tolerable enough, but others nearly made me give up finishing all together
Cute
Nope
Lot of folky style short tracks. Not a big fan, but not terrible.
Trop lent, trop contemplatif...
Only liked a couple of songs here. Which is a shame on a 45 minute long album. I did like the singing and acoustic guitar but it got old quick. This is the way and This Beard is for Siobhan were the highlights
voz insuportável
Stumped what to do with this one. Lyrics are simple, and the guitar playing is also. Not for me ..not in that kind of mood.
Noped on out of this one after skipping through the first three or four boring songs. Meh.
Yesterday: "I just need folk" Today: "not like that I guess" I actually don't dislike it like I thought I did at first. I've never heard of Devendra Banhart and it sounds very weird! Spooky folk. Not really my jam (though I bet I would have loved it in ~2013 or whenever my Daytrotter days were)
Dosta naporno za slušati i iskreno, ne kužim baš point, neka čudna kombinacija neke "from and for the people" glazbe i mainstream izdrkavanja. 2/5, 3/10
Random thoughts: * I'm somehow familiar with Devendra Banhart. Know I've listened to some before and had a good feeling about getting recommended to listen to more. * Man, was I disappointed. Why this album? I'll need to read the wiki to find out. * I guess this is an album about autumn or something, so it must be about a lost love or breaking up because it was pretty downer. * There were a few redeemable songs on this album but nothing I'm dying to go back and listen to. * I did enjoy some of the other songs of his and Mala seems like an album to check out especially the song "Never Seen Such Good Things" * Skip this album and go listen to the more popular offerings.
No midieron termino de gustar, pero tampoco es feo. Creo q depende mucho del momento/contexto en q lo escuchas.
Quite listenable, but forgettable. Vocals are only okay, and for me that just doesn’t cut the mustard. Pleasant enough, not something I’ll return to. 2 and a half stars
Decent enough folk music that gets a bit redundant by the end. Favorite track: This Beard is for Siobhan
The album is fine, but nothing here makes me think this should be on this list.
Annoying
Very raw which can be good if that's what you're in to. I didn't care for his vocals. Wasn't bad, but I won't be coming back to anything off this.
soundtrack to a quirky indie movie, mainstream, spanish or whatever song is cool
Some ok parts, but didnt really enjoy it overall Standout songs: The Body Breaks Tit smoking in the temple of artesan mimicry
Man som plinkar på gitarr och försöker sjunga lite egensinnigt. En eller ett par låtar kanske funkar, men 16 spår, varav de flesta låter ungefär likadant, blir för mycket. I Will is my friend läggs det på ett piano och genast låter det lite intressantare. Men i övrigt alldeles för underproducerat.
Tre första låtarna går an, men sen tappar jag intresset. Det blir för enformigt och med Devendras vibrato och gitarrplonkande. Det är bara Will is my friend som sticker ut i positiv bemärkelse. Med benhård gallring hade det kunnat bli en fin ep, men något vidare album är det inte.
Quite boring actually
This and that
Completely average but, since this is the 1001 albums, I think that warrants a two.
Decent enough, high 2s.
я не знаю что тут оценивать лирику я не хочу оценивать кроме акустической гитары и не самого приятного вокала тут ничего нет 2 потому что это не самое худшее
Mid
Thank god this wasn’t super long because it was a slog. Very much the 2000s white guy with guitar but in the worst way. “Insect Eyes” was an okay song, but the rest was dreadfully dull. No idea how this ended up on here. Even for “freak folk” (a name the entire genre apparently detests) there is better.
Guitar work is fine. Occasionally it's pretty impressive. Production is a little overwhelming at times. Dude's voice is kinda not for me. "See Saw" is actively bad. Most of the rest is somewhat more tolerable. "Fall" is probably the closest it comes to something I'd enjoy.
4/10
Mostly boring. Sometimes annoying.
Have I listened to this album before? No How familiar am I with this album? I have never seen this before How do I feel about this artist? I have clue who this is Favorite song(s)? A Sight To Behold Overall Thoughts: The music was pretty but I found his voice kind of annoying and not in a way that I can tolerate like Bob Dylan
I’m not quite sure what time of day would be appropriate to listen to this record. As it is most definitely a folk record, I thought early morning might work. Nope. Not so much. The songs are short, except Insect Eyes at more than 5:00, the lyrics are for the most part positive hippy dippy shit that are somewhat clever. The guitar tone is terrific and the actual recording quality is excellent. The problem is Devandra’s vocals which are a bit whiny. We’re not talking Dylan level annoying, but annoying enough to distract. I’m sure for fans this is pleasing but for me, I quickly lost interest. Did I say the songs were short. That is the best I can say about this somewhat banal record. Unfortunate. 2/5
Very good guitar work. But can't get over my dislike of whiny American males that sound on the verge of crying. Apart from Conor Oberst.
-for a style of music associated with words like "weird" and "freak," this is pretty safe music. It's more "quirky" than anything; this is an album for a Zooey Deschanel character. Or, as a friend said to me, "this is Jason Mraz for people who go on ayahuasca retreats." -the instrumental track is my favorite by far, and my second favorite is the one where you can hear Vashti Bunyan -- I guess that says everything you need to know about what I think of DB's voice. Dude is practically a pioneer of "cursive singing."
Tit Smoking in the Temple of Artesan Mimicry? I hardly know her!
Alright but not for me
Album 1058 of 1089 Rejoicing In The Hands- Devendra Banhart (2004) Rating : 2.5 / 5 Very laid back. Very low key. It settles into a calm, intimate groove and never really strays from it. Nothing jumped out at me, and I’m not sure I’ll remember much of it in a few days but while it was playing, it was perfectly fine. Not every album has to shake the walls. This one just quietly occupied the space and moved on.
There are glimpses of something lovely here in the guitar work, however his voice overpowers everything and it is pretty unbearable and that’s all I ended up taking away from this. He has fabulous hair though so congrats for that I guess
Enjoyable parts but groans on and nothing that makes it stand out as exception for its genre not sure why it is here.
I've tried this guy before with similar results. I like moments and a few songs, but not enough to put up with the bullshit. I legitimately liked the first song and wondered if this album was going to be the moment I got him. Poughkeepsie definitely set me straight - that is an annoying and lazy song. It lets you know you are going to get a lot weirdness for no purpose. I also don't like that whenever he hits up bluegrass or legacy styles, etc. it's always delivered with a sneer.
Probably never gonna listen to this again.
I wasn't a fan of this. A few of the songs have some really cool instrumentals which kept this from getting a 1
I thought I was going to like this, but I just didn’t care for the guys voice. It ends up at two stars for me.
Not for me.
not my cup of tea
Very simple, minimalist and artsy folk rock that's almost entirely vocals and an acoustic guitar. It falls in the grey area between relaxing and boring. The twee accent he puts on for his singing voice is a bit off-putting, but overall it isn't a bad choice of background music while doing something else.
At first I was like, “Yes! Psych folk rock? Sign me up!” But then I turned it off halfway through and moved on. It was boring and I got the point. Sometimes I felt patronized, like he was being artsy and soft spoken for no reason. There’s plenty other better folk out there, both contemporary and classic.
I get why people would like it, but not my thing.
yksinkertaisen kuuloista kitara ja mies, tyylistä pimpottelua.
Meh, never clicked for me
In 2004, I was a part of a scene full of music people. I generally liked their tastes, and I went to their own performances with great frequency. Since they were all so plugged into the current music, they would bring things to me from out of the most esoteric corners of the internet. I learned about a lot of artists in that time period who I still listen to. Others, I’ve forgotten and I’ll never seek out again, but if I heard their song playing in the background, it might spark a distant memory. These musicy people all came at me hard with Devendra Banhart and this album in particular. It was first time I put my foot down and said, ‘guys, this is bad music.’ Still, the crew was so drawn in, that the singers began to warble with every freaking note in their own songs. It was not a good time. Once the fad was over, I never heard about or thought about Banhart again, until now. Revisiting Rejoicing in the Hands is weird because I knew every song inside and out. I’d never once put it on for myself, but my friends had played it so much, it’d leeched into my subconscious. Back then, the DB fans treated this album like religious doctrine, and they held an air about themselves, that they were supremely cool for being able to appreciate this, whereas all naysayers lost a little artsy fartsy cred. Today, like then, I can’t see how this was ever considered cool. I don’t, however, hate it as much as I did then. Perhaps I’ve moved on? I don’t know. I can see it more objectively? I know I’m only going to hear it once, and not a million more times after? I know that the scene has long-ended, and every album that makes waves isn’t the genre-defining masterpiece of my era. From this vantage, I know this album fades into the sands of time without changing much after it? Either way, DB still wobbles his voice too much to enjoy for too long. It makes one want to throw something out a window.
Complex structure of the album and I'm guessing that the style of playing means something to people who understand instruments. Wasn't grabbed by it, I found the style slightly annoying and trying to be more
Not really my thing. Just a little bit too weird, slow, and I'm not exactly obsessed with this guys voice or vocals. The song names also come off as a little pretentious and annoying which don't exactly help his case. The first time through I absolutely despised listening to this, but as with most other albums I initially despised, this album grew on me. Not a lot, but enough to save it easily from a 1 to at least a very high 2. “A Sight to Behold”, “Fall” and “Insect Eyes” are my favorite 3 songs on the album, and having 3 that I genuinely enjoyed are good indications of at the bare minimum a 2 star album. 1 stars are saved for albums where I just straight up did not enjoy a single song or aspect of. At least this one has those 3 songs, "Fall" being my favorite of the bunch. I still don't love his voice, but the western tempo and melody of that song do go kind of hard. I did that song enough to say that it's pretty good. Not great, but good enough. Other songs, however, and this is a prominent reason the album isn't going to get a 3, come off as so artsy and pretentious that it legitimately aggravates me into just immediately skipping them when they start. I'm sorry, and this might be going too far, but any artist that uses the gimmick of messing up and restarting a song, and then leaves the outtake of starting the song over from the top in the final product is just annoying as shit, looking at you "Todo los Dolores". Whether it's intentional or not is irrelevant, it's one of my least favorite gimmicks and I seldom have to hear it, for good reason. It's not artistic, it's just kind of annoying. When it happens live, it's hilarious. Big difference is that this isn't a Live album. Anyway, yeah. That's my review of Rejoicing In The Hands by Devendra Banhart. Why was this one included exactly?? Don't know. I don't think I had to hear this one before I died, but besides some annoying vocals on a good bit of the songs and the entirety of "Todo los Dolores" it wasn't offensively bad, and I did manage to listen to it for the entire day. Yet another album that goes in the "Grew on me" category. I'm starting to write that so often in these reviews that I need to start keeping track of them all. Ok, review over. I don't generally give a lot of 2's, but I feel this one earned it. Next album please.
Folk que no llena, al menos a mí, aunque dicen que es famoso y de culto
Look it's ok, but a bit beige really. His voice kind of annoys me, the lyrics are ok, but at times feel like he's just waffling with la did da das, ah ums, etc. When the tracks picks up with bass and drums it improves. The song in Spanish is a highlight, but too often it returns to acoustic guitar, annoying whiney voice and leads to disinterest for me This is the guy at parties sitting in the corner making up songs to try to impress girls. To be fair its an impressive skill and probably works .. but, I'm not a girl looking for a cute hippy bearded Californian, so I guess it's just not resonating with me, I'll choose to enjoy the party with rockin tunes and my friends instead.
Rating: 5/10 Meh.
5/10
Just boring after a while, the kind of style that should only be 1 song on an album
This was intriguing in its oddness but I found it quite a chore to work through this one. 2.25/5
Lovely guitar playing! It's not a genre I love but I liked the artistic vision, lyrics/title/cover wise it is great, I just can not stand his voice. 2.5/5
meh?
Songs sound more like demos. I can tolerate that gargle trilling voice from Marc Bolan but why anyone would imitate it decades later makes no sense.
unremarkable and oddly grating
Close to good
This album just wasn’t for me. I thought all the songs were okay, but they sounded the same. There were a couple of standout songs, but really nothing else.
Started promising and got steadily more bullshit
< the Beatles
not for me but good
Boring acoustic music isn't my thing.
Lyrics were okay but my god by the second song I was done.
Goid
Surprisingly, although this guy is big in the indie folk circles and I’m aware of him, his stuff doesnt connect with me
I've been getting an oddly high amount of folk music lately. It's a little exhausting to listen to in quick succession quite honestly. No personal slander to Mr. Banhart himself either, but I just can't really get into folk. The quirky vocal delivery certainly didn't help matters either, as it gets grating after a certain point. The soft melodies weren't enough to sway my mind.
not my cup of tea
2.5
Eh? Kinda went by without me noticing.
Overall: 3/10 I find this dude's voice incredibly annoying and it's destroying any good feelings I have about this album. To be fair, there really isn't much to like about it anyway. The guitar work is fine but doesn't really blow me away. Also, the melodies kind of get away from him at times. Fav Song: Rejoicing in the Hands
Not great. 2/5
Not quite
I really like the mood this album sets at the first song and sticks to throughout the entire album. Its not my favorite kind of music by a long shot though. It was a fun one of listen to but not something I will come back to in the future.
One of the weirdest entries on this list. There are some songs that I LOVE. And the rest of the album is unplayable Best Song: A Sight to Behold Rating: 4.5/10 Stars: 2
Ziemlich langeweilig. Klingt für mich alles gleich.
There's almost something good here, but it is mostly dross and filler.
2.1
Haha, good one. Ok, what's my actual album for today?
Tried to give this a fair shake, and there are some songs that aren’t absolutely horrid to listen to, but at some point I hit a song that started grating on my nerves and hit stop. Just had enough. 1.5 / 5
Nostalgia for the simple times for random folk music stages at festivals - check. Do I also feel like I listened to 27 variations of the same song… like a working demo tape… also yes
Can't say I was familiar with Devendra Banhart and after listening to this album I can see why he wasn't on my radar. It's not that the music is bad, it just isn't my cup of tea. It's a pretty artsy fartsy modern folk album from what I can tell. It's hard to knock this album as it is objectively competent but doesn't do anything for me personally. Most of the songs are a little too slow for my liking. The best tracks are the ones that kick it up a notch with a little accompaniment (Fall). I can see how this would be an indie hit and be used various pop culture media. There's plenty worse than this on the list but I'll personally file this one away. 1.79 stars
Album #970 Mostly vocals and an acoustic guitar. That is strike one for me - boring. Strike two is how he pronounces some of his words - annoying. Only two strikes, so I suppose it's a 2/5. On a positive note, some of lyrics are interesting, and it's clean.
maybe there’s something here and I’m just not getting it. bored and kinda straining
Voice too much vibrato
I've never heard of this artist before and I am always excited when this happens. On paper, I should like this album. Acoustic and singer/songwriter tend to be right up my alley but I didn't find most songs interesting. However, I did like the song "Fall" and find the artist's work generally intriguing even if I wouldn't listen to it in my spare time. I discovered his other stuff, such as the album Mala, that I do find more enjoyable than this album.
Kann man hören!
Sleepy guitar music 😴
I didn't like it much, would not recommend this album to anyone
It's not bad....but it ain't good :/ A few above average songs, Autumn's Child is one of them...the only one I can remember...I swear there were 2 or 3 others I thought were good....maybe it was my imagination and that's the only good song lmao.
This album is very twee. I’ve heard worse but not much. Overall I was bored and waiting for it to end. There was no stand out here - it all sucked. 2
Don't know what to say
Devendra Banhart has largely passed me by for some reason, although on the evidence of this record, I don't feel like I've missed a great deal. The worst bits sound like songs that Donovan threw away, but the better moments put me in mind of Sufjan Stevens. It's an interesting enough record in places and I think if I'd paid attention to it at the time, it would have made a more positive impression. As it is, I find the vocal stylings overly-affected, and a bit annoying, and the whole thing just left me wondering if I could make my own Album You Must Hear Before You Die. (I couldn't).
I feel like I am missing something. Perfectly fine indie mumblings but what on earth is there to justify being on this list?
When I saw that this album was produced by Swans leader Michael Gira, it made me apprehensive. Swans music is noisy, weird, and often boring as hell. This album is just boring. After a couple of tunes, you know what this album is and it doesn't change up at all. I've met both Gira and Banhart and will be just fine if I don't encounter either one again. Banhart was polite, but not particularly engaging. Gira is just an asshole.
começou e eu achei que seria menos pior do que pensei que seria. na metade, vi que tava errado. é pior. só nao vo dar um porque o mano morou uma época na venezuela e tem uma música em espanhol.
Each track on its own is pleasant and enjoyable to listen to. Two tracks together are annoying. A whole album seriously grates. A shame
I just didn't find a song that I liked.
Mm
Not great.
Weird but I listened to the whole thing. Not sure what I thought about it, but I gave it 2 stars.
I found this quite boring. It started out ok but it finished flat.
My sphincter closes in upon itself any time I'm recommended an artist I've never heard of and see that the album contains 16 songs. Luckily, most are around the 2-3 minute mark, so relax down there. The whole thing reeks of New York Hipster. It's almost certain the guy has copious facial hair. It's sparse to the point of boredom, dull, repetitive, but without any hypnotic quality. This is America begging for another Dylan. But it's just some guy with a guitar, like you will find in any street on any town in the US. It's like if Woody Allen was a folk singer instead of a pedo.
I was optimistic because the album was listed as psychedelic folk music but there was nothing psychedelic about it. It was just a dude and a guitar. Just folk music. Quite boring
ugh
I know some people like this album. I for one care less for it.
If you pitch shift Devendra Banhart and his guitar up a couple of octaves you get Tiny Tim and his Ukulele. This is no where near the brilliance of TT's opus 'Rock' (1993), maybe Devendra need to focus his vibrato on 23 minutes versions of Rebel Yell.
Nevver heard of this dude but saw he was a folk singer and got excited. Then I listened. He is no John Prine or Woody Guthrie and that is all I can say about that. Pretty subpar.
I really enjoyed a few of the songs on this, however when it's bad it's really bad. It's a 2.5.
Truly difficult to get through this record. The pace is plodding, the guitar repetitive, his vocals irritating.
I didn't like this much and found some of it quite boring, but never quite reached the "reach for the skip button" to me.
Yeah, this album was really not a vibe. It reeks of that weird 2000s+ folk vibe where the singer tries to be as weird as possible with his vocals. It just didn't appeal. Some of the guitar work was nice and I probably would have enjoyed it a lot if it had not been for the vocals. But I digress.
Has some potential. I can see the eclectic few really enjoying this, but I found it a little unbearable after a few songs. Musically is alright, vocals are just not. 2.
Might have liked it a little more if it wasn’t so long. Also, what’s so special? Why did I have to listen to this before I died? I think I would have been ok had I not.
His name had me wanting to listen to Vashti Bunyan, and suddenly, there she is! Unfortunately, that just makes me want to quit listening to this and start listening to Just Another Diamond Day instead. Probably he was one of the first with this indie folk sound, but it still sounds like cliche college radio filler, I'm afraid.
This was the weirdest album ever. Lyrics and timing were all off, but it was the most gentle and beautiful acoustic guitar track ever. Nothing made sense it seemed like a weird freestyle thing ? Anyways it was very creative and beautiful sounding but some songs were just unbearable…
Another "why the hell is this album on the list?" selection. Decent guitar but this was tedious
Very little rejoicing from me here, whether in the hands or elsewhere.
Instantly forgettable.
Thinks he’s a cross between Donovan and Louden Wainwright III. Born forty years too late - they covered this back in the 60s and 70s so not sure he’s influencing. Awful album cover, just made me cringe.
Banhart isn't good at singing in tune, and it's very distracting. I wonder if people only enjoy his voice because it's different, rather than because it's technically strong. There's so much wobble and quaver, particularly in the opening track, that it feels like his neck could disintegrate at the slightest breeze. There are very few musical elements to key into other than Banhart's vocal. There's the acoustic guitar, plucked slowly (almost lazily) in pretty much every track. There's the occasional second vocalist harmonising with the first, creating some standout moments. Sometimes – rarely – you hear the odd string or percussion instrument. The trouble is, aside from those standout moments, the whole thing is a bit monotonous. The songs' melodies are varied, but they're doing the heavy lifting. Everything else is one strange yet bland flavour. Truth be told, I found myself enjoying more than half the tracks. The songs A Sight to Behold (good strings and fluttery, dynamic feel) and Fall (many instruments keep the texture interesting), in particular, are strong. But for something to make it onto the list of the 1001 most important albums of all time, I need more than that. It needs to be all killer and no filler. 2/5 Key tracks: A Sight to Behold, This Beard Is for Siobhan, Fall
Smooth album but I could’ve done without it tbh.
I associate this album with patchouli and bad times
I really wanted to like this, the guitar reminds me of so many artists that I really enjoy from this era. Unfortunately, this album is not one of them.
Slow tunes, good vocals, not my jam really but I respect it
Pleasant 2.5/5
I guess psychedelic folk is the best way to describe this... it's odd. I was fine with it but when I got to Poughkeepsie I really didn't want to listen to the album anymore. Some of the songs after were decent, but I just did not love this one. Glad it's over.
Why does bro sound like a geriatric jimmy stewart
2.5 - Meh
Unbearably twee af.
Meh
So it's all very pretty and boring. And the voice is reeeeally annoying.
“Doing” countries; American Spirit; photo booths; speakeasies; filters; berets; moustaches; Coachella; craft; small batch; selvedge; Michael Cera; turn ups; Ginsberg; bicycles; skateboards; whimsy; beards; daisies; bangs; whiskey; pensiveness; festivals; Zoey Deschanel; Maison Kitsune. It’s sounds from that specific cul-de-sac of culture where it’s always thin echoes, all the time. Rightly or wrongly, at the time it was ‘The Dead End of Western Civilisation(TM)’ … what a whimper we’d have been going out with had we not found a way past it.
Generated this: who is this? Listened to it: why is it here? It's just bang average bland hipster folk. I gave it another listen and his voice was even more annoying the second time around with the forced, over-the-top vibrato and just a total lack of variation.
some real white people shit
Never heard this one or the artist. Nice listening music. Would look for more from artist but not sure I’d listen to entire album again
Never heard this one or the artist. Nice listening music. Would look for more from artist but not sure I’d listen to entire album again
Nothing special about this listen whatsoever
I made it about halfway through the record. Not for me.
Don't quit your day job
2.5 its fine
His voice is extremely annoying at first, but once you get used to it works pretty well, wrapping itself around the melodies and heightening the strange affect of the songs. The guitar work and sparse string arrangements are really fantastic. It's cool when folk music is a living tradition with new iterations to articulate it with new musical contexts rather than a fossilized museum genre replaying the same stuff over and over, so respect to DH for that.
Hated it Fav song: Poughkeepsie
An interesting album that sounded familiar to me for some reason but none of the songs quite clicked with what I remembered. A decent album but don't think I'd go back and listen to it, as it was a weird kind of lo-fi ish that didn't really resonate with me
It's not for me. His voice doesn't hit my ear nicely, and the music is too sparse to speak to me at all.
Hadn’t heard of this guy before this. I lost patience for the pretty bland folk/americana quickly and stopped after 3 songs, maybe it got better after that.
2.0 If Tom Waits was a big time pussy, this is what he would sound like
A boring, sleepy album that really didn't go anywhere or do anything for me. 3/10
Every decade or so someone comes along to hearken back to an older age. I hear Tiny Tim and Redbone and The Raconteurs in here. A fun snack, but not a meal.
Nice, quiet, Sunday morning tunage.
A bit more indie than I care for
Started off ok but then it fizzled for me.
Not my jam.
4/10
"Rejoicing in the Hands" is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart. Acoustic and folk rock are the Wiki-listed genres. Yep. Banhart plays bass, guitars and piano and is the lead vocalist. Other contributors included Vashti Bunyan (vocals), Paul Cantelin (vocals), Thor Harris (percussion, vibraphone), Julia Kent (cello), Joe McGinty (organ, piano) and Steve Moses (percussion, drums). The album received universal acclaim. "This is the Way" opens the album. Acoustic guitar and a tenor voice. He chooses to rejoice. I don't know why I was expecting a baby Yoda reference. The folk guitar pervades "A Sight to Behold." Some nice finger-picking and a cello is added. The guitar reminded me of early Leonard Cohen. An eerie atmosphere. Banhart shows his ability to slow the song down in "The Body Breaks." Now he reminds me of Sufjan Steven's. The lone instrumental "Tit Smoking in the Temple of Artesan Mimicry" is essentially bluegrass. Is anyone editing his song titles? The self-titled "Rejoicing in the Hands" also gives a bluegrass vibe. This is slower with Bunyan on co-lead vocals. A song about simply being with someone. A spiritual feeling. The longest song at five minutes "Insect Eyes" has Banhart dreaming of a girl and comparing her body parts to various plants, insects and the sun. Yes, he's gone psychedelic. The music on this album is mostly stark with an acoustic guitar and selective added instruments. One of the highlights is his finger-picking and bluegrass ability. The lyrics are minimal and tend to be observational and somewhat spiritual and poetic. I had trouble with any sort of deeper meaning in them. The most trouble I had though was with Banhart's voice. He actually has a nice tenor or at least he did in the first song. But, he shapes it in a lot of these songs and it sounds like Adam Sandler singing the "Chanukah Song." Once I made that association, I could not get it out of my head and his voice became very irritating. Therefore, I had issues with the album overall. But, the album did received universal acclaim and he can play guitar. So, if you like a bluegrass or folk, you might like it if you can get over what I couldn't.
It’s pleasant folk/alternative music. Do not feel like I can die now.
I've never wanted so much to like an album that I absolutely hated.
Mixed feelings. Not bad; not good. Overall, I’m going with not particularly good.
Day562 - i’m a fan of a lot of folk and i gave this a real shot. i might even try it again. down the road.
Easy folk listen. Really liked a lot of the lyricism and imagery throughout the album, but over all was pretty bored. Also ended up flipping from disliking Banhart’s particular vocal quality to wanted more by the end so that was cool. That being said I enjoyed the instrumental tracks a little more than the rest. Fav Track: Tit Smoking In The Temple Of Artesan Mimicry
Pretty boring, didn't enjoy...
The Good: We get to rejoice!!! The Bad: We were not told that it would be of the tree-hugging kind… The Ugly: Realizing the massive effect that parents choices have on their children’s future… Devendra Obi… really? Never heard of Devendra before, and by the amounts of listens he gets on Spotify, I am not the only one. Prior to listening to the album I started reading the Wiki page, and maybe I should stop doing this as it does color one’s initial reaction… My reaction was “okay, this isn’t half as bad as I’d have thought” But then song #2 starts, and #3, and I am getting ready to hit the skip button. I forget the song name, however, I was reminded about the album Grace by Mr Buckley, who also does that thing with his voice… the difference being that he doesn’t solely rely on this trick, where Obi does. So, I believe that a 2* rating is merrited, and I wish Devendra all the best with his future endeavors...