Reviews (page 6 of 8)
decent folk music, nothing exceptional
Sounds like a goat sometimes
Very folksy sounding, spare arrangements and definitely an unique voice that sounds like something from the late sixties/ early 70's. Enjoyable enough, didn't really interest me too much, but it was both beautiful and boring at the same time. His voice did begin to irritate me the longer I listened. I liked the guitar work though.
I’d like to spend more time with this one. I had t listened to it before this but I enjoyed the instrumentation and arrangements and his voice.
If I wanted something that sounds like folk era T Rex, I'd probably just go for folk era T Rex.
0/16 and I can confidently say this was the worst album I’ve ever listened to. Bless whoever gets this next
Whiny Psychedelic Folk.
This is the first time in awhile that I have added an artist to my following based on the first listen to a record from this list. I will be return to more of his stuff.
Hate this. Hate this. Hate this. I had a little dig on YouTube to watch a few interviews or music videos to really get my hate boner throbbing, but disappointing nothing else seems as upset as this. He’s just a bit of an arty California wanker. But the tone he affects on this album goes right through me, and that’s what I’m marking today. Easy 1 star.
Bestimmt toll wenn man an einem warmen Sommerabend am Strand in beschwingter Runde sitzt, jemand hat eine abgerockte Klampfe mit und sorgt damit für andächtiges Lauschen in den Gesprächspausen. Aber nur dann.
Supremely intimate, the perfect album for quiet moments
I loved this album. What a joyful experience. My favorite song was This Beard is for Siobhan.
This album reminds me of the time I accidentally gave a Miles Davis album 2 stars on here. It was a mistake, I did not mean to give Miles Daves 2 stars. Please forgive me. This is far too reminiscent of early T-Rex. Not in a good way. Yep 16 tracks in he's still doing the wobbly voice thing. I mostly don't like it. I sort of like track 6. If you are going to put a Devendra Banhart album on this list surely it should be Illinoise. Sorry mate this is pants.
01) This Is the Way - 6,5 02) A Sight to Behold - 6,5 03) The Body Breaks - 6,0 04) Poughkeepsie 5,0 05) Dogs They Make Up the Dark - 4,0 06) Will Is My Friend - 4,0 07) This Beard Is for Siobhán - 5,5 08) See Saw - 4,5 09) Tit Smoking in the Temple of Artesan Mimicry - 4,0 10) Rejoicing in the Hands - 4,0 11) Fall - 4 0 12) Todos los Dolores - 5,5 13) When the Sun Shone on Vetiver - 5,5 14) There Was Sun - 5,0 15) Insect Eyes - 5,0 16) Autumn's Child - 4,5 TOTAL: 4,97 (50/100) Current ranking: 227/243 This is so utterly boring. I slept through the songs marked with a rating of 4.0 and I don't feel bad about it at all. On the other hand, I do feel sorry that I stayed awake for the others.
I kind of understand the appeal for people trying to rebel against over-produced perfectionist music. But it's not for me.
Just really could not get into it.
Better than I thought. To me a hidden gem and would listen some more
Pretty good, liked the guitar. Singing was pretty good, but the songs sort of bled together
Really well crafted, nice, but not one I'll listen to again.
It's comfy, but not relaxing. He has a nice voice and plays well, but I think I automatically expect acoustic music to be relaxing.
Not for me
Devendra para mí es un dios!!
Kind of annoying, but not bad enough for 1 star. Almost bad enough though, like really, really close.
This album made my hands, fingers and toes get heavy. It made my shoulders and thighs sink into the floor. It made me relax and go into a happy state of mind where my mental battery started to charge. My point is, it is pleasant ambient music to do yoga to. Namaste.
Aimless folksy? I didn't enjoy it.
Liked the acoustic sound a lot. The songs were a little weird but I enjoyed listening to them.
This album was fantastic!!
I really loved this one. Great guitar work, great voice, loads of fun. Never heard of them but will seek it more.
This album reminds me of Sufjan Stevens in places, and Tallest Man on Earth in others. I liked it a lot and added some songs to playlists. There Was Sun is a good example of a song that sounds like TMOE. I've never heard of Devendra before and I'll listen to some more of his music. Some of the songs bored me, and the album did feel a little bit too long. Despite this I really liked it. 8/10
🤢🤮
Parts were okay and parts were just weird
- 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
- erst dachte ich, dass mir die Stimme auf den Sack gehen würde, aber irgendwie wars dann einfach stimmig - der erste Song hat mich direkt gecatcht und auch danach ging es toll weiter - zur Mitte hin hat das Album ein kleines Tief - erholt sich zum Ende hin dann aber wieder sehr gut
Started out ok. Got tiresome the more I listened.
7/2/24. I don't dive into folk music much but loved the psychedelic nature of this album! Sometimes a voice an acoustic guitar is all you need to fill the space.
A nice soothing listen, coffee shop vibes. Soulful singing. Nice acoustic guitar sounds.
Some of this ran together and was a little one note. Some decent guitar work though. I liked “Fall”. Overall a pleasant listen.
This was another nice surprise. Obviously not a style that many people flock to as further supported by pretty low sales. But so what. Good music is good music. And I particularly enjoyed some of his acoustic stylings which clearly show a better depth and command of the instrument. Overall an enjoyable listen.
Recognizing this one probably won’t be for everyone, likely on account of his vocals. But I used to listen to Devandra’s stuff fairly often, just liked the vibe and his acoustic skills.
I dug this. Really nice guitar playing and song writing. Vocals and lyrics were intriguing, almost haunting at times. Dev has seen some shit. 3.25
A nice little surprise. This is the way and Fall were standout tracks to me. Need to check out some of his other stuff. 3/5
I really liked track one, This Is The Way. Track four lost me a bit with a two-note melody and poetry-reading like lyrical cadence that included gibberish. Not sure what all that had to do with Poughkeepsie. By track eight, See Saw, I just wanted his vocals to stop. The guitar isn't unpleasant, but not skillful by any stretch. Todo Los Dolores is nice but also feels very amateur, like someone recorded your big brother playing guitar and making up words that sound Spanish. Not going to listen again.
Säregen röst, några fina låtar som dessutom inte är evighetslånga. Dock låter många av låtarna ganska lika.
op zich niet slecht... enkele toffe deuntjes... te eentonig wel om een hele plaat uit te zitten
Do…I like more folk music than I thought?
Decent listen.
1. dårlig, 2. meh, 3. dårlig, 4. dårlig, 5. dårlig, 6. dårlig/meh, 7. dårlig/meh Klarte ikke høre resten. Kjedelig album. Overall: 4/10
Never heard this before and not sure what makes it "psychedelic" but I really enjoyed it. It's simple and beautiful. I'll listen again.
rym 3.40 ma cristo dio che senso ha dire a un sito: "non voglio merda folk/cantautorato" se poi lui te la propone lo stesso 1/5 lo odio
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
Pretty but idk why it belongs on this list
Holy fuck what a pleasant surprise!
Navegando entre la cultura pop y la undergroud estadounidense, Devendra Banhart sorprendió en los inicios del milenio con su lírica sensible y sus atractivas melodías. En este, su segundo álbum, profundiza su opción auténticamente alternativa a todo lo que se hacía en el panorama musical de la época, y todo, sin apenas artificio sonoro. Incluso se podría decir que es un disco infra-producido que, sin embargo, consigue transmitir grandes dosis de emoción a través de una mezcla de blues, ragtime, músicas rurales, country e incluso folk europeo y celta. Es difícil destacar algún tema así que, simplemente por gusto personal, citaría el tema de apertura, "This Is the Way", la emotiva "The Body Breaks" sobre la naturaleza efímera de la existencia, y la delicada reflexión sobre la amistad, "Will Is My Friend".
I wanted this to be over quickly.
This dude is purposely annoying. He could use his unique voice for good but clearly chooses violence. Lousy writing, performance, and production.
good chill acoustic
I struggle with a lot of indie folk, but this is fine I guess. I wish that the songs varied a little more, the guitar parts are very similar on a lot of songs. His voice isn't as bad as people made it seem. 2.5
Occasionally interesting but not consistently so. Definitely can hear how snippets are better suited for soundtrack fodder than full on sustained listening as a collective album.
Weird artsy folk music. Good if you're in the mood for it but I probably won't come back to it
A snapshot of that time in folk music, evoking memories of Jose Gonzalez et al. An enjoyable and dreamy album overall, if lacking in enough to really make it stand out.
Similar to Tyrannosaurus Rex before they went electric, but with worse lyrics, a less interesting voice, more samey and not released in the 60s. Not great, just background noise
Agradable
That album went by quick! I have always kind of been on the fence about Devendra Banhart. It's good music in the right setting and the right mood. This is easily his best record, and I really enjoyed it this morning.
und wer macht morgen das „album of the day“? handgestricktes irgendwas, sorry.
Eine echte Entdeckung! Die schlichten akustischen Lieder haben es mir angetan.
this is so my scene but it is also not my album
I struggled so much with this album. The first few tracks made me feel like I wanted to give it a 1 star review, but then a track would come along that made me want to listen over and over again! It wavered between unlistenable and fucking awesome!! I absolutely loved ‘see saw’ and most of these stars are for that track. I could imagine jack white performing see saw, and most of the other tracks could be performed by a hippie uni student at a weekend party with an acoustic guitar and a bag of cheap weed. Such a conflict !!
I hadn't heard of Devendra Banhart before and I really enjoyed this guitar, folksy vibe! It really suited the overcast melancholy of the weather today, perfect for cuddling up in front of the heater with a coffee. I found the vibrato annoying in spots, but I think I'd come back to listen to this one again sometime.
Didn't do much for me.
not for me at all but an easy listen. i'm one flat white away from a feeling like i'm sitting in a Starbucks
Not bad. A little one dimensional though. Would probably not listen to again. Gives me vibes of NMWG, but not as good.
Okay
This was a pretty solid indie/folk album. Some areas got a bit stagnant, but overall pleasant. 3/5
Ugh, 2 stars
A bunch of songs that would be forgettable but fine interludes on an album where the artist had done something worth listening to otherwise. If you got Michael Gira to sing on these they could be throwaways on an Angels of Light record. the vocals are awful and give the impression that Devendra Banhart is an unpleasant person to be around. the emotionally manipulative creep vibes are so strong that I am giving this the rating that this whole archetype of guy deserves. music: hated. (⌐■_■)
Aggressively Millennial folk. Not much beneath the surface. A lot of talk of beards.
Banhart is always freaky and unique, but the songs don’t really stick.
This is definitely one of the most interesting albums I have listened to so far, and it's a really hard one to make an opinion on. Like, I feel like I should like this, but there's something so unsettling about it. It's really hard to describe, so maybe it's pointless to try and review it with a reason for why I don't like it. There's just something so off putting about this that I have no idea how to describe. His voice is almost creepy, and the lone acoustic guitar gives this album such an isolating sound. The further I went through this album, the less I liked it. By the time I got to the last few songs, I just couldn't wait for it to be over.
he's a talented guitar player but otherwise I really did not enjoy this.
ehh this just didn't hit for me. it felt like any number of acoustic indie folk types, y'know, your irons & wines or bon ivers or sufjan stevenses or whatever but without that indie je ne sais quois that makes them interesting or passionate or fun to listen to. i tried with this one, but the only song i enjoyed as more than a "hmm that's nice enough i guess" was Poughkeepsie, because it had a kind of B.Y.O.B. by System of a Down vibe to its melody (though not any other part of its sound). anyway, in summary, meh. favorites: Poughkeepsie, tit smoking...
Now, Devendra Banhart is someone I've mean to listen to for ages. I've played the album three times now, and I like it enough to add it to my Qobuz favourites. It took a couple of plays before I could figure out who his voice reminds me of - he reminds me of Marc Bolan's vocal style. All in all, this is a pleasant album of gentle sounding guitar folk. Not sure where the much vaunted 'Psych' descriptor comes in. This is an album I added to my Qobuz favourites.
This was never my favorite Devendra Banhart record. In my opinion he peaked about two or three albums later. This one is fine
I got the idea after about five songs. Banhart has a lovely wistful voice, but his lyrics are lacking.
Nice
not terrible but doesn't strike me as an album worthy of being included
Weird hippy shit. I’ve heard worse. I’ve heard way better No choice cut
Some nice guitar playing but also thought it was incredibly boring and didn't really care for any of the songs
Worthless. I will never listen to this again, and there’s no reason for this to be on this list. Unnecessary to a serious degree. I’m only rating it two because it is music.
Was expecting Captain Beefheart for some reason. Very pleasant.
I'm torn between the phrases "annoyingly twee," and "annoyingly fey." I've actually seen Devendra Banhart live, I've just remembered. A friend from work got me to go - probably around the time this album came out! I wasn't really into it. I get a Russel-Brand-vibe off of him. I wouldn't be surprised if he released an album called "My album-y walbum". So I'm a bit prejudiced against this album from the get go. Listening to it... Oh yeah, he's got a voice like Marc Bolan. And the songs sort of noodle along... This is a bit like "Passenger" or those chart-topping singer songwriters. All husky voices and meaningful-sounding but meaningless. Suitable for an indie film where a young man with a beard stands on a beach looking wistful. Okay. I'm five songs in and I get it. It's possible I'm just not in the mood for this. But I'm going to have to take a break from it at least.
I need to be in the mood for DB, which I wasn't. Nice enough background though.
Really enjoyed this. Will definitely revisit.
Too much whimsical acoustic guitar. Dullton FC
Lyrical inovation, minimalist aesthetic. Brilliant, but not for me.
Incredible first side. Completely flat second side
5/10 Jesus...1001 albums...I don't hate this, far from it. If this came on the radio I wouldn't turn it off. That being said I'm not going to jump up and go find more from this artists catalog. It's the kind of thing you'd like if you like that sort of thing. 4-25-2024
chill album, not for me though mayb 6-7/10
A pretty cute and nice listen. There's not really much more I can say about it other than that. Some of these tracks I would see best being played in the background or even to fall asleep to (in the good kind of way).
Rejoicing in the Hands presents raw songcraft reminiscent of a lost 60s gem. The album opens and closes with beautiful tracks that capture Banhart's unique style and storytelling ability. There's a noticeable nod to Spanish guitar throughout, adding depth to the sound. However, the middle section of the album starts to feel a bit repetitive after a while. While each track maintains a certain charm, there's a lack of variation that makes it lose some of its initial allure. Overall, it's a solid effort showcasing Banhart's talent, but it falls short of delivering a consistently engaging experience throughout. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 2 STAND OUT TRACK - This is the Way
For what it is its OK. There are far better exponents of this genre, can't see why this is considered anything more than a passable one. I mean why no Yuseph Islam (Cat Stephens) or Donovan Leach. Sorry but there have been albums here that I really didn't like, but I could understand their inclusion because they may be shit but in their genre they were special. Can't see why this would have that quality. A solid 1.
If only this was an instrumental! Loved the guitar work and mood but ruined by a maniac trying to sing
Not as completely hideous as I thought it might be when I read the wiki. Currently up to 'Fall' and although I will never listen to this ever again, it's well done for what it is. Which is a strange man who can play an acoustic guitar extremely well without any, or minimal accompaniment. It's quite an achievement. Now finished it and it gets a high 2 for being melodic and interesting in a totally unChrislike way.
3.5
It's not exactly my kind of music but I enjoyed it a bit. It caught my attention in more than 1 song. It's peaceful
Good, kind of boring though. I'm sure if I paid more attention I would have appreciated this more.
Not bad.
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
Acoustic, folk rock, moderno.
Good instrumentals, but his voice is tough to listen to.
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.
There are certain elements about Rejoicing In the Hands that I really like. The sincerity and spontaneity that seems to be a constant in his Banharts songwriting and recording technique for one. On the other hand I’m getting a bit tired of his rather one-sided folk approach about 8-9 songs in. It’s a fine record but I have no idea why it should appear on this list.
What a completely charming album. While I’ve never listened to this artist before, I was predisposed to enjoy his music because I’ve seen comparisons drawn between him and Joanna Newsom - I can definitely see why after listening, though the music here is comparatively minimalist and conventional. Almost went for the full five stars; I think it edges just close enough to sounding twee that I’m not quite there. Somewhere between 4 and 4.5, but a certain re-listen. Favorite tracks: This Is The Way, Rejoicing In The Hands, Todo Los Dolores, Insect Eyes, Autumn’s Child
It’s a’right
This was nice easy listening with some fun elevation here and there. Would definitely listen to this again. I enjoyed the vocals playing around and trying out different styles.
It's haunting and I love it
Acoustic folk-rock. Not sure why an album that sold so few copies is in this list - it's OK, but why choose this album over, for example, a Cat Stevens album? His voice reminds me of early Tyrannosaurus Rex, but not sure if that's what makes Devendra Banhart a psychedelic folk musician as there's nothing particularly psychedelic about this album.
I'm a big fan of the folk genre. Some of my favorite artists of all time have turned something so simple into something beautiful. Thinking of Elliott Smith, Sufjan Stevens, Nick Drake. Now I'm not at all expecting Devandra Banhart to be in that level, the only thing that I hoped for, was he took his own spin on things. And that he very much did. I do actually like what this project brought to the table overall. His odd inflections, his incredible talent on classical guitar, and the mixing is good too. (Gotta love that background noise hiss). Lyrics-wise he seems to speak almost in tongues, with vivid imagery of what I could only describe as something out of an ancient greek novel. Although his vocal style, which is quite hard to ignore, doesn't always shine through in the best of ways. Like sometimes he reminds me of Jeff Buckley, and then the next song reminds me of Yoko Ono. Between the cursive singing and the screeches and yelps, it often breaks that soft touch that I really love about listening to folk. But who knows, maybe it'll grow on me a little more over time. 7/10
this is very interesting, but not big on folk
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.
Escuché unos segundos, una hippeada espantosa
Ok, folksy. Didn't really stand out.
Charming psychedelic American folk rock. A bit of an exotic and weird twist. I like his voice
A little too laid back acoustic for me, but I’ll bet there’s a lot here for the right people.
Good
I went back and forth on this one. One minute I thought it was quite good, then the next song would be terrible. Ultimately, I think there’s better folk music from this era. Not bad, but I will not revisit.
Before listening: 2004? Brown sketches on the cover. My God, I think this might be a folk album! My least favourite modern genre and I blame Mumford and Suns. I hope it isn't but I'm almost certain this is modern folk. After listening: My most hated of all modern genres strikes again! But perhaps I shouldn't be too harsh as I did like some of the songs and they were all the length of an average Ramones song so I can't complain too much
Some inspired moments but lost its way towards the end. Minimal in a good way though and had a touch of Villagers about it
Had high hopes for this based on the first track and the description but it got off the rails pretty quickly.
Nah
This FEELS like a singer-songwriter album from 2004, and i'm not sure that's a compliment.
Folk/acoustic. It's aight. Some boring crooning. Kinda sounds like the guy from alt-j. It mostly sucks.
Insufferable cunt in both name and music
No rejoicing today. Plenty of yawning.
dxxyydd😙😙
no, devendra. i am not here to get this baby dancing. chill stream of semi-consciousness, with some relaxing music.
I like this vibe. Folky.
Mindless and boring.
I found this album to be really calming and charming. I do think it would have functioned better as an EP; there is definitely a variation in the quality between some songs. Top tracks: This Is The Way, The Body Breaks, Autumn's Child
Alan McGee had it right.
First time listening to this. It’s quite awesome.
what a subtle masterpiece, sneaks up on you and swallows you whole...
Annoying voice
Wasn’t really in the mood for this yesterday so figured I’d save it for later, I actually quite liked it today 3.5/5
Pretty ok, but a bit long winded at times
Nice!
totalnie nie moj styl, jeden nieprzeszkadzacz, reszta troche dla wiedzm typu olka posadzy
Wow. Unique.
All sounded the same
I've been holding off rating this for a while because I wasn't fully paying attention the first time I listened to it and wanted to give it another shot when I could focus. The music seemed very typical of folk (which isn't necessarily bad, as I'm a fan of folk). All the tracks sounded very similar for the most part, which I think is at least somewhat intentional to give it a cohesive sound. But there was also something kind of creepy about it, so I wanted to give a closer look to the lyrics and see if that was where the fuss about this album came from. But with every passing day, I just can't seem to make myself put the album on again. There's a new assignment to listen to, and plenty of other good music to keep me occupied during the rest of the day. I just don't want to come back to this one. So, I feel like I have my answer. If there's no pull to listen to this album again, how good can it really be (at least to me)? 2/5
Better than I thought. And ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for other albums.
This is an album with no strong tracks. It’s flat, the singer’s got an annoying voice, and I really don’t understand its collective praise nor its inclusion here. The only saving grace is that none of the songs are really bad. They just are. Edit: Upon a second listening, I don't mind the first 6 songs, which are okay. The last 10 on the other hand...
I have long suspected that Devendra Banhart is not For Me, but "Insect Eyes" is a hell of a song
no thanks!
this one is just Devendra and his guitar. Not sure why it's on here - he definitely has more interesting songs and sounds and this one feels pretty run of the mill.
it ended about five minutes ago and I barely noticed
Folky, like it.
Self-indulgent folk nonsense. Bailed after three songs.
This sounds like a demo session, but in a good way. It's also very silly. One playing was sufficient
This is some of the dullest music I’ve ever heard. Good god man.
some very good folk! I vibed the whole time.
Very cottagecore! Très cœur du chalet!
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.
Devendra Banhart is one of those artists I feel I should know more about, but I tried listening to this album and couldn’t finish. I do like the feel of it, the softness of it, but it felt like a rough cut, like a better version of those songs were hiding somewhere.
Lovely. Very mysterious sounding. Love the lowfi classical guitar. With touches of strings as well. Lyrical content interesting. Good album for nature and cozy rainy days. I don't really now how to rank album's upon first time anymore. So it will just shoe my so far impressions of it. It's a four.
4.5/10
Amazing album!
more like 2 1/2
Eh it's okay. Some okay songs
Could t get into it.
Vaguely charming and certainly of interest and wholly original. But perhaps too insistently weird for its own good, one fears. And it was dangerous in inspiring too many lesser talented imitators. However, one digs it, the spirit behind it and the thoughtful (if super-different) execution, recognizing that what doesn't sound Caetano Veloso veers maybe a little uncomfortably close to Tiny Tim territory.
Psychedelic Folk - now there's a fabricated genre with a mysterious membership! This is folk, but nothing psychedelic about it. The vocals are good and I like the music. Some good guitar work on here, too.
Not my thing. Good production but definitvely not the type of music Im into.
Wasn’t sure on first listen, but second I got it more, great folk album good voice, just quite my personal taste to come back to this frequently but deserves its place on the list.
Fun album
I know this site uses the genres from Spotify but it's so weird that this is listed as "Folk/Rock" and not "Folk/Singer Songwriter." This not rock whatsoever IMHO, but it is definitely singer-songwriter. That said, I usually run pretty hot and cold on singer-songwriter but this album had me...warm? I ended up listening to it about 2.5 times because I couldn’t decide how much I liked it. I still can’t. edit: 2025-01-31 it's been about 10 months since I first listened to this and it's grown on me since then. Upping this to a 5.
Fine indie-folk album. I used it as background music for working and did not find any outstanding moment in the album.
Based on some of the reviews I'd seen for this I expected to not really enjoy this, but it's actually pretty good! I love the stripped back nature of it and the singer has an overall pleasant voice to listen to.
I got excited thinking this would be something weird and interesting after seeing that it was produced and published by Michael Gira of Swans, but it's literally just a default preset "acoustic guitar-man singing" album with some quirky lyrics. Nothing wrong with that, 3/5-worthy in fact, but a completely pointless slot on the list. Lacks that fully genuine magic that I hear from artists like Nick Drake and Bert Jansch. First half was better than the second - I can't lie, he kind of lost me once he started singing in Spanish. This album released in 2004, the book's first edition was released in 2005. Hey, it's hard to predict what albums will stick in the musical canon. Should have just went with a Swans pick instead, like come on dude, the reviews for something like "Soundtracks for the Blind" would have been so fun to read (the guy who adds that to the user-submitted albums will forever be known as the funniest man to ever live).
A solid acoustic collection of songs.
Oof not in the mood
Interesting lyrics and sound. Strong guitars throughout. I could see this artist playing in local bars and pubs. It was very folksy.
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
Okay i do admit its really pleasant
Very nice, gentle acoustic singer/songwriter material.
I'm not familiar with this album or artist, but my first impression as I listened to it was that I may have heard one of these songs on TV or in a movie at some point. As I kept listening to it, this album definitely sounded like a folk album from the aughts; Devandra's vocals are unique, and the stripped down instrumentation is well executed, creating a sound that's different, but still accessible. Overall, this album was pretty good. The vocals were nice, and the arrangements were really pleasant to listen to. The worst thing about it is that it didn't stand out to me. A few months from now, I'll probably have forgotten about this album, and when I see it in my history, the thing that'll stick out the most is that the artist was born in my hometown of Houston. I can't really understand why this album is on the list. Sure, it was well received when it came out, but that can be said about a lot of albums that aren't on the list. I wouldn't mind listening to it again, but there are just so many more folk albums that are worth my time more than this one is.
This is an interesting folk album. An easy but not boring listen. I liked this. I'd like to listen to it again on headphones while walking or something that would let me focus on it more. I think it's a bit more captivating vs being incredible.
Personally I liked this sound. But this doesn't need to be on this list and I wouldn't say this is required listening for anyone. So for that reason I'll go with a 3. Insect Eyes is a cool track.
Du indie folk on ne peut plus ordinaire. Je ne sais pas si mon mood affecte trop mon écoute, mais pour sûr en ce moment je ne suis pas tellement impressionné et je ne vois pas le but d'inclure cet album dans les 1001. 5/10
Weird acoustics with bizarrer lyrics that feel like they would only make sense when incredibly high.
Boring and one dimensional.
Really chill 3
Very nice (if a bit leftfield) modern folk. As much as I like the music, the vocal style doesn't do much for me. At times, it seems borderline silly to the point of distraction. I can't help but picture the stereotypical Williamsburg hipster of the early 2000s while listening. Tone down the vocals a bit and you'd have a very good album. Alternatively, go full experimental and really make it weird all around. 'Rejoicing in the Hands' is somewhere in between those extremes. The result is a ok album with some interesting peaks but not enough to really be memorable. There are better alt folk albums out there but it's not bad.
4.0
Not my cup of tea at all.
Never heard of her/him. This is the way - seems like it was recorded in her kitchen with cats and dogs Sight to behold - OTT. Rejoicing in the Hands - only half decent track .... Can't take to the voice, style of singing. Nothing to hear here. Move along folks It's a 2
A discovery and a pleasant suprise. Understated vocals and guitar- good to listen to and I guess it would grow on you with repeated plays. Needs further exploration I guess.
simpa :) bas pasalo uz suncano jutro 3.5
Bas super chill album, mogao bi ga cijeli dan slusati. Zapravo i jesam.. 4.5 barem
Tää oli ihan jees! Folkimpaa osastoa kun ajattelin. 3/5
Ihan hyvä, tasainen 3/5.
Tää folkkis taas ei oikein napannu samalla tapaa. 3/5
I really wanted to like this. The melodic guitar and moody yet soulful rhythms are right up my street, but as the album went on, one track merged into another and I got more and more disappointed. No stand out tracks and about as far away from "must listen" as possible.
I rather enjoyed this. It's different and kind of chill. The singer's vibrato was kind of weird but it wasn't excessive and didn't pull me out of the performance.
Pretty mediocre. Interesting voice and well jell of the guitar skills, but no really stand out tracks even on second listen. Reading the reviews don't really understand how it's a cult classic. Maybe another 20 listens would be required...
Disappointing
Plagsomt
It was good enough, will probably never be a folk rock kinda guy. Will I listen to again: 0%
I didn't get it. Perhaps it was brilliant and if I spent weeks with it I would understand it. I don't. It seemed like an album of demos.
Just meh. This didn’t do it for me at all. I didn’t feel any connection whatsoever. Didn’t feel any emotion listening to this.
Soothing and acoustic, matches the store atmosphere but not a personal favorite. 3/5
What a surprise!! Did not know this guy at all and I liked this album a lot.
Not exactly my vibe but a nice listen
Don’t see the point in this at all
Word er zenuwachtig van
Blind album and artist. Not impressed by this personally and not my kind of music. N. O.
She sounds as if she had a lot of fun recording
this is the way- this is the soup. facts. 5 if im not sure what to make of it. a sight to behold- boring. 4 the body breaks- is this the whole album.............. fellas im not sure i can do this. 4 poughkeepsie- 4 dogs they make up the dark- 4 or 5 will is my friend- good for you. 3 this beard is for siobhan- 5 see saw- 2 tit smoking in the temple of artesan mimicry- 3 rejoicing in the hands- 7 i like this one no more
Well I listened to it and can move on.
This one is kind of strange. Basically singer/songwriter folk music with some nice finger picked guitar. Some of the songs are pretty good and at times have an interesting otherworldly sound. The vocals are a problem for me, his delivery for the most part is fine for the material but at times it can get downright annoying. I may come back to this.
His voice, reminds me of Marc Bolan but without the quality. It's ok as an album but does drag on a bit.
Sounded like the epitome of college radio music. Music was good but lyrics were weird. Enjoyed more than disliked.
Eclectic, peaceful, soothing. Very enjoyable tunes. Melodic voice. 7/10
Good folk album, good songs, some boring
Good
I'd never heard of Devendra Banhart before, but enjoy this kind of music so it was great to discover this album. Many of the songs sounded similar to me, but if I'm listening to chill music like this then that doesn't really bother me. One song that stood out was "Will Is My Friend."
I've never heard of it before, but I really enjoyed it. I'm giving it a third listen now and trying to decide if I add it to my library. I feel like it could really grow on me with time.
Awful
Amazing! What an unbelievable crap!
4.5
7.6/10
Felt like Mumford and sons folk-kind of garbage but not unpleasant-3/5
A unique voice for indie rock at the mid point of the 2000s. I don’t think this is his best output. It’s certainly good but not up to what he’d later create. Great vocal melody mix well with the production to form a fine little piece of indie rock.
00s freak folk with some Venezuelan/Spanish influences - musically it was good here and there but I didn't really like his voice/singing style. And honestly, I'm not quite sure why this album must be listened before I die.
some boring folk. you know, the type of folk that someone says to you : "hey i know that great underground folk band" but really it is not much different than the rest. just a bit less poppy. 5/10
Dnf
Lovely guitar work, thematically a little hit or miss, but lyrically interesting enough to keep my attention. Yet I'm finding the warbling tentative tone of most of the singing is driving me up a wall. Some songs were better about it but overall I found this album pretty annoying.
Interesting stuff
Sorry. No but thanks for trying.
Wow, what the fuck is this? I could’ve died happy not hearing this one. If I could give this album a 0 I would.
Not my vibe
Don’t know why this is on here really, not sure what the appeal is at all
2.6 listened 2x
Nope, didn't like this.
Nothing special
Lots of interesting stuff in this album, even if he does frequently sound like Tyrannosaurus Rex era Marc Bolan, which is no bad thing, but as with Bolan's work, it can be a little hit and miss.
Some of the guitar was nice but the vocals and lyrics were rough for me
אלבום ממש טוב! לא הז'אנר שלי אבל הוא עדיין ממש טוב ונהניתי מכל שיר
The album is quite relaxing but there are one or two tracks that I just wouldnt listen to again.
This guy makes "folk" (not sure he'd buy into the label) sound original and visceral. And simultaneously fun and deep.
No offense to Devendra Barnhart, but I didn’t find anything particularly revelatory on this album. Don’t get me wrong, its fine and has some enjoyable moments, and I might be unfair in evaluating albums from 2000 onwards more harshly, but I don’t think this is an essential listen before you die.
Forgot to rate this for ages so don’t remember much other than quite liking it. Let’s call it a 4
Wouldn't have been crying in Heaven if I'd missed this one ngl
Relaxing indie vibes. 3.5
Kill me now…what a pile of shite.
It's alright, he has an interesting voice and guitar chops, he just doesn't use them to make music I find appealing to listen to.
This is apparently psychedelic folk; definitely leans more on the folk than it does the psychedelic. It's not very interesting really, a few different influences and styles but it's still pretty samey, doesn't particularly stand out from the bajillion other singer/songwriter albums with a voice that would've been unconventional had everyone with that style of voice not become singer/songwriters. 2/5.
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
Enjoyable
5 seconds in and I know this is going to be RIGHT up my alley
Some very decent and some not too excited songs mixed in. It feels very Bob Dylan-esque with the poetic lyrics with tons of imagery. I enjoyed it for one listen, but may or may not come back to it. 6/10
This is really the kind of self-absorbed garbage that makes me question the validity of 1001.
Not to take anything away from anyone else but...Not my thing, not our thing. I've always been shocked to see these albums in the Young God catalog.....
eh. nothing great nothing bad. just dull, will never think about it again
DB is one of those artists whose name I have known forever, but have never checked out (other than that one good Arthur Russel cover). Maybe my good intuition has stopped me. Stripped down folk music is very intuitive; if it doesn’t click instantly, it probably never will. This album does not click. Something about it seems disingenuous to me, which is an instant disqualification in this genre. 2.2
New to me. Hot take: I loved this album. 🤣 I was expecting something much worse given the comments here, but it was lovely. Loved his voice and songwriting.
I liked most of this album, nice and chilled. Unfortunately a few songs were quite whiney and dreary.
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.
очень приятная музыка, но пока нет ничего выпирающего, хотя нет кое что выпирает. его надо распробовать, видимо что то в нем есть
Not my preferred genre. There were a few good ones
Too indie, think campfire songs but I couldn’t make neither head nor tail out of what the music was
eeehhhggg
Poughkeepsie and the end of This Beard is for Siobhan ruuuuule
Some shades of Elliott Smith with a more folksy feel. His voice was okay, but not great, although it did fit well with the music. Musically, it was pretty mellow and melodic without having anything really stand out from the rest. A lot of it is if Simon & Garfunkel had ADHD and had written all of their stuff while tripping on acid. Or it is a mellow, acoustic Radiohead. I don't know.....something like that. "A Sight to Behold" "Insect Eyes" "Autumn's Child" and "Fall" were the best for me. "Tit Smoking...." was a nice instrumental. Would I listen to it again? Yes. Would I add it to a playlist? No.
Never listened to Devendra Banhart before... is was ok
It was pleasant but didn’t excite me at all. The acoustic strumming was nice… guy’s voice kinda annoyed me to be very honest. I get he was trying to create a certain folk-y sound, but it came off as unnatural and over-exaggerated to me. V-v-v-v-v-v-v-v ….. make it stop! Lol
Psychedelic folk... it's not bad, but it's nothing special. If i was laying in a field of flowers tripping on acid, I'm sure I'd love it. Enjoyable.
Very chilled
I remember this from a long time ago. Cool kids were into him. I thought the singing was weird. It’s much less weird to me now. I feel like I’m more into folk generally. I think it’s a 3.6 for me.
I can see how a certain minority group of people might find this album intriguing. But, generally speaking, as far as the vast majority of humanity is concerned, this is no album to die for or anything remotely close.
Didn’t care for this one. The music, lyrics didn’t resonate with me
Vage hippie muziek
Great discovery. Never heard of this guy before but I can see how he’s been an influence to some artists i like
Almost as bad as ZZ Top
This is the Way - 2/5 A Sight to Behold - 4/5 The Body Breaks - 2/5 Poughkeepsie - 2/5 Dogs They Make Up - 3/5, really like the music, but the vocals still suck Will is My Friend - 2/5 This Beard - 1/5 See Saw - 1/5 Tit Smoking - 4/5 Rejoicing in the Hands - 2/5 Fall - 4/5 Todo Los Dolores - 1/5 When the Sun Shone - 3/5 There was the Sun - 3/5 Insect Eyes - 3/5 Autumn's Child - 2/5
1. This is the way - 3 meh 2. A sight to behold - 4 alt j vibes 3. The body breaks- 2 4. Poughkeepsie- 1 B.b.b.b.bad 5. Dogs they make the dark - 3 6. Will is my friend- 2 7. This beard is for Siobhan- 2 8. See saw - 1 9. Tit smoking in the temple of artesan mimicry - 3 title is too grandiose for how short the song is -1 point 10. Rejoicing in the hands - 2 11. Fall- 4 12. Todos los Dolores - 2 13. When the sun shone on vetiver - 2 14. There was sun - 2 15. Insect eyes - 2 So repetitive 16. Autumn's child - 3
vuoden 2004 käsitys taiteesta
It’s a pleasant enough listen but not a lot feels memorable
It started as a very average folk album without any distinctive features, but some of the songs were actually pretty good, even though I can't put up my finger why they stand out. I especially liked Insect Eyes and the self-titled song. One has a very ominous feeling when listening to those two. Nice album, I would like to come back to it one day.
S Tier————————— A Tier————————— Tit Smoking In The Yada Yada The Body Breaks Will Is My Friend Fall Insect Eyes B Tier————————— Rejoicing In The Hands There Was Sun Autumn’s Child Todo Los Dolores A Sight To Behold This Is The Way When The Sun Shone On Vetiver Dogs They Make Up The Dark Poughkeepsie C Tier————————— This Beard Is For Siobhan See Saw D Tier—————————
Tuesday 10/31/2023, 1:11, office S Tier————————— A Sight to Behold When the Sun Shown on Vetiver See Saw This is the Way The Body Breaks Rejoicing in the Hands There Was the Sun Insect Eyes Dogs They Make Up The Dark Tit Smoking in the Temple of Artesan Poughkeepsie Autumns Child This Beard is for Siobhan Fall Will is My Friend Todo Los Dolores
That was not what I expected it to be. Weird, haunting, beautiful... it was all over the place. But I was really into it... for about half of the album. Then it got truly weird. In a not so great way. More in a "Devendra has lost the plot and is spinning out of control" way.
Doesn’t do it for me
So boring
Soft and atmospheric, nice voice, but not quite enough for me.
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.
Very weird. Not entirely good and not entirely bad. Just weird.
an odd album, and one i was not expecting, but i broadly enjoyed it? hard to rate for sure
yeah so i think this one isn't for me. i am not adverse to folk, or weird voices, in fact, a lot of the music i enjoy fits those categories. there's just something about the songwriting here that does nothing for me. mostly i don't think it's awful, but sometimes the songwriting made me make a (not good) face. just not for me, i think
Entretenido pero poco más. Te tiene que gustar el estilo cantautor porque si no es complicado. Con estos músicos con tantos discos es complejo recomendar algo suyo como imprescindible. Me gustó The body breaks, Autumn's child y la gracieta en español de Todos los dolores. Este disco es complicado que sea algo imprescindible a escuchar.