I never find myself making those “best of…” lists at the end of a year, yet I can safely say Devendra Banhart’s Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon (2007) is certainly among my most played albums ever. When earlier this year I discovered his new record (his seventh album!), it instantly became one of the most anticipated albums of 2009. No doubt, What Will We Be (2009) shares similarities with the 2007 record and carries that unmistakable Devendra sound. Yet What Will We Be stylistically is more eclectic as Devendra mixes everything from Rock, R&B, Country and Latin to Jazzy-lullaby arrangements. Such an eclectic approach is challenging and ambitious, but Devendra succeeded in delivering a mid-tempo record that flows with ease and delight. Now, I’m hoping for that West-Coast tour.
Update:
Devendra is going to perform a bit, you might be in one of the lucky locations:
Feb 4 2010 Tokyo Unit Tokyo
Feb 5 2010 Tokyo Unit Tokyo
Mar 18 2010 Showbox @ The Market Seattle, Washington
Mar 19 2010 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver
Mar 21 2010 Crystal Ballroom Portland, Oregon
Mar 23 2010 Warfield San Francisco, California
Mar 24 2010 Wiltern Los Angeles, California
Links:
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Accompanied by a Wurlitzer keyboard, a banjolin, drums, a glockenspiel and guitars, the witty and well written songs of Arrah and the Ferns are the perfect weekend pop fun. Folk, Indie Rock and Alt Country influences create a bright and cute indie pop mixture. Arrah and the Ferns will make you smile and shine.
By framing her distinctive voice and the lyrics with the minimal production of her rhythms, Texan songstress Jana Hunter keeps things simple, clear and raw. Recorded in a mere two weeks, There’s No Home (2007) captures the heart with its haunting strings and electric guitar arrangements, sing-along choruses and country-like tunes, while Jana unfolds her emotional complexity, sharing her intimate stories of love and longing.