Devendra Banhart

Growing up in Caracas, Venezuela, and Los Angeles, Devendra Banhart was always playing music and drawing. But it wasn't until his brief stay at the San Francisco Art Institute that the disciplines became his constant companions. With the encouragement of poet and SFAI professor Bill Berskon, Banhart began experimenting with all kinds of art. He also began recording songs around that same time, usually on shoddy, hand-me-down four-track machines. Brief, half-finished, or written in stream-of-consciousness form, the recordings weren't initially intended for release. But friends encouraged Banhart, and he sent out a few tentative demos. He also left SFAI in favor of busking and wandering, and his travels led him from the Bay Area to Paris and eventually back to L.A. By now he was performing regularly, but he hadn't recorded or released anything officially. That changed when Michael Gira (Swans) issued the first Banhart material on his Young God imprint in October 2002. Oh Me Oh My... was an immediate critical hit, and comparisons to legends of songwriting, eclecticism, and tragedy were frequent (Tim Buckley, Syd Barrett, Marc Bolan, et al.). The Black Babies EP arrived in 2003, followed by Banhart's first full-length, Rejoicing in the Hands, in April 2004. Young God released its companion, Niño Rojo, in September. Acclaim for both was nearly unanimous, and Banhart's audience continued to expand. He jumped to XL for September 2005's Cripple Crow, an ambitious set and his most sonically expansive album up to that point. Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon continued in that vein, recorded at Banhart's new home studio in Topanga Canyon. A jump to Warner Bros. brought a more straightforward set (relatively speaking), What Will We Be, in 2009 (amazon.com)

The Charles C. Leary - 2002



1. "Bish-Bash Falls"
2. "Soothe My Soul, Mend My Mind"
3. "Sarah Sings"
4. "Mmplushumblehorse"
5. "Michigan State"
6. "Rainwater Pigfarmers"
7. "Aymama-Aymama"
8. "The Charles C. Leary"
9. "Whistling"
10. "The Thumbs Touch Too Much"
11. "Todo Los Dolores"
12. "Catastrophie"
13. "Me And Andy Singing El Rio"
14. "The Fish Are Scratched Up Flies"
15. "Artsandcrafts (Live at 40th St W.)"
16. "The Animal Map"
17. "Cada Casa Que Crece"
18. "Ride Away Like Roy Orbison"
19. "Red Lagoon Whistling"
20. "Noah"
21. "Cosmos and Damien"
22. "Aperpareplane (Early Recording)"
23. "I Played Organ While Colter Played Guitar"
24. "Joe Cain"

Good Music!

Oh Me Oh My... (The Way The Day Goes By The Sun Is Setting Dogs Are Dreaming Lovesongs Of The Christmas Spirit)- 2002



01. Tick Eats the Olives...
02. Roots...
03. The Charles C. Leary
04. Nice People...
05. Animals...
06. Cosmos And Demos
07. Michigan State
08. Lend Me Your Teeth
09. Hey Miss Cane
10. Soon Is Good
11. Tell Me Something
12. The Red Lagoon
13. A Gentle Soul
14. Happy Happy Oh
15. Pumpkin Seeds
16. The Thumbs...
17. Legless Love...
18. Marigold
19. Make It Easier
20. Ones
21. Little Monkey
22. The Spirit Is Near

Good Music!

Rejoicing In The Hands - 2004


01. This Is The Way
02. A Sight To Behold
03. The Body Breaks
04. Poughkeepsie
05. Dogs They Make Up The Dark
06. Will Is My Friend
07. This Beard Is For Siobhán
08. See Saw
09. Tit Smoking In The Temple Of Artesan Mimicry
10. Rejoicing In The Hands
11. Fall
12. Todo Los Dolores
13 .When The Sun Shone On Vetiver
14. There Was Sun
15. Insect Eyes
16. Autumn's Child

Good Music!


Niño Rojo - 2004



01. Wake Up, Little Sparrow
02. Ay Mama
03. We All Know
04. Little Yellow Spider
05. A Ribbon
06. At The Hop
07. My Ships
08. Noah
09. Sister
10. Water May Walk
11. Horseheadedfleshwizard
12. An Island
13. Be Kind
14. Owl Eyes
15. The Good Red Road
16. Electric Heart

Good Music!

Cripple Crow - 2005



01. Now That I Know
02. Santa Maria De Feira
03. Heard Somebody Say
04. Long Haired Child
05. Lazy Butterfly
06. Quedate Luna
07. Queen Bee
08. I Feel Just Like A Child
09. Some People Ride The Wave
10. The Beatles
11. Dragonflies
12. Cripple Crow
13. Inaniel
14. Hey Mama Wolf
15. How's About Tellin' A Story
16. Chinese Children
17. Sawkill River
18. I Love That Man
19. Luna De Margarita
20. Korean Dogwood
21. Little Boys
22. Anchor

Good Music!

Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon - 2007



01. Cristobal
02. So Long Old Bean
03. Samba Vexillographica
04. Seahorse
05. Bad Girl
06. Seaside
07. Shabop Shalom
08. Tonada Yanomaminista
09. Rosa
10. Saved
11. Lover
12. Carmensita
13. The Other Women
14. Freely
15. I Remember
16. My Dearest Friend

Good Music!

What Will We Be - 2009



01. Can't Help But Smiling
02. Angelika
03. Baby
04. Goin' Back
05. First Song For B
06. Last Song For B
07. Chin Chin & Muck Muck
08. 16th & Valencia Roxy Music
09. Rats
10. Maria Lionza
11. Brindo
12. Meet Me At Lookout Point
13. Walilamdzi
14. Foolin'

Good Music!

Golden Apples Of The Sun - 2004



01. Vetiver (with Hope Sandoval) – Angel's Share
02. Joanna Newsom – Bridges And Balloons
03. Six Organs Of Admittance – Hazy SF
04. Viking Moses – Crosses
05. Josephine Foster – Little Life
06. ESPers – Byss & Abyss
07. Vashti Bunyan & Devendra Banhart – Rejoicing In The Hands
08. Jana Hunter – Farm, CA.
09. Currituck Co. – The Tropics Of Cancer
10. White Magic – Don't Need
11. Iron & Wine – Fever Dream
12. Diane Cluck – Heat From Every Corner
13. Matt Valentine – Mountains Of Yaffa
14. Jack Rose – White Mule
15. Little Wings – Look At What The Light Did Now
16. Scout Niblett – Wet Road
17. Troll – Mexicana
18. CocoRosie – Good Friday
19. Antony – The Lake

Good Music!