Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow
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Free Music Notes for Cripple Crow
Free Music Review: A good effort, but somewhat empty.
Hit: 3 Stars
The major-label debut of an artist with rising popularity is no small deal. It just might make all the difference. This album, seemed to be a success for Banhart both musically and commercially. Hell, it was the first time I've ever heard of him. I'd think many others may say the same.
The music keeps you entertained, but it does seem that Devendra still has some exploring to do musically. It seems like he has to find himself, without getting lost, which certainly can be a hard thing to do.
Not every song on this album seems to be played to it's fullest. The album as a whole is a bit sloppy, but there are many parts where Devendra shines through his teeth.
A Devendra fan will surely love this album, a folk fan would appreciate it, but I feel Devendra as better things in store for us.
Free Music Review: I heard somebody say that the war ended today
Hit: 4 Stars
I am astounded by people who say that "Cripple Crow" sounds 'too slick' for them. This mulligan's stew of music is so unslick that I often get distracted by the disparity. Twenty-two songs with six in Spanish and lo-fi recording that sounds like it was recorded in the woods somewhere...slick is not the word. Mystical, intimate and enthralling would be my adjectives of choice, though. Devendra Banhart has crafted a delightfully trippy excursion into his strange little world of freak-folk, a rich world inter-woven with imagistic lyrics and a decidedly anti-war bent.
You'll hear echoes of everything from Bob Dylan, Solo Beatles Lennon, Harrison and McCartney and even a touch or two of Frank Zappa. Banhart is really fearless, musically. There isn't a genre inside his worldview that doesn't deserve trying out at least once, and if you miss listening to music that probably sounds better under a black light and something ingested (ok, I am over 40 and I admit it), "Cripple Crow" will suck you right into ecstasy. It's a total package, from the sitars and flutes inhabiting the songs to the homage to the 60's cover art. It's enough to give you faith in the underground music scene.
My sole problem with this CD is that I feel it could benefit from some pruning. There's just too many ingredients in the stewpot to make a coherent disc, and the constant use of "child" or "womb" as a lyrical fall-back gets tedious over the duration of the disc. (As does Banhart's singing, like when he tires to go for soulfulness or when he screeches the final note of "Some People Ride The Wave.") There are songs that are downright goofy ("Long Haired Child" and "Chinese Children") and simple songs of great beauty ("I Heard Somebody Say" and "Inaneil"). It is easy to get hypnotized by the atmosphere of "Cripple Crow," and Banhart is an eccentric with talent to burn. But for my money, any CD in 2005 willing to say "I heard somebody say that the war ended today...It's simple, we don't want to kill" is all right in my book.
Free Music Review: Witchy Manfolk
Hit: 1 Stars
Don't get it. Not only do none of these songs do anything for me, but I resent the Gil and Veloso comparisons. This dude, first of all, takes his Jesus look very seriously. Secondly, his voice is horrible. Every time there is a chance to be soulful, important in American Roots music, Banhart wimps out and instead sings from some drugged-out self indulgent caldron. Thirdly, there are to many "womb" references for my comfort and they are all weird. He has nothing to say, no real ideas in the music. The "sound" doesn't explore any new territory and just comes off cramped and trite. Free Music Review: Not his best, but a great place to start
Hit: 5 Stars
Devendra Banhart is among the artists who were tagged as being part of the neo-folk revival that was all over the independent music press a few years ago. Thankfully, "freak folk" is much less of a buzz word right now, so anyone finding this music for the first time is most likely curious because they have a genuine interest, rather than because of some external pressure.
That having been said, Cripple Crow is a great album by a great artist and I would strongly recommend it to anyone new to Devendra Banhart. There's more emphasis on fun, catchy tunes and an easy-going hippie aesthetic here than on some of his earlier albums (tropicalia is a big influence) - more variety, too. In some ways, that detracts from the music's ability to draw the listener in, but it also makes Cripple Crow a joy to hear over and over again. In fact, I've enjoyed this album more and more on successive listens, a phenomenon that I don't often experience.
And the songs are really wonderful - I tend to listen to Cripple Crow for individual songs rather than as a cohesive whole. "Now that I Know", "Santa Maria de la Feira", "Heard Somebody Say", "Quedate Luna", "I Feel Just like A Child", "Dragonflies", "Cripple Crow", "Hey Mama Wolf", "Little Boys", and "Anchor" are all highlights. Buy it, try it, give it a chance.
Free Music Review: just amazing
Hit: 5 Stars
devendra is just simply amazing. nothing more, nothing less.
do yourself a favor and get this cd. you wont regret it if you know anything about good music.