Devendra Banhart – Rejoicing in the Hands

Devendra Banhart – Rejoicing in the Hands / 2004 Young God Records / 16 Tracks / http://www.younggodrecords.com/Artists/DevendraBanhart/ / http://www.younggodrecords.com / Reviewed 07 June 2004

Coming into eir’s own right as an acoustic-playing singer-songwriter, this San Franciscan creates a timeless CD in “Rejoicing in the Hands”. Drawing heavily from the early wandering minstrels of America’s recent past, Devendra mixes blues and hints of American country music to construct a solid sound. While there are a host of guest instruments on “Rejoicing in the Hands”, this disc is primarily about Devendra’s guitar work, and while ey does create a coherent sound, there are enough derivations to stave away any ennui. Devendra has a classical voice that would sound as proper on a gospel recording from the early twenties as it does on the cusp of current music. The disc is full of cuts that average about two minutes a piece, perfect to fit with the earliest Pete Seeger or Phil Ochs tracks. However, this music, which would hold a political message perfectly, is weakened by the lack of politically-themed messages.

“Rejoicing in the Hands” may be a story primarily about Devendra and eir’s guitar, but in tracks such as “A Sight to Behold”, the guest musicians are there to create a very full sound and serious demeanor, a perfect coupling with Devendra’s jangly guitar. The slight tremor in Devendra’s voice is present through the entirety of the CD, and while it is not quite as pronounced as the tremor in an Aaron Neville, it provides the listener with a indelible identifier. There is not a single on this disc, but rather one lumbering bulk of music that ebbs and flows, and goes through a number of movements before ending at the last strains of “Autumn’s Child”.

There is no doubt that the indie-hipster scene will eat this disc up with a spoon, and I can honestly say that the disc is leaps and bounds above the typical Dave Matthews frat-guy with guitar that is so common, but the disc has an unfinished ring to it that resounds throughout everything that Devendra does. The fuzz of the mastering and producing puts a damper on the emotion that Devendra puts into each and every song, and really holds the disc back from being a highwater mark in the field. While I am traditionally not into Devendra’s laid-back, singer-songwriter style of music, I can give eir incredible kudos for making an album that is both musically satisfying and approachable to all, regardless of tastes.

Rating: 6.5/10 Top Tracks : Todo Los Delores, A Sight To Behold