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Rating:
THE REVIEW
Dearest Devendra, this album is too full of itself. The only flaw is its "playing volume." It's as if everything it touches can turn to gold for our ears. Unfortunately, in some passages, the exact opposite happens: just listen to "Long Haired Child" or "Lazy Butterfly."
Otherwise, the writing in this album is truly moving and harmonious, from here you can set sail towards Caetano Veloso by listening to "Santa Maria de Feira" and "Inaniel." You can continue with that magical trio of songs placed there, at the beginning of the album. It would probably be too simple and predictable a move. In those first three episodes, Devendra reaches the fullness we sought in his early albums. In this latest album, his art is displayed in its full 360-degree glory, and from now on, we must and can expect anything—the young man has excellent resources. No need to name names or make comparisons. Here, you have the opportunity to see a more complete and detailed world: made of South America, folk, the '60s, etc., etc.
Now, they are here asking us to have more respect for them, especially in this new millennium of music. I repeat, if a couple of tracks had been cut from the album, there would be little to say and much to listen to and contemplate. Even the greatest know their own limits well, except for the likes of Ryan Adams, but that's another story. Here, the fault is somewhat ours too.
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Summary by Bot
The review appreciates Devendra Banhart's Cripple Crow for its moving and harmonious songwriting, showcasing a 360-degree display of his artistic world. However, some tracks like "Long Haired Child" and "Lazy Butterfly" are seen as weaker, affecting the album's overall cohesion. The review expresses optimism about Banhart's future given his rich resources and diverse influences. Minor criticisms are balanced with praise for the album’s strengths and potential.
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart (born May 30, 1981, in Houston, Texas) is an American-Venezuelan singer-songwriter and visual artist associated with freak/psych folk. Raised in Venezuela, he debuted on Michael Gira’s Young God Records in 2002 and became a key figure of the early‑2000s indie folk renaissance with albums such as Rejoicing in the Hands, Nino Rojo, and Cripple Crow.09 Reviews
Other reviews
By marcello serafino
Devendra Banhart is one of them. He asks for no labels, doesn’t even dream of them.
"Cripple Crow", simply, demands nothing: it allows itself to be caught like a flower in a world covered by thorns.
By vonhesse
A Circus that has the flavor of other times, unspecified places that belong to historical and political movements of over 50 years ago, with a romantic, decadent, utopian, and sunny aftertaste hardly found in other contemporary movements.
We can only be grateful for this sincere demonstration of intellectual honesty and wish the likable long-haired guy to continue delighting us with 'cathartic' and illuminating records like this one.
