Customer Reviews

Oh Me Oh My...

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm not sure what to make of Devendra Banhart. He tiptoes on the margin between sublime and sheer lunacy. "Oh Me Oh My" is one of those rare CDs you put on, in an altered state, at 3 am in the morning, and like a bolt of lightining the genius of the artist strikes you. I listened to Skip Spence's "Oar" for several months before the elusive quality of his brilliance sank in. Devendra is a similar type of artist.

The production values are charmingly low-fi and the lyrics...well... let's just say if you find a meaning in the content of Banhart's lyrics, then you are capable of some very loose associations. A lot the lyrics resemble the stream of consciouness, automatic writting practiced by Andre Breton and his brethern in French surrealist movement. It is just a guy and his guitar and a voice that defies any precedents. No production tricks like crunchy loops or sound reprocessing. He soars and swoops from pleasant mid range voice into a screeching falsetto almost at a whim. He pays little attention to conventional musical structures. It's almost as if Mr. Banheart never heard music at all, or even knew what a guitar was; and some guy handed him a guitar and said,"Here, Devandra do something with this thing."

I will be interested in seeing where Devandra goes from here. Yesterday's low-fi genius, often becomes tomorrow's charlatan, after two or three releases. Is he a savant or an idiot? I'm sure we will get the answer in a year or two. Unconventional artists like Devandra don't have a lot of choices: they either melt down like Syd and Skip, or persue more centrist musical directions. A few artists like Beck and Captain Beefheart can pull it off, but smart money isn't betting on it yet.

I love Devendra Banhart. He is an amazing singer/songwriter and I'm very glad to see the folk scene expanding. However, this album isn't really that great. There are a few songs that are really good, though. Oh Me Oh My doesn't have the "pull" that Rejoicing in the Hands or Nino Rojo have. If you were wanting to check out Devendra Banhart for the first time, definately check out Rejoicing in the Hands or Nino Rojo first before you plunge right into this one. It takes an open mind and open hands ;)

I had high expectations for this album based on the hype I'd read. Although Banhart at times does indeed reach for a bizarre falsetto, I thought it would be more obviously demented than it turned out to be, but after a while it worked its unusual magic on me. As has been previously mentioned here, there is little more at work here than an accoustic guitar, voice, and a basic four-track recorder. The vocals are multi-tracked most of the time, which because of their looseness gives the songs a very strange choral effect that actually gets to be quite chilling. The songs here are great, with bittersweet melodies that will stick in your head for days, and the lo-fi production only adds to the ethereal, unsettling vibe. And of course there are the odd interludes here and there which sound like old records being played through an ancient, crackling cable.
If I had to draw comparisons, I would definately cite Tiny Tim, the accoustic/folkish Current 93 material, and maybe Marc Bolan? In any case, I can say with a clear conscience that this would be right at home within the World Serpent roster.
Overall, this is spooky yet very charming; quite an implausible but intoxicating achievement that must be heard to be believed.

If you are a fan of Syd Barret's solo records or Skip Spence's Oar then this is for you. The Charles C. Leary is a very good song, as well as Animals. The whole album is refreshing. It is comforting to think that people are still capable of making this kind of music. This album is under produced but the songs make up for that.

I bought this for my boyfriend because he loves it so much (he lost his original copy). However, I'm no fan. His review would be far more complimentary than mine.

The first Devendra and still the best. Skewed lyrics and melodies from a night of dreams you had a long time ago.

I love all of the other albums and just figured I love this one too. I was wrong. It was very raw and not what Devendra seems to be on the others. It was one of the first so we'll let it slide.

Though it is nothing compared to Nino Rojo it does have some really great songs. "A Gentle Soul" is haunting beyond comparable words. It's like Devendra sang it in a different part of history or something much like his others. For anyone who wants to get into bare bones folk this is definitely a good starting point to venture from.

This is one of the more unusual releses' I have heard in quite some time. On OH ME OH MY...Barnhart does not seem to be making a pretentious statement, rather stripped down, he's getting to the essence of his sound.Bare guitar chords, and a eeirly beautiful voice combine to make some of the more haunting sounds I have heard in quite some time. The Charles c leary is gorgeous,as is cosmos and Demos and a gentle soul.Other songs sing the praises of friends teeth and ears. many of the cuts are a minute or two in length,and the bare bones prduction sounds are intentional,and add to the overall effect, which ranges from soft to off the wall. If Devendra Barnhart can keep his voice and vision, this is the genesisof a great artist.Either way, this is a terrific album.

I've only listened to it about 6 times through, everytime it gets betters, so 4 stars is rather arbitrary, perhaps it deserves 5. What i love about this album is its ability to create and hold a mood so increadibly well. Effrim (sp?) of The Microphones is the only artist i know of capable of creating similar moods, but his are always of the abstract and contemplative kind. Devendra Banhart somehow makes you scared, apprehensive, and joyful all at the same time...how? His voice is an essential ingrediant--as are his song structures, (totally un-conventional). My one complaint would be that this album doesn't have enough instrumental songs; Tick Eats the Olives is over way too soon.