Devendra Banhart - What Will We Be

Devendra Banhart has a peculiar name; His style is no different. Described as everything from freak folk to New Weird America (as coined by music magazine The Wire), Banhart has been making waves in the underground indie scene. His strength relies on his ability to craft interesting folksy songs while blending just the right amount of pop weirdness—as demonstrated on his newest release.
What Will We Be starts off slow and builds with intensity. It’s an eclectic mix between Beck, the Kinks and JJ Cale with the occasional Spanish lyric sprinkled throughout. The melodies are memorable and the instruments are quirky, yet they remain as perfect accompaniments to the overall sense of the music. With each new song, the album becomes more wildly varied. Reggae comes into play on “Foolin,” and Zeppelin-like bass and drums haunt the beat on “Rats.” However, with each new genre introduced, the album becomes harder to understand as a musical piece.

While not as cohesive as it could be, if viewed as a separate collection of songs the album works marvelously. What Will We Be demonstrates Devendra Banharts flair for assembling a multitude of songs that masterfully indicate the idiosyncrasies of his songwriting.