Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
My four-day Labor Day weekend was full of Dolores Park drinks and backyard BBQs. Delightfully sunny and delicious. And what better way to soundtrack such an idyllic couple of days than with Devendra Banhart’s new album, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon. It’s hard to pick just one or two favorites, as each song contains its share of highlights.
In my opinion, the album refreshingly veers away from his more traditional styles and infuses some interesting genres from bygone eras. Two of my instant favorites, which I’ll share with you below, are “Seahorse” and “Bad Girl.” “Seahorse” gets bonus points for staying interesting throughout its eight minutes: the tempo and style changes somehow work perfectly together. The muted percussions, meandering guitars and “wah wah”s of “Bad Girl” lull you into a different world for just the right amount of time before Devendra whips you back out of it with the rousing finish: “Mama I ain’t waiting, I ain’t waiting, but I’m still holding on.” Enjoy below, and be sure to check out the full album when it comes out on September 25th. Like I said, many many highlights.
