6 out of 10
Since 2004, Devendra Banhart has been at the forefront of the poorly named “freak-folk” resurgence in the world of independent music. With his free spirit and his excellent warbling singing voice, he has the privilege of being the biggest hippie that hipsters ever claimed to like, an artist who could feel at home playing both Bonnaroo and the Pitchfork Music Festival.
Now, with his fifth album overall, “Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon,” Banhart continues to follow his folk and ‘70s rock muse, even going so far as to move to Topanga Canyon, a location once favored by Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. And while the results are at times beautiful and serene, but at other times are quite boring and bloated.
That last word has been attributed to Banhart from the start. His debut album had 22 songs on it. His breakout year came when he released two full-length, lo-fi folk records in one year. The very next year, he went electric with a double LP free for all.
“Smokey” is no different in length, but while Banhart’s sound was fresh and audacious a few years ago, his settling down and mellowing out does not improve the music.
It would be wrong to completely rip on this album, because on certain days, at certain moments and moods, it can completely relax and enchant. But for the rest of the time, I just wish Banhart would learn to edit himself. This could have been a fine 40 minute album that was instead stretched beyond its welcoming point.

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