Two New Devendra Banhart Tracks

Download: Devendra Banhart - "Seahorse"
Download: Devendra Banhart - "So Long Old Bean"

Every week until his new record, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon, comes out on September 25th, Devendra Banhart will debut two new tracks from the album on his MySpace Page. Last week, it was the brief thumpin' of a song "Tonada Yanomaminsta" and the lovely, ethereal, "Rosa."

This past Friday evening (August 3rd), Banhart unveiled "Seahorse" and "So Long Old Bean". "Seahorse" starts out as a country-folk acoustic jam, with steel pedal and some guitar licks adding texture to the song before it detours into a jazzy waltz. There's even a flute solo, Ron Burgundy-style (well, maybe more like Jethro Tull style). Toward the end, "Seahorse" even ventures into classic rock territory, with Banhart giving his vibrato-heavy singing style more of a Jim Morrison feel.

"So Long Old Bean" is a whimsical, Beatles-esque (to answer your question, McCartney. Though the whimsical descriptor should have been a dead giveaway) tune that approcimates an old-timey vauldville feel. It's over pretty quick, and may work in the context of an album, but ultimately feels like a throwaway track.

Pre-Order Smokey here.

(Jonathan Graef)