i never really understood devendra banhart much, or i should say all the fanfare surrounding him. his stuff just didn't strike me as that compelling or original. hippie folkie with wobbly voice sings about elves and pseudo-pedophilia, is that really so pathbreaking?

i suppose after finally listening to the first two t. rex records this week, my wariness of banhart has transformed into outright indignance. i mean, sure artists steal from other artists knowingly or unknowingly. but seriously, the similiarites between bolan and banhart are uncanny. and it's not only the voice, but the overall musical style as well. maybe it's not banhart's fault for sounding so imitative, but in all the years since he became so popular (at least in an indie way), i have yet to hear/read anything calling him out on it. and its  not as if his music was so innovative to begin with! so i don't really know who to blame, banhart or his boosters. let's just say both and call it a day.