Devendra Banhart

21-year-old Devendra Banhart takes lo-fi to new heights by recording this album in various locales around the world on miscellaneous shoddy and malfunctioning four-track machines. There's enough hiss to dissuade even adventurous listeners, and many tracks possess a distinctive warble - the result of unbiased tape heads no doubt. It comes off like a field recording with only nylon-stringed guitar, whistles, claps and Devendra's eerie vocal tone. Even with these distractions, Oh Me, Oh My has some merit because it was recorded not as a demo for public consumption but for the artist himself. Its experimental character and honesty make it interesting but not exactly compelling; it's Devendra's surreal lyrics that make Oh Me,Oh My more than just a one listen novelty.