[music] DEVENDRA BANHART - Cripple Crow (XL)

I still don't see what's so special about Banhart (or rather, what's so special about what he's doing-- I agree he's the best Devendra Banhart there is), but I liked this much more than I expected to. The gleaming fake-retro production provides more contrast with his voice than the answering-machine style he started out in. And the album art is enough to quash any hint of preciousness all by itself. Banhart's quavery voice was never that freaky, it just seemed to be a declaration of more freakiness than he really possessed. Now... that cover is genuinely unnerving.

(no subject)

Gah. Thanks for all the throat suggestions so far, everyone-- no luck with the ones I've tried, but I have several more to attempt.

A strange thing I've noticed: my throat seems to have two modes. Sometimes, swallowing food hurts less than swallowing with nothing in my mouth, and hot liquids help while cold liquids hurt. Other times, both of those things are reversed. I find this strange.