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Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon is a Devendra Banhart album released September 25, 2007. This album features more instrumentation than the previous records, as well as more genre experimentation. Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon was recorded in Topanga Canyon in Southern California and is dedicated to Alice Coltrane, Malachi Ritscher and Elliott Smith.

The majority of the merchandise sold on the US tour for the album was made in collaboration with Banhart by Adam Tullie and Angeline Rivas, who design the clothing line Cavern Collection.[2]

Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon reached #19 on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007.[3] The song "Seahorse" is #69 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.[4]

Background

The album details Banhart's break up with Bianca Casady of the band CocoRosie. Banhart's relationship with Casady ended in 2006.[5]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Cristobal" (with Gael García Bernal)4:30
2."So Long Old Bean"2:56
3."Samba Vexillographica" (with Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes)4:49
4."Seahorse"8:04
5."Bad Girl"4:48
6."Seaside"4:36
7."Shabop Shalom" (with Nick Valensi of The Strokes)4:38
8."Tonada Yanomaminista"2:56
9."Rosa" (with Rodrigo Amarante of Los Hermanos)5:08
10."Saved"5:33
11."Lover"3:43
12."Carmensita" (with Natalie Portman in the video)4:49
13."The Other Woman"3:49
14."Freely" (with Linda Perhacs)4:59
15."I Remember"4:25
16."My Dearest Friend" (w/ Vashti Bunyan)2:36

Personnel

The current name of Banhart's band is Spiritual Bonerz[6] (the 'z' is silent), and the line-up consists of:

Additional Musicians

  • Mike Davis - Trumpet
  • Noah Gladstone - Trombone
  • Amy Tatum - Flutes, Tenor Saxophone

Chart performance

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[7] 39
French Albums (SNEP)[8] 42
UK Albums (OCC)[9] 93
US Billboard 200[10] 115
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[11] 3
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[12] 11

Footnotes