If you have been following the VETIVER story arc, then you know that on THE FIRST CD, all the great names in the present psychedelic folk rock scene, were gathered and had a little rainbow party (or so it sounds) in the recording. Names like Hope Sandoval (Read:MAZZY STAR), Devendra Banhart (The darling of the freak folk movement), Joanna Newsom (The harp player, and childlike singer, who's last album YS was declaired a masterpiece by many...not me, but many others I suppose), and a host of others. Seriously, this is a band that has PEDIGREE. However, i didnt fall into this band, thru the first album, i started here, on the second CD. The first song has this cool drone running thru it, and it sounds very eastern, then its followed by the next song with a strong beat, that if nothing reminded me of late period MGM songs by the Velvet Underground. Then, the CD reaches its stride, in songs like NO ONE WORD, with its minimal guitar picking and smokey female vocals, and the beautiful DOUBLE, that reminds one of work by SIA (the singer from ZERO7). This song has much of a electronica sound happening in the production, which helps to break up the sound of the album in a nice way, to keep the audio picture constantly fresh and easy on the ear, without becoming easy listening. The album has wonderful walzes in it, which again seems to be a touchstone with all these new freakfolk musicians, even tho the FOLK part of the movement seems to be falling away, as we watch the new albums by IRON AND WINE, and DEVENDRA BANHART, etc, become more and more rock orienated. (As has Decemberists as well).

I dont know why, but this album really gives me a great sense of hope. Its been 40 years since the infamous SUMMER OF LOVE, and i never thought there would be another psychedelic revival of beauty in music, and meaningful lyrics, with complex and thoughtful musicianship, but here it is, thanks to the ACID group mind of San Fransesco. (or human talent and musical progress). The album in a whole, has enough going on, that you can play it over and over, and not get bored at all. In fact, its the kind of album that sort of leads you into another world of music. From here, its so easy to find the BANHART music, IRON AND WINE, ESPERS, NICK CASTRO, SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE, and maybe Sufjan Stevens too. All these groups, are California bands, except for Sufjan Stevens, and Espers, which is a Philly band. I do think that a community that is this rich, seems to produce something greater than its parts. I dont know if San Franscesco is going to be the new SEATTLE, or ATHENS GEORGIA, or LIVERPOOL ENGLAND, or....San Fransesco 1967, when the Airplane, the Dead, the Moby Grape, Big Brother and Janis Joplin, Country Joe, Quicksilver, Steve Miller, Santana, CCR, and Its a Beautiful Day, showed people what a community of like minded spirits can do, when they work together, and have a common vibe of hope and beauty. So, if that kind of idealism, and forward looking musical forms and lyrics, with backward looking hippie traditions, is attractive to you, I would think that this would be a cool album to buy. Since different people are singing on different songs, you wont find the problem that you might find with some folk singers, when the voice might get "on your nerves" (technically, this has been diagnosed as AURAL DYLANITIS.) SO rush right out to your closest AMAZON.COM seller, and buy it today. AS the Jefferson Airplane once said, "LOOK WHATS HAPPENING OUT ON THE STREET, GOT A REVOLUTION GOT A REVOLUTION." And we need all the positive change we can get right now. PEACE BROTHERS AND SISTERS

I don't write album reviews much--but this CD is worth it. I'd reccomend this to most everyone. I don't have a friend who dislikes it. This album shows a band in their maturing stages. The melodies, guitar working, everything about it just makes it an easy going, calming album. Don't buy this cause of Devendra Banhart, it's much deeper than that. If you want a relaxing, beautiful album that will get its melodies stuck in your head, get this. You won't regret it.

I have been a fan of this band for a while. I saw some of their early shows in San Francisco three years ago or more. Their first was cool but had too many all-star musicians on it. Was this a real band or just another sort of This Mortal Coil? I saw them again earlier this year, and it dispelled for me that this was a Devendra Banhart side project. Vetiver leader Andy Cabic has been touring with Banhart for a few years now. But seems to have found some original footing with "Been So Long" and "You May Be Blue." This is sort of like Cabic's All Things Must Pass. This album did come out a while ago. Unfortunately I left it in a rental car. It took me three months to get it back. I have been impressed with the new Vetiver. The early version was still limited in many ways. But this full version is definitely somewhere between George Harrison and the Grateful Dead. It's a swell journey.

For old Vetiver fans this may be a miss. Stream the whole thing on their website before hand. I find most of the songs sound just like the one before and after it. There is no originality and where is Alissa's transending deep and erotic cello? Honestly, the CD made me fall asleep, unlike their past ones. This fan is passing up on this one, sorry. :(

Got turned on to this by the good folks over at Luakabop. Seems some of the merry pranksters who call themselves Vetiver showed up and played with those other merry pranksters (and Luaka labelmates), Os Mutantes when they played some US shows recently.

While Devendra often says he's influenced by Os Mutantes and the rest of the Tripicalia (yes, deliberately misspelled) movement, in past incarnations, he reminded most of a latter day Marc Bolan.

Ever mutating (hence, undoubtedly, the aforementioned Os MUTANT-es inspiration), this iteration of Vetiver recalls nothing so much as George Harrison at his most laid back and trippiest. And that, prospective listeners, is a damn good thing.

In these recent disturbingly authoritarian dominated times, these neo hippies are a great counterpoint, and maybe even presciently foretold a growing popular resistance to the mayhem this country has had to put up with the past 6 years (one can only hope it lasts). If true, the latter would lend more credence to the argument these guys are following in the political footsteps of Os Mutantes (and Beatles, and John Lennon, etc., etc.) before them.

Aside from any subtle or not so subtle political implications, this is great music. There was a time back in the mid to late 60s when bands recorded albums while they were doing....ahem...well, let's just say mind altering substances. Listeners, in turn, would get in similar states of mind after bringing the record home. This resulted in a stronger and closer bond between artist and listener (as an aside, Beck is doing the same thing now, but I digress).

Whether or not you choose to experiment along these lines is up to you. Either way, this is groovy listening, guaranteed to grow on you.