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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 6, 2007

DEVENDRA BANHART:

SMOKEY ROLLS DOWN THUNDER CANYON

(XL) **½

You know things are getting strange when postmodern folkie Devendra Banhart's album title sounds like a page from the "Smokey and the Bandit" script.

Of course, things usually are strange where Banhart is concerned, but "Smokey" expands his ghostly folk in sometimes bizarre directions. Banhart essays with varying degrees of success, bossa nova, reggae, stoner rock, easy listening and borscht belt doo-wop.

It's a long, sprawling mess and not everything works, but enough of it does to make it worthwhile. With "Smokey," Banhart shows an overt sense of humor and becomes that much more fascinating.

Download this: "Seahorse"

Curtis Ross

BLAKE LEWIS:

AUDIO DAYDREAM

(ARISTA) **½

This "American Idol" runner-up caught plenty of heat during the on-air competition. But guess what, the kid got signed to Arista and recently dropped his debut album.

That doesn't mean the boy has pipes like Barry White, but he can hang. Record mogul Clive Davis is the executive producer and Blake co-wrote every song. And what debut album would be complete without a track featuring Lupe Fiasco?

The album is straight-up pop music: simple lyrics and radio-ready tunes. It's also super polished and cheesy without being totally disgusting. The beatboxing is reserved for the interludes and there's a grip of love songs. (Insert cha-ching here.) It would be surprising if this doesn't sell well.

Download This: "Know My Name"

Sarah Hoye

COHEED AND CAMBRIA:

NO WORLD FOR TOMORROW

(COLUMBIA) ***

With "No World for Tomorrow," the four-album tale of Coheed and Cambria comes to an end.

The band's last three studio albums chronicled the characters of Coheed and Cambria, their children and how their lives have somehow been linked with the potential destruction of the solar system.

The sci-fi drama is told through fierce falsetto singing and guitar-shredding arena rock. The story behind the albums may be complex, but listeners don't have to understand the background to appreciate the group's mastery of guitars and melody.

Although Coheed and Cambria has gone through a few lineup changes and now the ending of their infamous story line, the group's talent is proof that the best is yet to come.

Download This: "The Running Free"

Angela Delgado

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