Pitchfork Forkcast: New Music: Devendra Banhart: "Little Boxes" [Stream]

New Music: Devendra Banhart: "Little Boxes" [Stream]

Following in the footsteps of the Shins, among several others recently, Devendra Banhart has become the latest artist to release a cover of "Weeds" theme song "Little Boxes", originally by 1962 folkie Malvina Reynolds. Banhart picks out both melody and rhythm on his acoustic guitar, singing in a more straightforward tone than usual as piano and light, steady drumming join. Along with Andrew Bird's "How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm", it's a selection from Janet Reno's new, educational compilation of old American songs, Song of America. From this track, children will learn about the conformity of The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit era, but they won't find out much about Devban's famous "freak"-ness. The twangy, uptempo outro is a nice touch. Hey, no mosh pits, though.