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Niño Rojo Image
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 15 Ratings

  • Summary: Nino Rojo, the eccentric singer-songwriter's second release of 2004, was recorded during the same sessions that produced 'Rejoicing In The Hands.'
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. It acts as a perfect counterpart to Rejoicing in the Hands, featuring the same elements that made its successor such a valued release, while incorporating enough new ideas to make it much more than Rejoicing in the Hands: Part Deux.
  2. Nino Rojo may not appeal to the "freak-folk" crowd that so heartily embraced Rejoicing and its shambling predecessor Oh Me Oh My..., but Banhart effectively displays a willingness to broaden his musical horizons that will undoubtedly serve him well on subsequent releases.
  3. This is a record for the late night after a later one; the cauterised throat, the yellow of the reading lamp, and the restless shifts in twisted sheets.
  4. Under The Radar
    80
    Even though the best moments here hold their own with anything he has yet released, the lesser tracks show the first signs of diminishing returns on Banhart's previously limitless talent. [#8, p.108]
  5. If Oh Me Oh My is Banhart’s most fantastic record and Rejoicing In The Hands his most focused, Nino Rojo is the singer at his most inclusive.
  6. Like its companion recording, Nino Rojo is about the shared delight of new encounters with music and language and is an adventure in the hearing.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    No great departure, rather 16 more tracks of campfire folk, quivering vocals and a brilliant baby's-eye view of the world. [25 Sep 2004, p.64]

See all 18 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. JonathanA
    Dec 16, 2004
    10
    This is music that would charm the birds Banhart is a folk legend. He said himself that one day he was thinking a bout singing and discovered This is music that would charm the birds Banhart is a folk legend. He said himself that one day he was thinking a bout singing and discovered that he can sing about anything he wanted. That is what makes his music brilliant. Expand
  2. JamesN
    Apr 15, 2005
    10
    Having recently bought the limited edition release of Nino Rojo and Rejoicing in the Hands i instantly fell in love with Devendra's Having recently bought the limited edition release of Nino Rojo and Rejoicing in the Hands i instantly fell in love with Devendra's unusual vocal style. This is the better of the two in my opinion, the songs sound more emotional and heartfelt than on Rejoicing. Songs such as Sister and At The Hop stand out as particularly poinant, as Devendra's lyrics leave the land of fairytales and magic mushrooms and become much more personnal. The guitar playing is amazing, managing to be both simple and complex and although the use of chords can be repetitive, the varied melodies of the fingerpicking keep the music intersesting. Definately a must-buy. Expand
  3. ultravisitor
    Jan 12, 2007
    10
    it changed my way of listening to music, and I have been doing it for 25 years and collecting thousands of records, devendra brings us some it changed my way of listening to music, and I have been doing it for 25 years and collecting thousands of records, devendra brings us some unexpected freshness, just like the beauty from joanna newsom's work, open up your mind, a new era has started . Expand
  4. Mar 15, 2012
    10
    Seems to hit all the right notes and grows on you, maybe not as lyrically accomplished as his other work but his voice sounds best on this album.