VIA PRESS RELEASE | Devendra Banhart has announced the 20-year anniversary reissue of his beloved album Cripple Crow. Out on September 12, the Cripple Crow 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition marks the first release on Banhart’s own label Heavy Flowers, distributed by Secretly Distribution. Along with the announcement, Banhart has released a demo of “I Feel Just Like A Child,” an early version of the fan favorite from the original Cripple Crow release.
The Cripple Crow 20th Anniversary album reissue includes a third bonus LP featuring “The Seventies” (a never-before-released recording from the Cripple Crow sessions), “Shame” (the long out of print B-side to “Long Haired Child”), five previously unreleased demos, and two live recordings. It also includes expanded artwork and liner notes written by Banhart himself.
Of the reissue, Devendra Banhart says: “Cripple Crow! equal parts gag and pride! What a trip! What a ride! What a time! It’s all a bit embarrassing, and yet, it was such a beautifully free time of uncensored experimentation and loving camaraderie that I can’t help but be proud to share this reissue with a bunch of new stuff I can’t believe didn’t get burnt in my ‘burning my archives’ phase! Thank you to everyone for sharing bits of pics and ephemera ya had flopping around!”
Originally released on September 12, 2005 Cripple Crow was met with international critical acclaim. Pitchfork praised it as an “undoubtedly impressive, vastly singular… inspired listening experience” and Rolling Stone called it “terrific,” specifically noting Banhart’s “impressionistic lyrics and a quavery croon.” Meanwhile, NME lauded Cripple Crow as a “cut-and-come-again treat” and The Guardian gave the project a rave four-star review.
A day before the release of Cripple Crow 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (September 11), Banhart will embark on a limited run of performances in the Northeast—making stops in Woodstock, Brooklyn, Boston, and more—where he will be supported by folk singer Kath Bloom. Afterwards, Banhart will head to Europe, performing in France, the UK, Switzerland, and more.
