Around the Voice: Devendra Banhart and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Get Dissed

No one told Devendra Banhart he needs help with his album covers, though

​Every week, we gather some interesting stuff from our sister Village Voice Media publications' music sections. Just for kicks. Here's last week's entry.

Devendra Banhart, in Seattle Weekly: "I had one label tell me they would love to sign me...on one condition," he says. "That I allow them to hire a team of songwriters to help me finish my songs." And a Q&A with Jimi Hendrix's half-bro.

SF Weekly peels back the layers of Janelle Monáe's new album.

Village Voice on Drive-By Truckers' The Big To-Do, and Alice in Chains is back!

Soviettes' Luke Redfield goes solo in City Pages.

An ode to the 30-year-old nightlife mainstay Avalon is in LA Weekly, along with Joan Jett and co. looking back at the Runaways.

Phoenix New Times catches up with post-hardcore specialists Greeley Estates.

A nice wrap of the NX35 fest by the Dallas Observer, plus Ludacris tells Ben Westhoff, regarding new single "How Low": "Not to sound cocky or anything, but I knew exactly what it was going to do before I put it out."

DeVotchKa's got a kindred spirit in the Lovely and Talented, according to Westword. Also, a Quasi Q&A.

In Houston Press, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's Peter Hayes wants to move past the Verve and Jesus and Mary Chain comparisons: "I think we've proved our point by now that we're much more. I mean, we've got influences from Sam Cooke and Édith Piaf to Johnny Cash  and Little Walter."