Going into this reaction I had never heard a single song from Banks. I had heard the name, and I knew she was a relatively new artist that had been gaining some traction and following, but that was about it. So I had no idea what to expect fromย The Altar, but off top, I was drawn to the overall aesthetics of the album, perhaps pointing to something a bit more grounded and eccentric.
The production onย The Altar seems to be aiming to do for pop what artists like The Weeknd have done for R&B, by bringing a darker, moreย ethereal sound with touches of hip-hop and trap. Itโs an approach thatโs pulled off to varying degrees of success. โFuck With Myselfโ is easily the best song on the album; the bouncy kicks and eerie strings make for a uniquely infectious sound. But then you have a song like โJudasโย thatโs all over the place with kicks, cymbals, and piano keys. I can tell where they wanted to go with it, but it sounded sloppy and like a cheap starter beat. Majority of the production wasnโt bad and there were some bright spots, but I couldnโt shake the feeling of it being more trendy than authentic.
โAnd to think you would get me to the altar
Like Iโd follow you around like a dog that needs water
But admit it, you just wanted me smaller
If you wouldโve let me grow, you couldโve kept my loveโ
Vocally, Banks is probably passable at best and shaky at worst. Itโsย a fact she seems to know herself because rarely does she venture outside of her loose โrapping.โย But when it comes to songwriting she hasย no reservations; not quite on Fiona Apple level, but everything about herself and her life areย all laid to bare for the listener. Sheโs not afraid to delve both into her self confidence and vulnerability, and it humanizes her to a great degree. Itโs art imitating life times ten and itโs the strongest part ofย The Altar.
Have you heardย The Altar? Whatโd you think about it? Did you find it more trendy than authentic like I did? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave your rating for the album.
