The music industry puts pressure on artists to put out well-received second albums, and that's especially the case after releasing an unforgettable debut. BANKS is an example of an artist who had one, and, after giving Goddess to the world, fans and industry folk alike wondered where she'd go from there. Goddess was an LP laden with dark, R&B-leaning hits, and, after an extensive touring schedule and a one-off single called "Better", she began to share pieces of The Altar, her poignant, exuberant, unabashed second effort shared with the world. BANKS ushered in the era of The Altar with "Fuck With Myself", a brooding ode to self-love and autonomy. Even more searing than "Fuck With Myself", however, was "Gemini Feed", the SOHN-produced smash from which The Altar got its name. Two more tracks preceded the release of The Altar in "Mind Games" and "To The Hilt", which were both stellar examples of BANKS' raw vocal ability. While some of the tracks on the album that were not released prior leave a bit to be desired, The Altar as a whole is a step in the right direction for BANKS. The difference between Goddess and The Altar is in the way that it remains with you, and, with a stronger sense of confidence, sharper production, and more cohesion and innovation as a whole, and fans of hers will definitely be pleased with the results. BANKS is playing a slew of European dates and recently announced on BBC Radio 1 that more dates are on their way, but, in the meantime, enjoy The Altar in its entirety on Spotify, and/or dig into a few of our new favorite tracks from it below.
BANKS