After what we thought was an album tease with the visual for “Better” (released almost exactly a year ago), Banks wasted no time revealing to us what she’d been meticulously curating and banged out 2 new videos for “Fuck With Myself”, and the ridiculously bold album opener “Gemini Feed” (both released within less than a month of each other).
Open up your eyes
There’s nothing on my body left to see
I tried a thousand times
I tried to say “I love you”, but you didn’t hear me
And you’re passive-aggressive
Convinced me other people didn’t care about me
So many of these tracks on the new record really speak to me, and have been like a girlfriend’s shoulder to cry on when I just can’t deal. Funny how music can be so therapeutic and provide support that you didn’t know you needed, about feelings you didn’t know you had – or just didn’t want to explore. There are so emotions associated with being a growing, changing, evolving woman and I never anticipated that those feelings could be conveyed by song.
I’ll leave you with some standout moments for me from The Altar:
This Is Not About Us – I am absolutely obsessed with the lyrical tempo of this song! Each word kind of accompanies a particular beat or percussion in the most interesting way, and it’s a super upbeat change for Banks (a la “Stick” from Goddess). With lyrics like “I see you put pride aside, I’ll wait a minute while you try to compensate”, there’s never a time that I won’t femme out to this track and roll my eyes thinking about tears that I’ve wasted on men.
Trainwreck – Purposeful auto-tune, hard-hitting beats, and my favorite element of “turnt” – hand claps. Easily her most hip-hop influenced song to date, she holds nothing back and straight goes OFF and how she feels trying to communicate with an unwilling-to-listen mate. Hopefully it’s heavy appeal doesn’t take away from it’s meaning, because lyrically this could be one of the best on the album.
Talking to ears that have been deaf
For as long as I can remember
A self-medicated handicap, so I speak to myself
And I try so hard to get his stupid deaf ears to hear
That I’ve become illiterate, I’ve become dumb
Weaker Girl – Set to a backdrop of the most beautiful strings arrangement (Don’t you DARE skip the strings outro because it’s so haunting and beautiful that it makes me weep), this one really cuts deep at what heartbreak truly feels like – more so the after-effects. After the shock, the pain, and denial of love loss, “Weaker Girl” stems from that realization that you will be fine and if anything you’ve become stronger than ever. It’s not me – it IS you. I’m fine. I’m amazing and I’ll grow to become even more amazing without you.
Tell me what you want from me
I think you need a weaker girl
Kind of like the girl I used to be
I’ma let you do what you wanna do
I’ma let you say what you wanna say
‘Cause I’ma need a bad motherfucker like me
Check out the tracks here !
I don’t think I’ve been able to get through this album without crying at least once, and then patting myself on the back for surviving the daily struggle that is womanhood. Well done, Banks – WELL DONE.
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