On the Shelf 173: Banks and Steelz
Sep. 14th, 2016 08:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedsitter23How about a more recent review?
Banks & Steelz is an unlikely combination of Interpol's Paul Banks and RZA aka Bobby Digital aka Prince Raheem aka Bobby Steelz.- the de facto leader of the Wu Tang Clan.
I probably lose indie credit for not liking the Wu Tang Clan, but I have plenty of respect for RZA. Wu tang certainly had some unique ideas and occasionally hit on some landmark moments like GZA's "Liquid Swords" and has made an impressive career in soundtracking movies like Ghost Dog. You know my take on Interpol. I didn't get the initial hype, but they have won me over. They still are making records that matter and if anything, they are probably underappreciated.
The combination hits hard on leadoff single"Love and War" (featuring Ghostface Killah) and makes you say "#$%*!". This is a duo to be taken seriously.
Of course, it's always hard to recreate the thrill of the unexpected. Does the song hold up after repeat listening? Is the rest of the album as good and it will it hold up?
It's true it's hard to recreate that jolt, but Anything but Words generally works, and generally works very well. It follows the general blueprint throughout- Banks sings plaintive melodies while RZA and guest rappers hit hardcore rhymes.
Song after song have enough differentiation but also hold up as a group. Strangely, it's impossible to shake off the impression of Gorillaz, probably the best known of such indie/rap collaborations. It does not seem to be an exact comparison, but Banks role is to similar to Albarn's, in producing a counterpoint to the rap aspect of the record.
In any case, i was excited after hearing the single. I might not even have checked this out if it had not been such a strong leadoff. The good news is that I don't think my interest in this will wane,. i think it is a truly great album in a year of many great albums.
Plenty of NSFW lyrics throughout.
WARNING: Besides nsfw lyrics, the official video for :Love + War" is pretty graphic visually too in a Tarantinoesque way.
More nsfw lyrics, but no visuals
Banks & Steelz is an unlikely combination of Interpol's Paul Banks and RZA aka Bobby Digital aka Prince Raheem aka Bobby Steelz.- the de facto leader of the Wu Tang Clan.
I probably lose indie credit for not liking the Wu Tang Clan, but I have plenty of respect for RZA. Wu tang certainly had some unique ideas and occasionally hit on some landmark moments like GZA's "Liquid Swords" and has made an impressive career in soundtracking movies like Ghost Dog. You know my take on Interpol. I didn't get the initial hype, but they have won me over. They still are making records that matter and if anything, they are probably underappreciated.
The combination hits hard on leadoff single"Love and War" (featuring Ghostface Killah) and makes you say "#$%*!". This is a duo to be taken seriously.
Of course, it's always hard to recreate the thrill of the unexpected. Does the song hold up after repeat listening? Is the rest of the album as good and it will it hold up?
It's true it's hard to recreate that jolt, but Anything but Words generally works, and generally works very well. It follows the general blueprint throughout- Banks sings plaintive melodies while RZA and guest rappers hit hardcore rhymes.
Song after song have enough differentiation but also hold up as a group. Strangely, it's impossible to shake off the impression of Gorillaz, probably the best known of such indie/rap collaborations. It does not seem to be an exact comparison, but Banks role is to similar to Albarn's, in producing a counterpoint to the rap aspect of the record.
In any case, i was excited after hearing the single. I might not even have checked this out if it had not been such a strong leadoff. The good news is that I don't think my interest in this will wane,. i think it is a truly great album in a year of many great albums.
Plenty of NSFW lyrics throughout.
WARNING: Besides nsfw lyrics, the official video for :Love + War" is pretty graphic visually too in a Tarantinoesque way.
More nsfw lyrics, but no visuals
