In this article, we touch on releases from two new LA r&b singers, who are making their mark on the industry. Also, about how the latest release from rapper, BONES, will make you become a die hard.
BANKS – Goddess
BANKS – Goddess
LA songstress, BANKS, highly anticipated LP Goddess released on Harvest Records September 9th. Going into this project you notice that most of these songs have been released as singles, or on other EPs. Songs such as: “This Is What It Feels Like”, “Change” and “Waiting Game” were on the London EP released a year ago. This album is great for the new r&b scene, but it feels a bit boring.
Nonetheless, BANKS offers a great album aesthetic and quality that “drowns” you in her tears. She comes off as anyone who has had their heartbroken: spiteful, sad and reflective. In every song you blatantly hear regret and feel sorry for her. No, this isn’t as intense, melancholy and not a front of sadness that Lana Del Rey came to be. This is more refined, relatable and real. You can’t listen to this album and not think about someone you let go, or someone that let you go. This debut has stamped her into the field of creating catchy pop-r&b tunes; that don’t feel watered down.
Possibly the best song on the album that you’ve probably heard is “Begging For Thread.” It’s eerie bass line, crunchy drums, and her vibrant voice creates the perfect record. This song is what we know BANKS to do; build a character of confidence that hurts, but is conscious enough to take control and flaunt. Straying away from her usual mold of production choice, she sings a beautiful acoustic song “, Someone New,” that can be played at any moment and you’ll feel every lyric she harmonizes. “Someone New” sounds like what the feeling of getting your heartbroken is. It sounds like the end of a relationship that wants to survive, but cant.
Since there are so many songs that were previously released, it doesn’t feel like a new album. Goddess is what you want to hear from BANKS, but not what you expected. The LP goes on in this theme and tone of desolation that you get tired of it, but the songs are very well produced and her voice is hypnotic on every track that it’s almost forgiven.
Jhene Aiko – Souled Out
Entering this project as a person on the edge about whether or not she’s a great singer, has proven me right. Not to say she sounds like a teenager going through puberty singing an Adele song, but she stays in her comfort zone on this debut. From her production choice, harmonies, to song choice; it’s relatively all the same. Souled Out didn’t sell out nor is this her selling out her sound, more not less owning it. An hour of love songs, where the instrumentals are lusher than her voice is what I expected from this record, but didn’t want.
As an artist with high acclaim, up to this point, due to collaborations and co-signs from big industry names has made the music bigger than what it actually is. Her lyricisms on most of these tracks are basic and make you wonder why she’s praised so much. Her ability to make simple words and phrases sound some-what interesting brings you in enough to say, “This isn’t that bad, but nothing worth purchasing.” The “wonderer,” depends on great production to conceal that she isn’t that great of a vocalist or songwriter, on most occasions.
Where she really finds her niche is when she delves into the writing about her daughter and brother. “Promises” actually provides vocals from her daughter as an intro to an almost apologetic, yet reassuring ode of a mother to her daughter. This is one of the strongest moments on the album, and most vulnerable we’ve heard Jhene. “W.A.Y.S” is a track where she’s empowering the listener to keep going, just as she, because there’s always a positive to a negative.
This laid back record is what this type of r&b LA is
known to enjoy. However, not the look so much- if you like this LP you also
like her aesthetic. The music tries desperately to be psychedelic and euphoric,
but doesn’t come close to breaking barriers.
Souled Out is out now on Def Jam/Artium.
BONES – Skinny
If you’ve been alive for the last 2 years you know that BONES, has been releasing free albums every month since forever. With this release, he’s harder, hungrier, and egotistical than ever. With rhymes like “back with another style to take/ these rappers runnin outta ideas…” you see how insane this new album is. This is the hardest we’ve ever seen BONES; attacking each track with diligence. Mostly over trap style beats he delivers is southern tailored flow that we all know him by.
A standout song like “TheNoiseInsideMyHead” is him going in on his competition and who he thinks is as popular as him in this underground scene. Keeping a tight flow, he strikes you with bars about him denying deals; staying true to the roots he built. If you have ever doubted BONES, this album will change your mind and turn you into a fan-boy.
This is part 1 of a 2 part article of the albums that we felt needed commentary. Check back in a few days to read what else caught our ear.
Written by: Adam SanchezSouled Out is out now on Def Jam/Artium.
BONES – Skinny
If you’ve been alive for the last 2 years you know that BONES, has been releasing free albums every month since forever. With this release, he’s harder, hungrier, and egotistical than ever. With rhymes like “back with another style to take/ these rappers runnin outta ideas…” you see how insane this new album is. This is the hardest we’ve ever seen BONES; attacking each track with diligence. Mostly over trap style beats he delivers is southern tailored flow that we all know him by.
A standout song like “TheNoiseInsideMyHead” is him going in on his competition and who he thinks is as popular as him in this underground scene. Keeping a tight flow, he strikes you with bars about him denying deals; staying true to the roots he built. If you have ever doubted BONES, this album will change your mind and turn you into a fan-boy.
This is part 1 of a 2 part article of the albums that we felt needed commentary. Check back in a few days to read what else caught our ear.
follow him on twitter: @adamxes
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