Banks
Off With Her Head
Release Date: Feb 21, 2025
Genre(s): Pop/Rock
Record label: Her Name Is Banks
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Album Review: Off With Her Head by Banks
Very Good, Based on 3 Critics
Based on rating 8/10
In today's age, with people ready to publicly lampoon any small misstep or uncouth behavior, PR teams are on standby to remedy any faux pas and replace it with a sanitized, clean slate. We want personal music, but not too personal, lest you reveal something unsavory. Beyoncé and Taylor Swift both had to edit songs or music videos after their art struck a chord for a small minority.
Based on rating 2.8/5
Who dares to taint, with vulgar paint, the royal flowerbed? Given the artistically staged cover and provocative title, you'd be forgiven for expecting Jillian Banks' latest to mark a graceful leap forward in her career, perhaps offering a deeper exploration of her artistry through some grand concept. You might even assume that the presentation signals a return to the darker, more thoughtfully expressive moodiness of her earlier records. Wouldn't that be nice? Whilst the gradual decline in quality between Banks' releases has generally been accepted, there's always been the tantalising flicker of that distinctive, intriguing artist, able to leverage trends with nuance whilst maintaining an unmistakable originality.
Opinion: Very Good
BANKS' fifth album refines what the Californian singer has long proved to be good at. Much of 'Off With Her Head' sets her silken, lightly-distorted vocals over thumping electronic beats, though with enough texture from synths and choral harmonies to stop this signature formula getting too predictable. An early standout is the Doechii-starring and delightfully scathing 'I Hate Your Ex-Girlfriend', a prime example of BANKS' knack for stubbornly earwormy alt-pop.
'Off With Her Head'
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