***(1/2) out of 4
Let's get this out of the way up top: Banks is not the next Lorde, despite the obvious similarities. Both have a propensity to wear black clothing! Both are white women who sing! However, to simply cast aside the 25-year-old L.A. native's debut album as "Pure Heroine 2" because of stark, somewhat swamp-like electronic production would be a disservice to what ends up being an impressive introduction.
A self-taught singer, Banks (real name: Jillian Banks) molds her voice to each song's purpose. On title track "Goddess" she spits venom; "She gave it all, you gave her [bleep]/You shoulda crowned her, cause she's a goddess/Now you gotta deal with this glitch on your shoulder/[bleeping] with a goddess, you get a little colder." On "You Should Know Where I'm Coming From," she calmly confirms that her power is not to be trifled with "What If I said I would break your heart? What if I knew what would rip your mind apart?" The intensity is there in spades and gives us a deeper look into her psyche, a refreshing revelation since Banks has eschewed interviews and reluctantly participates in social media, save for the time she posted her real phone number to Facebook.
The collaborators and producers on "Goddess" read like a who's who of sexy electronic R&B. Names like Lil' Silva, Shlomo, SOHN and Jamie Woon have cranked out countless piles of stark, synth-gorged music for years and their respective talents lead to a pop album that's moody without being tiring. While the lows ("Under The Table""[Bleep] Em, Only We know") lean toward blah-ballad status, the highs (the title track, "Beggin For Thread""Alibi") are some of the better moments in pop music this year.
Hot tip: If Banks sounds like your cup of tea, use this opportunity to delve fully into Pitchfork '14 acts Kelela and fka Twigs. Both acts excel at this style of gloomy electro-R&B and definitely are worth your time.
IN CONCERT: Oct. 7 at Metro. Sold out.
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