The Altar

Ben Billions

DannyBoyStyles

DJ Dahi

Aron Forbes

John Hill

Al Shux

Sohn

Chris Spilfogel

## Singles

1. Fuck With Myself2. Gemini Feed

3. Mind Games

4. To The Hilt

5. Trainwreck

**The Altar** is the second studio album by American singer and songwriter Banks. It was released worldwide on September 30th, 2016.

## Background

Before the official announcement of album, Banks teased snippets and lyrics via social media. On June 8th, 2016, Banks tweeted *"ITS FUCKING DONE"* meaning that she had finished the album.

The lead single from the album *"Fuck with Myself,"* was released on July 12th, 2016 and premiered on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 radio show. The official music video for the track was released the same day. On July 29th, 2016, Banks publicly shared the official album artwork. The second single from the album, *"Gemini Feed"* premiered on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show on August 2nd, 2016, and was officially released digitally the next day.

## Theme

This album features more confessional, confrontational songs about relationships, power and human interaction. Conflict between self-damage and self-acceptance is a theme that runs through the album. Speaking to NPR, BANKS said:

"I feel more comfortable being confrontational and authoritative. It’s important for women in this business. I felt so scared of people thinking I was like a bitch just for saying what I wanted on my video or in my picture or on my song."

In her interview for TIME, Banks talked about what the album represents to her: "This album represents me as a human in my current form. I can be really playful. I can be really dark. I can be really light. I can be really confrontational. I can also feel really fragile and sad.[...] This album is my altar. It represents who I am. If you’re putting yourself out there that much, you can’t care what people think of you.

## Critical Reception

*The Altar* received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 70, based on 17 reviews, with its best score being 95 and the worst being 51.

Ellis Victoria from No Ripcord said: "From Gemini Feed’s bold awareness, to 27 Hours’ electrifying finish, The Altar is an accomplishment. There’s much more happening, but its tighter and fuller, filling in the most glaring gaps left by Goddess." Shazaib Hussain from Clash Magazine said: "The Altar is more textured and artful than ‘Goddess’, BANKS growing into her role as a writer, upholding the sensual melancholia that characterised her debut. Yet, it still feels as if BANKS is fine-tuning her sound." Other critics called the album "Banks at her most confident and most empowered; tough and willing to accept her imperfections without a care for who’s listening" and about Banks "few singers examine the pathology of heartbreak so expertly".

## Charts

The Altar debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard 200 with 14,220 copies sold in pure album sales. The album debuted at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 3,229 copies in its first week. Other chart entrances include:

* 8 on Australian Albums (ARIA)
* 44 on Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
* 110 on Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
* 12 on Canadian Albums (Billboard)
* 77 on Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
* 118 on French Albums (SNEP)
* 56 on German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
* 18 on New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
* 45 on Scottish Albums (OCC)
* 38 on Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
* 9 on US Independent Albums (Billboard)
* 6 on US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)

**OBS:** The list shows the peak positions of the album on the charts.

## Gallery

### Cover Photoshoot

The photoshoot for the album was done by photographer Thomas Whiteside.

## References

<references>

1. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2016/09/15/493932176/i-feel-more-comfortable-being-confrontational-banks-comes-into-her-own
2. ↑ https://time.com/4513366/banks-the-altar-album-interview/
3. ↑ https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-altar/banks
4. ↑ http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/banks/altar
5. ↑ https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/banks-the-altar
6. ↑ https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-altar/banks/critic-reviews
7. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2016-10-22
8. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20161008075533/http://hitsdailydouble.com/building\_album\_chart
9. ↑ https://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-james-arthur-holds-top-spot-in-singles-chart/066183