Banks - Paul Banks
User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15

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  1. aethelyon
    Nov 13, 2012
    4
    I want so much to love this record because of my love of Banks, Interpol, and the original Julian Plenti record. But where there were faults on the Julian Plenti LP that I would overlook, here it's hard to make excuses for the poorer arrangement when the best songs aren't that great. Where his words were once haunting and surreal, he's become more direct and boring. You can hear that he doesn't care what anyone else thinks- so much so that he's lost touch with aspiring to be something more. If this was his only record he would be forgotten faster than any other indie band coming out of Brooklyn today. Shame on his producer and Matador for not pushing a more talented and capable man.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
65 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 23
  3. Negative: 1 out of 23
  1. Magnet
    Dec 4, 2012
    65
    On Banks, he takes a decent pass at pop. [No. 93, p.54]
  2. Blurt Magazine
    Nov 28, 2012
    70
    Anchored by the fantastic production of longtime Interpol collaborator Peter Katis, the incorporation of drum loops, sampled dialogue a la Primal Scream's "Loaded" and textural Books-esque embellishments on songs like "Arise Awake" and "Another Chance" offers the sense of sonic adventure Interpol never entertained.
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  3. Q Magazine
    Nov 21, 2012
    80
    The real delights are the dreamily sinister instrumental sections. [Dec 2012, p.100]
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