Released 10 years ago
Anything But Words
Banks & Steelz · 2016
55 min · 12 tracks · East Coast hip-hop
A genre-blending exploration of hip-hop and rock, merging introspective lyrics with atmospheric instrumentation.
Top tracks — play these first
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Giant — This opening track sets the tone with its sweeping production and reflects the thematic depth that runs throughout the album.
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Wild Season — Featuring an infectious melody, this track effectively showcases the blend of RZA's hip-hop roots with Banks' melodic sensibility, making it a standout moment.
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Anything but Words — The title track encapsulates the album’s exploration of communication beyond verbal expression, presenting a reflective narrative that resonates deeply.
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Love and War — This song combines emotional vulnerability with sharp lyricism, illustrating the personal stakes that underpin much of the album’s content.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases a blend of styles but has uneven moments that affect its overall impact.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a dynamic tone, followed by a shift to more introspective themes in the middle.
- Several tracks feature layered instrumentation that blends rock elements with hip-hop beats, creating a textured soundscape.
- The sequencing includes moments of tension and release, particularly with the contrast between upbeat tracks and slower, reflective pieces.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- brooding introspection with atmospheric drift
- evenly paced four-minute tracks
- a patient six-minute closing stretch
- a full-length reflective listen
Maybe skip if you
- need abrupt shifts in pace
- prefer brief album-length commitments
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on August 26, 2016, 'Anything But Words' marks the debut project for Banks & Steelz, a collaboration between Wu-Tang Clan's RZA and Interpol's Paul Banks. At this point in their careers, both artists were well-established; RZA had transitioned from his groundbreaking work in hip-hop to exploring various genres, while Banks sought to expand his musical palette beyond post-punk rock.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Run the Jewels· Aesop Rock· Death Grips
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Anything but Words
The bridge shifts towards a more introspective tone, emphasizing actions over spoken promises.
This structural choice highlights the central theme of the song by contrasting verbal declarations with tangible commitments.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Giant 3:51
- 2 Ana Electronic 3:44
- 3 Sword in the Stone 4:50
- 4 Speedway Sonora 4:15
- 5 Wild Season 4:26
- 6 Anything but Words 4:21
- 7 Conceal 3:59
- 8 Love and War 4:09
- 9 Can’t Hardly Feel 4:33
- 10 One by One 4:48
- 11 Gonna Make It 5:46
- 12 Point of View 6:31
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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