Album Review - “The Last Balloon” by Tank and The Bangas

Tank and The Bangas are always perennial contenders for album of the year whenever they decide to drop. Whether it’s a more poetic album like their project “The Heart, The Mind, The Soul” in 2024 or the fan-favorite “Red Balloon” in 2022, their makes are far more consistent than their misses and in 2026, their latest album, The Last Balloon, passes the perfect jumpshot test with flying colors. 

Just under 40 minutes of play, The Last Balloon takes the very best of TATB and keeps a steady cruise with what makes them special. Between their unique R&B elements on tracks like the Lucky Daye-assisted “Move” or their ability to turn things up at a moment’s notice like “Jealous,” TATB, for lack of better words, have mastered the art of R&B, and it’s simply up to the world to notice this factual statement at this point. 

One beautiful point of interest about TATB is not about Tank herself, but the band’s sheer talent, which at times can be flat-out awe-inspiring. Beginning the album with special tracks like “Ain’t The Deep” that feels more akin to RES than modern pop-acts, TATB can shift like a chameleon to any sound they decide and feel as if they were born in that pocket; R&B, pop, afropop, rap, dubstep, boogaloo, tweedletoes, it does not matter. I made up a few of those, but if they did exist, best believe TATB would fit right in. 

Overall, this project is 13 tracks, and every single moment of this album is a shapeshifting soundscape guided by Tank, whose voice has not lost steam, and sounds creatively crisp as ever. Once again, a genuine contender for album of the year.