Battles – Mirrored

7 Comments

1. Tom4
   1782 days ago

   No offense, Todd, this is a good review, but I absolutely cannot tolerate this band. I hear one of their songs on Sirius’ Left of Center all the time, and I tried listening to the album a few times through, and the only reaction my body can ever muster is to put on something else. I mean, I work in NYC. If I wanted to hear random noise, I’d go stand on my street corner.
2. Jake
   1782 days ago

   I’m with you, Tom. What little I’ve heard of this band has made me want to gouge my ears out with a grapefruit spoon.
3. Todd Totale
   1782 days ago

   No offense taken, especially from a pair of limp wrested Weezer loving, grapefruit spoon owning, sissy boys like y’all. I’d expect similar rants from my wife, who also doesn’t get Rush, my love of Jethro Tull’s A Passion Play, and why Master Of Puppets is a better album than The Black Album. Battles is for real men, the kind that get boners when they walk into the Guitar Center and, therefore, may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

   But seriously, Don Caballero’s American Don was one of my favorite albums in 2000 and this (finally) seems like a worthy successor to that landmark. Full disclosure: I also enjoy excessive noodling from jam-bands and progressive rock tendencies when performed by hipsters that should feel obligated to explain why they have said progressive rock tendencies.

   While your mileage may vary with Mirrored, I’ve got to believe that your love for it may be paramount to how long your hair was back in high school/college during your obligatory freak flag phase. Mine reached the small of my back, so I’m obligated to thoroughly enjoy the spastic qualities of this fine el-pee.

   Now why don’t you two go play Maladroit and make out with each other?
   
4. Todd Totale
   1782 days ago

   Fuck me: I just watched that video and the fact that Stainer’s crash cymbal is four feet off the kit is so badassed. If you feel the same way about that, there’s a good chance you may like Mirrored.
5. infectiousdisease
   1782 days ago

   I have nothing to say that hasn’t been said more eloquently in a kajillion hipster-type reviews, but I really like this album.

   It’s like the merging of my favourite parts of the aforementioned King Crimson with the surprising little sonic flourishes of Animal Collective.
6. Kyle
   1782 days ago

   I’m all for grapefruit spoons.

   Just sayin’.
7. n8
   1779 days ago

   I think this stuff is sick. Completely experimental yet completely pleasing to the ear, as long as you can break your expectations of what is a song. What I mean is it’s not jarring or boring or scrapey or noisy. The melody is just present enough, and the rhythm just strong enough. It’s the logical place to go for fans of prog-rock, post-rock, and experimental rock.