Premier Rock Forum

Ishmael wrote:You claim a prior familiarity with Williams and Stainer, so I honestly don't understand why someone would look for any kind of warmth or humanity from this music, when it's never been there before. It is mechanical prog/math rock based on loops.

Whether calculated or not, the 'vocals' serve to draw in listeners, on a superficial, video game level, who otherwise probably wouldn't be into their cold, mechanical music. Atlas is probably a lot of people's "jam" right now, so mission accomplished.

Well, if the vocals have succeeded in drawing in listeners and Battles are now, as z00york claimed, NME material, then I think that's fantastic. I love the idea of young kids listening to Battles, and it makes sense as it's fun and loud with a lot of energy. Signing to Warp was a really clever move, and I can't think of a more suitable label for the band. As you say, mission accomplished.

I've listened to Williams and Stanier since 'Lucky Father Brown' and 'Strap It On' respectively, and although there might be a brutality to aspects of it I never really thought of it as mechanical or cold. I do remember a review of 'Meantime' which said that it was 'music to hammer stakes into the ground to' or something, but I haven't listened to Helmet in years. Don Caballero I always thought had a lot more depth and range than they were ever given credit for however. As for 'Mirrored', it only seems mechanical in that it's relentlessly upbeat quality is like a forced smile, not real somehow.

Isabelle Gall wrote:Don Caballero I always thought had a lot more depth and range than they were ever given credit for however. As for 'Mirrored', it only seems mechanical in that it's relentlessly upbeat quality is like a forced smile, not real somehow.

Isabelle, please listen to Mike Banfield's new band, Knot Feeder. Just do this. It'll be worth it.

As for Battles, I do like Stanier's playing a lot, and really liked the non-filler tracks on the EPs. I'm not so into the stuff on Mirrored, myself--a bit too munchkin-y and sing-song-y for my taste. And I preferred Knot Feeder's set to the new Battles stuff live.

Seriously. Knot Feeder.

Finally got to see them for the first time Friday night.

Voted CRAP.

They're obviously very talented and clever - John Stanier is so great - but the music just seems ultimately vapid and inconsequential. It's all style and gimmickry with zero substance. I don't think this music will age well.

They're like indie rock's answer to the Blue Man Group.

Mirrored is pretty vacuous. Shame, they sound like there's something going for them. Dude seems proper likable too.

Has anyone else had trouble finding the Mirrored LP? The CD is everywhere, but every record shop I've been to has been saying they 'expect it some time next week'.

I came across a Battles video on Comcast On Demand that was pretty entertaining. They're performing in that mirror cube thingee that's on the album cover, floating around in space. It sort of whetted my appetite to go out and see them when they play in Denver. Ian Williams is always amusing to watch - haven't seen him play since Don Caballero.

I'm already tired of the record, but I'd like to see them preform this material. They looked pretty busy in the video, what with all them keyboards, pedals, and laptops.

STF wrote:I came across a Battles video on Comcast On Demand.

haha I was just skimming thru it earlier, weak this month

Marsupialized wrote:

STF wrote:I came across a Battles video on Comcast On Demand.

haha I was just skimming thru it earlier, weak this month

It's the first time I saw the 'music' section. The only other thing I watched was an annoying Deerhoof video.

I just heard Atlas on a Sky Sports 2 advert for the cricket, booyahhh.!! nothing like cricket to inject some music to the masses!

50 minutes is a long time to wait between bands, especially when a headliner is backlined.

I'd say Battles are good at what they do, but their indie rave, cartoon-core music doesn't do anything for me. I'ma have to vote crap.