| | Full Review | Ratings (1029) |
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| 4.0 excellent | La Revolucion | June 21st 07 |
Beep boop badop bop boop. That's the sound computers make. You know that. Now imagine some kind of freak human computer walking down the street singing a song through it's cold and malformed freak human computer mouth. That's the sound Battles makes. Can't imagine it? Well you'll just have to listen to Mirrored then, which isn't too bad of a punishment considering it is an absolutely original and amazing record, filled with sounds no one has ever heard before.
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | br3ad_man | June 16th 07 |
Heavily processed vocals, super-tight drumming, crazy outbursts of technicality and furturistic effects all play a role in this highly unique New York supergroup. Featuring ex-members of Don Caballero, Helmet and Lynx, Mirrored takes the math rock template of Battles' EPs and fuses them with intensely catchy pop hooks and influence from countless other genres. If you're reading this, you've probably already heard it, but if not, do yourself a favour and check out what is surely one of the decade's most original releases.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | ElviGemini | April 24th 16 |
amazingly idiosyncratic band, in their own mirrored world of tunes
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.0 poor | Ralphims | March 8th 10 |
People say this is the future of music, I strongly hope not, I found this album to be overproduced and lacking anything resembling emotion or expression, just a silly album trying to sound spacey.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Iai EMERITUS | May 17th 07 |
It's hard to place any music I've heard that sounds much like this. "Tonto" sounds like Comus with electronics. The awesome (instrumental?) "Leyendecker" has a lead line that could easily have been on a New Jack Swing track circa-1991. Other tracks carry vague reminders of Can ("Bad Trails"), Estradasphere ("Rainbow"), The Knife (the pitch-shifting on the vocals of "Leyendecker" and the glammy "Atlas"), and Einsturzende Neubauten ("Tij"), and it's tempting to compare a few of the more noodling bits here to Slint, maybe even Television at a stretch, but these are about the only reference points I can find. And I'm reaching.
The band seem to have an instinctive knack for knowing how to contrast ideas to stop any one thing becoming boring or laboured, but also an idea of restraint when it comes to jamming too many ideas into one song (which must have been tempting). Their experience, and sense of humor, means that this record doesn't become the mess it could have been, and stays within the realms of enjoyment. In fact, it's the more straight-forward, more dance-inspired tracks - "Race Out", "Leyendecker", "Atlas" - that really shine through here. Although it drags occassionally - and that's really my only major criticism here - this is infectious, fun, occasionally beautiful stuff that refuses to sit still stylistically.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.9 excellent | Erwann S. STAFF | June 29th 20 |
Quirk quirk quirk quirk quirk (to sing to Rihanna's "Work" melody). The first tracks are absolutely batshit crazy, from extremely tight drumming to fucking-weird-yet-weirdly-fucking-good-vocals and the m a t h orchestrated by the guitars and the synths. Occasional surprises like sleigh bells or deep basses make this an ever-flowing listen and a weird lil musical object, kinda like a HP kid: it goes everywhere and sometimes sounds stupidly complicated, but in the end you realize it's almost genius. "Almost" is the key word here: unfortunately, "Rainbow" and "Bad Trails" are more a snoozefest than a funfest and totally break the record's pace. At least the remaining tracks go back to polyphonic shit to bop yo head to.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | zaruyache | May 28th 16 |
It jumps around like carnival music, grooves like post-rock, and does whatever else it wants for seemingly little reason. It's experimental mathy post-whatever that's just the right amount of controlled insanity to be wonderfully enjoyable. The crazy style does overstay it's welcome by a tad (at fifty minutes in length the whole shtick starts to get old), but aside from that, "Mirrored" is a wonderful little slice of "whatamievenlisteningtorightnow."
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Alex C. | January 16th 16 |
Quirky and original - the two characteristics that make this LP worth a listen.
Bump |
| 2.5 average | IslamicPenguins | January 29th 13 |
Originality doesn't always equal a breakthrough and Mirrored is the perfect example. Excessively repetitive with very strange vocals, this becomes a chore to listen to about halfway through. Atlas is an undeniable classic though
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | CosmicJ | November 8th 11 |
I didnt know what number "superb" was going to give and so I pressed it without thinking. I want this band's other album to be a higher rating than this album because i liked it more so thats another reason. I now know how the rating system works and i will not make this mistake again.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | timbo8 | May 27th 10 |
Mirrored is from the future, I'm convinced. The band's precise math rock sounds like it was produced by machines being calculatedly operated by other machines. The album is largely instrumental and thrives on paranoia and suspense, creating a futuristic, non-human world that's probably more dystopian than utopian. The sparse lyrics are often indecipherable or decidedly opaque, so the album's "concept" comes from the flickering electronics, mesmerizing guitars, and pounding drums and cymbals which drive the action, altogether saying more than words could. On "Atlas," the effect-ridden vocals of Tyondai Braxton tell us all we need to know: "People won't be people when they hear this sound."
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | ozzmonkey | November 3rd 09 |
This band can really exercise your mind and let it fly. "Rainbow" is a classic song, its crazy to think humans are creating this. I'm glad someone introduced me to this.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | AggravatedYeti | February 12th 08 |
Badass robot rock, Battles clearly crafted something all their own here. Acceding past their 'math rock' confines, they are able to transcend the cliches found in their genre of choice and really etch their own spot in modern music. Evolving their sound from early, instrumental, EPs and giving Tyondai Braxton's 'vocals' a dominant presence, they've created a nice musical balance amongst all their beeps, effects and single string plucking. Mostly indeterminable, Braxton's voice is more machine than man, going through a mess of filters before finally reaching the speakers. Thankfully, it only adds to the robotic feel they handle so well, plus John Stanier is a maniac drummer. 'Race In' - 'Atlas' - 'Rainbow' and 'Leyendecker' are personal favorites. They jam out a bit at times, and it's never quick. Sometimes the music just tends to mesh together, but more often then not it just astounds.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | donovr | December 15th 07 |
Best described as Dream Theater at summer camp, The Battles release 'Mirrored' will go down as one of the innovative greats. This CD is and never will be accessible. It is a difficult listen and will leave one a little grated. However, this is exactly what ex-Helmet drummer John Stanier, ex-Don Caballero guitarist Ian Williams, ex-Lynch guitarist Dave Knopka, and Tyondai Braxton intended. The albums starts off with an eclectic and polyrhythmic Race:In and rushes the listener through a sea of discordance and technicality. One of the innovative techniques used by vocalist Tyondai Braxton is that of vocal sampling. Most noticeably in the song Atlas. The vocals come off somewhat similarly to a dwarf from Snow White. The guitar playing is unique and boxy. Both guitarists regular use hammer-ons with their left hand and simultaneously play the same melody on a keyboard with their right hand. The album is innovative beyond its years and will take a little time for the listener to become oriented with its multiple complexities. Like many classics that take awhile to fully digest, Mirrored will eventually go down as an album that shapes the music of the future.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Frunobulax | September 14th 07 |
I wouldn't quite call Battles math rock, since most songs are in 4/4 or 6/8, but I would say that Mirrored is an amazing album. For some reason, I get a Mostly Ape-era Drums & Tuba feel from the band, but it's not to their downfall or even as a minus. I still need to go and pick up their EPs, since Mirrored has left me craving more.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | samthebassman | May 21st 07 |
This is one crazy, twisted and eclectic mix of an album. It contains beats, loops and contorted rhythms and combines with strange vocal parts. It is still very listenable. People will either love or hate this album, which is a great thing, for me it is a definite thumbs up.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | doofy | January 9th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Arche | November 17th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | perival | June 24th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | FunJan | March 21st 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | jhop | January 31st 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | MvdW | November 30th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | synk | August 17th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Jerrad | July 3rd 21 |
| 3.0 good | ariich | February 25th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | IlNotta | November 9th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | voff3 | March 25th 20 |
| 3.5 great | wg98 | March 17th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh | March 8th 20 |
| 3.5 great | degina | February 29th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | elch21 | December 14th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Flomink | October 31st 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Faraudo | October 22nd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | YayoG1 | June 4th 19 |
| 2.5 average | Ryus | June 4th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | friv | April 17th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | rufous | April 12th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | crab | February 20th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | anat CONTRIBUTOR | December 21st 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tb1114 | November 2nd 18 |
| 5.0 classic | xxm | April 22nd 18 |
| 3.5 great | Ben STAFF | March 26th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Corney | February 21st 18 |
| 4.5 superb | helti | January 25th 18 |
| 3.0 good | Mojito | December 18th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Rdv | December 11th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | euro | November 20th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | L0rdSnow | September 5th 17 |
| 3.5 great | RobotE | August 30th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | almonds | August 14th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | 2ool | February 19th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rhyme | February 7th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | hep | January 10th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | jsounnd | October 24th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | dust | October 5th 16 |
| 3.5 great | JKnott | September 16th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ankit | August 10th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Jexic | August 7th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | almond | May 23rd 16 |
| 5.0 classic | loulou | March 14th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | XiuXiu | September 25th 15 |
| 2.0 poor | Dan H. EMERITUS | September 21st 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tom R. CONTRIBUTOR | September 13th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | mzeet | August 16th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | teahead | February 27th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Smolko7 | January 10th 15 |
| 3.0 good | Lentils | September 19th 14 |
| 3.5 great | oahmed | September 1st 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | tyler | August 27th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | jimbon | July 24th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | nbmatt | June 21st 14 |
| 3.0 good | jmh886 | April 23rd 14 |
| 3.5 great | mnl | March 23rd 14 |
| 3.0 good | Feels | March 6th 14 |
| 3.5 great | Qorx | January 19th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | JJKeys | January 14th 14 |
| 2.5 average | Kualie | January 6th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | akimbo | January 2nd 14 |
| 3.0 good | Greem | December 21st 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pwoper | December 5th 13 |
| 3.5 great | unkle | November 12th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Ulshad | July 3rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | jtswope | June 28th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | JBull | June 27th 13 |
| 3.5 great | tlhk | June 14th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | grizz | April 29th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Glokta | April 11th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | gelud | April 8th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | APJ90 | April 2nd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | osmark86 | February 27th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | chayka | February 26th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Ziio | February 26th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | JS19 | February 3rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | kb36 | January 22nd 13 |
| 3.5 great | Shimana | December 20th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | DadKungFu STAFF | December 13th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | SWAGBRVH | November 27th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | howl | November 15th 12 |
| 3.5 great | ILJ | November 5th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | darrens | October 28th 12 |
| 3.5 great | John L | October 15th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Titan50 | October 11th 12 |
| 3.0 good | quelus | October 10th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Simon K. STAFF | October 9th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Melanin | October 6th 12 |
| 3.5 great | GB7 | September 20th 12 |
| 3.5 great | SethEZ | August 8th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | krkat | July 24th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Meuric | May 23rd 12 |
| 3.5 great | lerem | May 2nd 12 |
| 3.0 good | Rail | May 1st 12 |
| 1.5 very poor | Foaming | April 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Deviant. STAFF | April 10th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rev | March 29th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tokamak | March 14th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | RexHunt | January 13th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Troggy | January 4th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wael | December 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Drawkcab | December 18th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Monheim | December 13th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | 4Train | November 28th 11 |
| 3.5 great | dav4550 | November 10th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Amoores | November 3rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | dartek | October 28th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | BenRaah | October 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | nnnope | September 22nd 11 |
| 3.5 great | JJwins | September 9th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Olson | August 29th 11 |
| 3.5 great | T0rr35 | August 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | mehd10s | August 12th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Teajerk | August 8th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Jovis | July 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | amosmyn | July 14th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Opaque | July 5th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | fev | July 2nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Oceanus | June 22nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Curse. | June 13th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | kojpl | June 11th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | mmadden | June 10th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Rowdy | May 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Teto | May 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ire | May 9th 11 |
| 3.0 good | razzle | April 18th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dev518 | April 4th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Timon87 | March 29th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | sehguh | March 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | zoso33 | February 18th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | batcat | February 6th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Oddsy | February 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dyst | January 20th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Rumulox | January 11th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Velcro | January 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | toozee73 | December 10th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | gnr61 | December 5th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | tuttle | December 4th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | fcmogul | November 30th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Sblang | November 18th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | kelano | November 15th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Roomex | November 13th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | AMGuide | November 3rd 10 |
| 3.0 good | Centre | October 22nd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | conradtao EMERITUS | October 6th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Japsu | September 21st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | bonette | September 6th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Matski | August 26th 10 |
| 3.0 good | nbden | July 22nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | cuki92 | July 19th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sealk | July 18th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Smevin | July 4th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Enotron | June 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kleur | June 25th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | MrCalum | June 13th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Moraff | June 12th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | quaoar | May 25th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | April 13th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jruined | April 8th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ramos29 | April 7th 10 |
| 3.5 great | gonzab | April 1st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | tuk | March 21st 10 |
| 3.0 good | GibTG | March 18th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hewitt | February 9th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Markk1 | January 6th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | momomoco | December 27th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Glomp | December 23rd 09 |
| 3.5 great | Kiran EMERITUS | November 26th 09 |
| 3.5 great | Aids | November 18th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | alt | November 9th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | barns | November 9th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | eunit75 | November 4th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | palabra | October 31st 09 |
| 2.5 average | Comj | October 18th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | ArC | October 13th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Cal9745 | October 1st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | alsid | September 30th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | rhatrz | September 22nd 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | qwe3 | September 21st 09 |
| 3.5 great | TheDMV | September 21st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | kfilly20 | September 12th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | durkl | August 18th 09 |
| 3.0 good | Skyler | August 16th 09 |
| 3.0 good | JoRos | August 8th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lions | July 26th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | 1zero | June 23rd 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | tables | June 7th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tjeerd | June 1st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | KINGGS | May 23rd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Acre | April 21st 09 |
| 3.5 great | kitsch | April 20th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | MColeman | February 24th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bea | February 17th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | mezzasun | February 17th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Sinthus | February 7th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Tater | January 19th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | superae | January 14th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | cmb1888 | January 9th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | ECRbubs | January 5th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Yotimi | December 24th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | AlKal | December 21st 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | kingsoby1 EMERITUS | December 1st 08 |
| 2.5 average | McP3000 | November 18th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Amputee | November 1st 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | pettri | October 5th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | dieto | August 31st 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | das4776 | August 8th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Goku | August 7th 08 |
| 3.0 good | Ryzor | May 15th 08 |
| 2.5 average | woee | April 25th 08 |
| 3.0 good | ASberg | April 17th 08 |
| 3.5 great | lewser | April 17th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Zoo | April 15th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | DsRaMoS | April 11th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | JoshieG | February 26th 08 |
| 2.5 average | tomayw | February 19th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | natey | February 19th 08 |
| 3.5 great | RJayZ | January 24th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | BB28 | January 22nd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Frexe | January 22nd 08 |
| 3.5 great | zuzek | January 18th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Vaires | January 5th 08 |
| 3.5 great | barbu | December 20th 07 |
| 4.5 superb | Kyle | December 20th 07 |
| 4.5 superb | niobium | December 6th 07 |
| 2.5 average | 80vs90 | November 27th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | systool | November 17th 07 |
| 3.5 great | kenada | November 15th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | pinnacle | November 14th 07 |
| 3.0 good | ardy | October 29th 07 |
| 4.5 superb | Clumpy | October 2nd 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | jrowa001 | September 21st 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | mrfixit | September 14th 07 |
| 4.5 superb | conoraq | September 6th 07 |
| 3.5 great | Regole | August 29th 07 |
| 3.5 great | Tyler EMERITUS | August 1st 07 |
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