Battles in Progarchives

chamberry wrote: Bump. Mirrored is the best album of 2007 Just a little reminder. Mirrored is the best album of 2007 Mirrored is the best album of 2007 Mirrored is the best album of 2007

Couldnt agree more, I've moved it ahead of Grayceon now in my personal list.

At least you enjoyed it, Nuke. 

I don't know much about music theory so that's probably why I see their music as complex in some ways.

Here is a stream-of-conscious review, enjoy (maybe)

I got to the 12 minute mark, and there is some 2 against 5 action here. Not mind-blowingly complex, but very tight and good sounding. There is some 9 at 14 minutes in, and some tuplet vs triplets throughout. I feel a bit of disciplineish stuff, but only on a superficial level, such as between the guitars one is playing fast and one is playing slower stuff that alaigns with it. OMG, I love the tamborine on top of the high-hat. And now, at the 17 minute, is the first real complex stuff. The keyboard/guitarist had a hard rhythem and it alaigned with the drums perfectly. Niice. It quickly reverts back into another 4 type of rhythem. I guess they can hold complex rhythems, but not jam with them. Still good though. I like the hi-hat on the off-beat. That is hard to pull off, especially if you put other stuff on both on and off, which it doesn't seem he's doing too much of. Ok, ambientish stuff, then atlas. Great fun. I love the swing feel. Then, at 35, that is funny how he does the guitar slide and then looks at his hand like "Ow", and then switches to something else without slides.I love the groove at that part two. With the voices and stuff. 38, ahh sextuplets and triplets. Yay! Not complex, but fun and too hard for many bands. Some unique spin-off on that theme too. Ah, these comments on youtube are hilarious. One of the most talented bands of our times. Obscure time signatures. Lol, yes, talented, not most talented. Sorry. Obscure time signatures like 4/4, 5/4, and 9/8? Sounds like miles davis, lol, heck no! anyways, back to the music. 45-52 is awesome! It is pretty crazy, but I like it like that. The last song was pretty good. It's based on the cuban triplets, aka the (1--1--1-) beat. It was some sick drumming involved there.

Now that I listened to it, I'll say that I give them a B. Their music is not the next king crimson, like a reviewer on amazon said. Not even close. No, it is not nearly as complex as people are making it out to be, however, it is very enjoyable, I'd say it is more pop then prog. I give it a B because it doesn't really take it to the next level. Nothing wrong with it.

chamberry wrote: Nuke wrote: chamberry wrote: Finally! Battles has been added to Progarchives under the Heavy Prog genre.In case some of you don't know about them they're a math rock band that plays with inhuman precision. They're very minimalistic, have strong Discipline-era King Crimson influences as well as some Krautrock and Electronica. I hear the electronica and the danciness, but not the discipline nor the mind bending complexity that some reviews stated. I'm giving atlas another go as we speak. Is Atlas the only song you've heard from them? You won't find much complexity in there. Try watching the live concert video too see how complex their music can be.

Hah! You replied as I was editing my post. I'm loading the live vid as we speak, but it might take a while. I'll get back to you in an hour

chamberry wrote: Finally! Battles has been added to Progarchives under the Heavy Prog genre.In case some of you don't know about them they're a math rock band that plays with inhuman precision. They're very minimalistic, have strong Discipline-era King Crimson influences as well as some Krautrock and Electronica.

I hear the electronica and the danciness, but not the discipline nor the mind bending complexity that some reviews stated. I'm giving atlas another go as we speak.

Edit: Now I really like atlas listening to it again, but I didn't hear any math at all. Especially not discipline. I guess I'll listen to the hour long one now...

Edited by Nuke - December 18 2007 at 14:46

Second for me, after Comicopera.

Best live album would go to Real Time, even though it was recorded in 2005.

Not sure what will be 3rd... most likely the new Upsilon Acrux, which I hope to hear soon, or perhaps Soft Mountain.  I would have gone for Le Silo, but that was actually released in December last year, but most people didn't hear it until this year.

Bump.
Mirrored is the best album of 2007
Just a little reminder.
Mirrored is the best album of 2007
Mirrored is the best album of 2007
Mirrored is the best album of 2007

yeah, too bad it became so after a 2 stars review.  guess the most popular doesn't need to be "most praised" as well. 

Rather good summary of Mirrored in our Student Magazine Label this week, found in their albums of the year page:

Edited by Dick Heath - December 11 2007 at 05:20

^ thanks Ruben, I'll keep that in mind...