Battles- Gloss Drop ALBUM REVIEW

Listen: theneedledrop.com/2011/05/batt...
Considering this album's lineup change, its group of new guest singers, Gloss Drop must have been a bit of a challenge for Battles. Also, don't forget to add the fact this thing is the band's Sophomore LP, which comes after a highly praised first album.
If this was a test, Battles passed with flying pink colors. The instrumentation, musicianship, and grooves throughout this album are intense as hell. And guest vocalists like Matias Aguayo and Yamantaka Eye freaking kill it!
It's one of the most weird and fun and weird and fun and weird and fun and weird and fun albums you'll hear this year.
What should I review next, eh? What do you think of this album, too? Hate it? Love it? Why, oh, why?
9/10 www.theneedledrop.com/loved-li...
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FAV TRACKS: ICE CREAM, FUTURA, INCHWORM, WALL STREET, MY MACHINES, TODDLER, ROLLS BAYCE, ICE CREAM
LEAST FAV TRACK: SWEETIE & SHAG
BATTLES / GLOSS DROP / WARP RECORDS / 2011

[@thisisnotdpatlakh]

"I want to try eating the pink stuff on the cover" This i can relate to.

[@iloveanimalcollective]

Pink sauce

[@MarkTurnerChromium]

Ice Cream is in the description twice because it's just that good.

[@theneedledrop]

I love getting excited, too! At least you know when I'm excited, it's real! :-P

[@TheGoldenPorsches]

This album has the best representation of itself in its cover, it looks silly and maybe funny, kinda gross, but at the end is just FUN

[@MaxBrilhart]

I love Sundome. Apparently, Yamantaka was mainly shouting gibberish, with a bit of Japanese in the vocal. I also agree that the drum sound is terrific on this album.

[@kriskenard]

Futura changed my life

[@emile7063]

Yess !!

[@genocidehero9687]

I hated this album when I first listened to it 4 years ago. /mu/ and my buddy who goes there were raving about it but I listened to it and thought it was awful. Listening to it again, I had no fucking idea of what I was thinking. I know my taste in music has evolved over these last four years but I was a serious fucking dickhead.

[@Claidheambmor]

+Genocide Hero I feel exactly the same way. Wish I'd been more appreciative at the time!

[@theneedledrop]

@Pomaori Never heard of the band "Humid and you know it," but their album "Anthony Fagtano" sounds enticing. I'll check it out. :-) Thanks!

[@Endoterrestrials]

I bring bad tidings from the future.

[@wilveale2122]

I wonder if and when they are going to bring in Mike Patton to do some guest vocals. It seems logical, considering their love of Avant Garde singers, and the fact that John and Mike are both in Tomahawk.

[@theneedledrop]

@zn3ss actually africastle isn't one of my favs on the album. it's a good intro track, and i don't skip it or anything, but it's not one of my favs. but i'm gonna be listening to this album more this year, so maybe it'll grow on me more. :-)

[@SplendidCoffee0]

Yo, Melon, what do you think of Africastle now?

[@saintonsaturn7070]

@@SplendidCoffee0 my fav battles song :P

[@theneedledrop]

@bugged0ut every time i come away from gloss drop, my energy level shoots through the roof.

[@theneedledrop]

@xTheOxx well even if you're not liking it as much as i am, i'm still happy you're liking it. this LP deserves some love! :-)

[@theneedledrop]

@PGROSYE02 and the same chord progression as a million songs that came before that one like "earth angel" and "in the aeroplane over the sea"

[@theneedledrop]

@slartibartfast8787 plus, i'm pretty sure battles got featured on the front page of youtube on music tuesday, dude. they're not really that obscure.

[@theneedledrop]

@slartibartfast8787 so fleet foxes, mgmt, lcd soundsystem, and the beastie boys are obscure? lolwut?

[@theneedledrop]

@shotgunjoe let me know if you dig it more. :-)

[@theneedledrop]

@enyafreak2007 i enjoy kate, but i was REALLY turned off by some of the reinterpretations on director's cut. :-(

[@Gabelleroux]

I just found this album yesterday haha, a little late i know haha. But i listened to the whole thing while i was working and man! You weren't kidding this album really makes you move and get that feeling of youth! Thanks for the review! Earned a sub!

[@martinmartinmartinmartinmarti]

Gabriel Leroux better later than never my man

[@CandyFleetRL]

I am much later

[@bugged0ut]

great review anthony, every time I listen to Gloss Drop I come away with a different standout track, loads of layers and texture and so much energy! well happy to see a light 9 for it, keep up the good work!

[@theneedledrop]

@TheAmazingHangman how much money? 5,000 dollars?

[@Shibby21]

Best NEEDLEDROP review ever!

[@theneedledrop]

@Pansee i'm gonna try to get a vinyl copy of it. wish me luck!

[@theneedledrop]

@FellaM07 i'm 25, hah! it says it on the front page of my YT channel. :-P

[@theneedledrop]

@headthemeatgrinder yes, is that crazy? i mean, it says my age on my youtube channel in the about section.

[@theneedledrop]

@chaubetrik he brought a lot of the band in mirrored, obviously. everybody's heard that album, and i don't think i need to tell you what you already know. i'd rather just talk about this new lp. :-)

[@theneedledrop]

@r3dk9 who said i'm not?

[@theneedledrop]

@Yaksniffer i know! it's probably bad for me, though. :-( wonder if it's vegan...

[@theneedledrop]

@modestrocker1 thanks for your comment!

[@theneedledrop]

@CaffroX Maybe I should have a contest for the best intro @ the end of the year.

[@theneedledrop]

no clue how they're doing the vox, though.

[@theneedledrop]

@TheFoliageCradle really?

[@theneedledrop]

@Kraze422 sorry you're not digging it as much as i. it's cool. no worries. :-P thanks for the props on the intro!

[@zodiark111]

I'm glad that you recognized everything good about Gloss Drop, I think that you're review is better than what I would have given it (8), if that makes any sense. So apperently you know who yamataka eye is, you should review Super ae or Vision Creation Newsun.

[@kurdtcobain2896]

Nnnn

[@theneedledrop]

@skybreaker09 no, but a swallow carried those to me so it counts.

[@theneedledrop]

@brunorod12 but i've never done the horse thing before. :-P

[@theneedledrop]

@BoxProductionsInc glad you're digging it. :-)

[@wizard1370]

That iconic intro

[@thecompleteopposite1]

OH. MY. GOSH. That was freakin amazing! I hear ya Anthony, how could you not dance? it's just so groovy.

[@TaffyRaphie]

Anthony, you sounded SO EXCITED throughout this whole review. definitely gonna have to check this one out. If I can make it outside....OH THE HUMIDITY!

[@theneedledrop]

@WherethisAllStarted i've given 3 others this year, i think. check the loved list. :-)

[@theneedledrop]

@mattydigs glad you're liking it, man! :-)

[@theneedledrop]

@NeonFoxLetsPlays glad you're enjoying it! :-D

[@Passmedear]

So glad you liked it, definitely my personal favourite Battles LP. Saw them live the other day, blew my mind, best live band I've ever seen.

[@theneedledrop]

@uphillracer i didn't really like the kazu track, and africastle wasn't the best of openers for me.

[@theneedledrop]

@luisafex then you need to watch my lcd soundsystem, fleet foxes, big krit, and beastie boys reviews. :-)

[@theneedledrop]

@TaffyRaphie hahahahaah! oh the humidity! i love it.

[@usernamebada42]

What a delightful tune there at the start. Delightful!

[@theneedledrop]

@Hellenen Hahaha. Yes, the new Beatles LP, Gloss Drop!

[@theneedledrop]

@Creamy360 what's your favorite python movie? mine is the meaning of life. :-)

[@theneedledrop]

@EnokiSkai IT GETS ME EXCITED, TOO!

[@theneedledrop]

@Pomaori i'm actually 56.

[@theneedledrop]

@MaxwellMurderx7 yes, but they were carried here by a swallow, so they count!

[@theneedledrop]

@bCurious2 i do need to see them! it'll be amazing, sersly!

[@theneedledrop]

@gsboss yep

[@renapeppers20]

lol

[@theneedledrop]

@Abactor85 THANKS!

[@theneedledrop]

@ChaunceySeepcrack but that's what makes it awesome to me! :-P hey, if you're not digging it, it's cool. no worries.

[@theneedledrop]

@Petrusnator if you want!

[@theneedledrop]

@Rogueofmv bold statement, sir!

[@VagrantWatcher213]

You're awesome, man. Keep doing what you're doing to these guys.

[@theneedledrop]

@stenzy17 sadly, i'm not a fan of his new stuff. :-(

[@chaubetrik]

Nice! I totally agree with you! I'm always jumping around in my house while listening to this album and I'm listening a lot to this album so I'm jumping a lot around in my house nowadays. Sundome is at the moment my favorite track of 2011. I also like the fact that Braxton isn't dominating your review like he does in the other reviews I've read

[@theneedledrop]

@jfitz1431 hope you like it! :-)

[@cropotkin]

Great review, Anthony. I love it, And it's great you love it too - helps the world make sense somehow.

[@theneedledrop]

@Conceicawo soon! :-)

[@jonnykhatru]

Anthony - your reviews can NEVER be too long!! awesome review, very feel-good, positive and... bouncy! haha :)

[@theneedledrop]

@66420192 a pony?

[@theneedledrop]

@pbmaster123 hope you enjoy it! :-)

[@theneedledrop]

@iDim21 i'm reviewing it soon. :-)

[@PirateZ1]

Love the Yamataka Eye ft. :)

[@Kubiak04]

Lol, idk about most fun song but icecream has THE BEST intro of 2011. I fell in love with Sundome and eYe's showing, even though at first I thought it was going to be a downer because of how slow it took to open up. The first 4 tracks and the last 3 are my favorite. Also your most well received record of 2011. Review Junior Boys?

[@SwamiEpstein]

Thanks for turning me onto this album, I love it!

[@theneedledrop]

@thekingzo i'll check it out. :-)

[@theneedledrop]

@KlewerStyke still, at least you're liking the album. :-)

[@theneedledrop]

@alex93metallica i do, but i choose not to use it. i just wanna be hardcore and wallow in the hot weather like every other animal...i mean MANimal

[@JPizzle1490]

No body experiments and has fun with rhythm like Battles (well, maybe AC too). I haven't had a chance to listen to anything other than Ice Cream, but I'm really excited now. Thanks Anthony.

[@BoxProductionsInc]

I gave a moderatley lukewarm review to this album when i wrote about it, but your review just made me realize how much i love this record. thanks anthony! I;m gonna go blast this on a trampoline!

[@theneedledrop]

@JohnCena2011 let me know if it grows on you. :-)

[@TheScatterbrainsband]

I do believe that you should review Thurston Moore's Demolished Thoughts. I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on it.

[@o0BusterBaxster0o]

great review :D loving the album

[@pretzelspine]

I love how excited you get. you are so wonderful :) and i love the album, its fantastic!

[@theneedledrop]

@1989pbs i'll check it out. :-)

[@propershite]

Does that mean Mirrored may have been a 10?

[@SGlongboard]

ThatStupidBritishPrick i would honestly hope so seeing as it is basically perfect

[@dvanmegroet]

ThatStupidBritishPrick Mirrored may have been better from a technical perspective... But Gloss Drop is the better ALBUM: More instrumentally diverse, and yet it feels like a cohesive concept from start to finish. I have high hopes for La Di Da Di.

[@limaniner34]

nope, he considers Mirrored to be an 8 rateyourmusic.com/collection/theneedledrop/strm_a/battles/1

[@Neel-ff4mn]

0:25 Nice singing.

[@RCD434]

Such a great review!

[@ErlingGrey]

amazing review great length.

[@enyafreak2007]

@theneedledrop I guess after listening to the original versions for so long, the reworkings are a bit hard to get used to the new sounds and vocal arrangements...good to know that you're a kate fan though :-)

[@TheSuperfuzzyfish]

@theneedledrop thanks! keep up the killer reveiws! and you know.. if you have some free time, you should check out that new Cave-in record, its worth a shot

[@PhantomBunny888]

Thank you so much for showing me this. Didn't like it at first, but damn, one of the best albums of 2011 when it grew on me.

[@astrodronaut]

great review!

[@WhoTooned]

This album made me feel really weird and was kinda hard to get into. I've never heard music like this before so I'll hand them that. I personally liked "Futura" that track was pretty great. Oh and I also found myself really loving the drums. Maybe this band will grow on me later, who knows.

[@SuperMario16bit]

Maybe check out their other album, "Mirrored" or the first four Don Caballero albums. This type of music is only immediately digestible for people who are fans of this mathy, complex time signature stuff.

[@chickenorthedickhead]

Hold Your Horse Is by Hella, best album to get into the genre (imo).

[@aurum7695]

so, has this album grown on you?

[@theneedledrop]

@1992Raiden just come back to it when you're in a better mood? *shrugs*

[@BigKahunaShake]

Yes Fantano! What did you think of Mirrored and Battles' early EPs e.g. EP C / B EP?

[@theneedledrop]

@MultiplyMohawkz no, debacle

[@justincredible1990]

Kazu Makino admitted she had the flu when they recorded this but she was only in town for a week or so and couldn't turn them down. She did damn well, considering the conditions.

[@ExpensiveTibet]

I started "Futura" on iTunes, then started this review. It made the review sound intense. I saw Battles in Central Park a few summers ago and John Stanier is non-stop intensity; so fun to watch. I like how the live feel of some of these tracks on the Take Away Show videos from the LaBlogotheque channel make the studio tracks seem like different songs. Something tells me Gary Numan isn't in the back of the van for the tour. Anyone know how they are doing the guest vocal tracks live?

[@strathm]

I'd love to see a review of Jogger - "This Great Pressure". It was an album released in 2009 that I think was ahead of its time in terms of utilizing a couple of sounds and structures that are going aroung in the L.A. electronic scene right now. It's worth a step back to look at, and since it's not too well known or old, it might fall under your qualifications.

[@jdwilliams202000]

i still listen to this album respectively..it never gets old. the compositions,the guitar/synth playing is dynamic and perfect, the rhythms make you wanna go nuts, and its a good album to blaze to. :)

[@theneedledrop]

@MoonchildMindaugas2 what!? no... O___o

[@stude444]

I always thought the pink stuff on the album cover would be crunchy but cold, and then it would like, make me have an acid trip.

[@Pansee]

Great great review which is NOT too long, I can feel your excitement for this album and can't wait to hold my copy in my hands! Please review Unexpect - Fables of the Sleepless Empire! :D