Gloss Drop
Tyondai Braxton and his distinct vocals have moved on, but Battles remain committed to making complex pop-prog sound like fun. Gary Numan guests.
On its 2007 debut, Mirrored, Battles seamlessly reflected a prism of colorful influences, whether it was the hardcore and math-rock sounds of the members’ former bands, the jazz in their genes, or techno’s punchy elasticity. In contrast, the force behind Gloss Drop is like Henry Rollins’ fist on the cover of Black…
Battles never seemed like a band that needed a rehash or a reintroduction. 2007’s Mirrored remains a remarkably singular…
AllMusic provides comprehensive music info including reviews and biographies. Get recommendations for new music to listen to, stream or own.
Losing a band member between albums is never easy, but Gloss Drop paints a picture of a group that has adjusted to the defection of Tyondai Braxton with remarkable adroitness
Lacks the infectious sense of gleeful spontaneity...The fact that Battles can be treated with utmost respect by the cheerleaders of ‘serious’ experimental music whilst also managing to craft cuts infectious enough to soundtrack key moments during high profile teen-friendly TV series and films says a lot about how successful the New York-based band’s campaign to break the rules that dictate what a rock band should sound like has been.
The cover art to Battles' second album, Gloss Drop, is quite strange, even considering the type of music this avant-garde/experimental rock band has assembled in its short history together.
What do you do if you lose your lead singer? If you’re Iron Maiden or New Order you just batter on with a quickly recruited new singer, then just revel in waves of acclaim.
<p>Battles' new album lacks the thrust of their debut, but they've turned up the fun without their former frontman, says <strong>Killian Fox</strong></p>
Without ex-singer Tyondai Braxton, Battles take us on a bumpier though still impressive ride, writes <strong>Dorian Lynskey</strong>
Battles - Gloss Drop review: What Gloss Drop shows is that battles can be won in many ways, but strength in numbers will always be your greatest asset