Battles - Mirrored

my good freind dave watkins turned me on to this band and they totally blow my mind. dave's music actually blows my mind too, so check out his myspace page by clicking his name above because dave rocks, hardcore.

my friend joe foley wrote this about battles yesterday and i don't think i could agree any more. check it:

Album: Mirrored
Band: Battles
Tracks: 11
Top Single: Atlas

This album is the result of 4 gentlemen from different musical backgrounds coming together to attempt to generate a sound unlike what most have heard prior to. Driven by the thunderous pulse of John Stanier (drums; ex Helmet/Tomahawk), and punctuated by the live vocal samplings of Tyondai Braxton (vocals, guitar, keys; Son of Anthony Braxton), this experimental rock album certainly is a must have for any music lover.

Battles is unique, when compared to similarly processed music, in the fact that the drums remain almost untouched by the digitizing that the remainder of the band undertakes, giving the band a very a very organic feel, even with the ability for Stanier's ability to play with almost drum machine like precision.

With out seeing this group live, I would have almost been convinced that this music was solely the work of studio programming, because of how tight, and in sync with each other Battles plays. It is truly a sight to see and hear, when Battles plays live, the live elements being blended with sampled pieces (which are created on the spot!) is absolutely masterful.

One thing I would like to see come from this group is a remixing of their music done into a surround sound version. Battles really has knocked it out of the park with this offering!

Eric Johnson, and all his awesomeness

so last night i listened to the entire "ah via musicom" album, and i honestly can't remember the last time i listened to this album. i had it the year it came out, my uncle got it for me, i was 5 or 6, it was one of those first cds i ever had, the first being stevie ray vaughn "in step," zz top's "greatest hits," and the black crowes "shake your money maker." i remember waking up early on weekends and loading these cds in my dad's 6 cd changer and putting the volume as low as it would go and sitting with my head right next to the speaker to listen to it so i wouldn't wake up my parents. last night was the first time i'd listened to it in such a long time. that cd and many others disappeared in my junior year of high school when my whole collection got swiped during a show i was running... i've managed to almost buy the whole thing back, but i knew i had forgotten some holes - "ah via musicom" being one of them. when guitar hero III came out and cliffs of dover was on it, that image of me sitting with my head against the speaker came flying back and i had to get it. i will cope with just having the mp3s of it right now (thank you jeremy) but i will go to plan 9 and i will buy it the second i see it.

i gotta admit, i feel kind of like a new person.

so i woke up this morning at 10ish and man, it feels good not to be getting up at 645am like i did all last week for that cheerleading competition.

however

i haven't had to turn on the heat in my apartment yet this "winter" because it's been so warm outside, i guess the weather has taken a dive because i woke up to my apartment being a whomping 59 degrees this morning. i thought, hey, i'll just wear a sweatshirt and sweatpants and hide under a blanket on the couch while i check my emails but it didn't cut it. i gave in. my heat is on... for today. who knows, it might be 89 degrees tomorrow with the way the weather has been

so... long time

in the car ride back from the cheerleading competition in charlotte, nc today we got into a discussion about google and how cool everything that google makes is. we talked about blogger and i honestly didn't think i had this account, i don't remember setting it up in may of 2004...

but it's here now and you know what... i think i might actually write in it.