Mirrored
by Battles
  • Record Label: Warp
  • Release Date: May 22, 2007
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 184 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 149 out of 184
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 184
  3. Negative: 19 out of 184

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  1. stuw
    Jul 19, 2007
    5
    It's not a bad album as such, but it's not exactly a good one either. It certainly doesn't deserve such high praise as it has been getting. Not for the masses.
  2. RichardM
    Jul 21, 2007
    6
    I don't get it. It strikes me as being cold and somewhat pretentious. Different for the sake of being different. I will keep on listening to it hoping it will grow on me, but I suspect it is a case of the Emperor has no clothes
  3. nico-
    Jul 26, 2007
    10
    We must all come together and stop using the word 'math rock' its almost as bad as blog and blogosphere. good music...terrible name for the type of music. terrible.
  4. JayL
    Apr 21, 2008
    9
    To describe a cd as "genre-defying" is usually useless, but I make the exception for this cd. To describe it as "Indie" takes away from its electronic aspects, and to describe it as "rock" leaves out the more dancy tracks mostly uncommon to rock. The cd itself is amazing to listen to, even multiple times. The songs get stuck in your head like very little else that is this experimental, To describe a cd as "genre-defying" is usually useless, but I make the exception for this cd. To describe it as "Indie" takes away from its electronic aspects, and to describe it as "rock" leaves out the more dancy tracks mostly uncommon to rock. The cd itself is amazing to listen to, even multiple times. The songs get stuck in your head like very little else that is this experimental, and is recommended to anyone who liked the singles off of it.… Expand
  5. GilderoyL
    May 16, 2008
    9
    Most people will likely find this, dull, repetitive, and not ample head-banging music. It's very out of the ordinary, but if you can appreciate its intricate rhythms, you will probably really enjoy it. It's just fun.
  6. DavidF.
    Dec 27, 2007
    9
    Best bizarro release of the year.
  7. PaulD.
    Dec 28, 2007
    10
    It speaks volumes when you can't lump a band into music that has already been created. Battles is that group and this album is perfect, unlike anything out there. Best of the year hands down. Brilliant!
  8. Vampire25
    Apr 1, 2011
    7
    I've never quite heard music this strange, confusing, and joyous in awhile. The sound is like futuristic rock. Definitely some progression rock going on. The singer barely sings the whole album (and when he does, you can barely comprehend what he is saying.) The musicianship is perfect. The drums are excellent. It's about 50 minutes of pure futuristic rock that you don't quite hear all the time. B
  9. BENNEB
    May 11, 2013
    10
    What else can I say? This is one damn motherf*cking awesome album. Best of 2007. The complexity and strange and alienating themes of this album keeps you wanting to here more. It might have the potential to reach the popularity of Animal Collective (which I hope it will). For now, listen.
  10. normankant
    Jun 13, 2015
    8
    Mirrored is an album with a unique style and sound design. It revisits prog-rock renewing it by mixing its elements with math-rock, funk and a post-punk attitude. Industrial pulses, post-modern laments, tinny beats and alienating vocals are what makes this record peculiar and interesting. Sometimes the research of absurd sounds outweighs composition and this makes some episodes of theMirrored is an album with a unique style and sound design. It revisits prog-rock renewing it by mixing its elements with math-rock, funk and a post-punk attitude. Industrial pulses, post-modern laments, tinny beats and alienating vocals are what makes this record peculiar and interesting. Sometimes the research of absurd sounds outweighs composition and this makes some episodes of the album a little bit nauseating.… Expand
  11. L0UI5
    Apr 15, 2018
    9
    9/10.......................................................................
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best Album of 2007
23
#23 Most Discussed Album of 2007
43
#43 Most Shared Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Alternative Press
    90
    At times, the effect is akin to hearing Tortoise and Animal Collective covering the Steve Reich and Devo catalogs in tandem; but such reference points barely do justice to an album that just halfway through 2007, is already topping the year's best-of list in multiple genres. [Jun 2007, p.151]
  2. Observer Music Monthly
    70
    Battles combine the power of hard rock with an experimental aesthetic.
    Read full review
  3. Urb
    90
    Every song on the 52-minute masterpiece builds and bridges until everything self-destructs and the only thing left to do is dance. [May 2007, p.92]
See all critic reviews »