Battles How to Avoid the Sophomore Slump? Scrap the Second Album Altogether
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JUNE 2011 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM SPOTLIGHT Ian Williams, Dave Konopka, Jason frank rothenberg John stanier battles How to avoid the sophomore slump? scrap the second album altogether A yeAr Ago, the members of the sessions when tyondai was still involved was experimental, largely instrumental math-rock a very uninspired, lackluster approach to an band battles faced a challenge that even album,” Konopka concedes. their astounding technical wizardry might so when braxton ultimately left the not help them overcome. specifically, how band in August of last year, the remaining to forge ahead as a three-piece following members started over—and emerged with the the departure of multi-instrumentalist new Gloss Drop. A surprisingly accessible tyondai braxton, and what to do with the and effervescent effort given the hardships already completed tracks planned for required to complete it, the album features their highly anticipated sophomore effort. guest vocals from the likes of synth-pop JUNE 2011 “We could’ve easily been like, ‘everything pioneer gary Numan and blonde redhead’s sucks, we’re cursed, this is a total pain in Kazu makino. but at its center remains the M MUSIC & MUSICIANS the ass,’ and felt bad for ourselves,” admits jaw-dropping musicianship of Konopka MAGAZINE guitarist Dave Konopka. and company, who can veer wildly from he says the group had fallen into progressive rock to metal to jazz-influenced complacency when braxton, drummer John instrumental breaks. “Audiences are way stanier and guitarist Ian Williams and he more sophisticated nowadays than even 10 convened to write and record the follow-up years ago, in the sense of accepting weirder to 2007’s Mirrored, an album that debuted music,” Konopka says. “that’s a privilege we’re to critical acclaim and a near-instantaneous benefiting from, to have people interested cult following thanks to the pedigree of in some more abstract forms of music.” the players involved. (stanier had been It’s a style that Konopka himself the longtime drummer for helmet, while struggles to describe. “It’s totally contextual Williams played for influential math-rockers and depends on whom I’m talking to,” he says Don Caballero.) Work on the group’s second with a laugh. “there’s no right way to sum up album trudged throughout the spring and battles. It all comes back to the listener and summer of 2010, even though no one in the how they interpret it. everything’s working band liked the direction it was heading—or out fine, so no complaints here.” wanted to admit it. “What we had from the –Jesse Thompson 2222 M mag 12.indd 22 7/7/11 9:58:30 PM.