Best Albums

Battles – Mirrored

This was an easy one. Being a fan of Tomahawk, Helmet, and Don Caballero made a simple transition. Ian Williams’ guitar work remains unique, a muted and staccato style. John Stanier adds drums that are dense and full bodied. But perhaps the most interesting part of this band is Tyondai Braxton’s vocals. Not only does he play guitar and keyboard, he creates on the fly vocal samples for the live show, and the frantic pace and repetitive nature are reflected in the album. A style born from necessity from focusing on so many things in a highly charged performance, the vocals match the math rock ethos perfectly. Dance music in 9/13 time.

El-P – I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead

The most painstakingly arranged hip hop beats this side of Josh Davis. Critics will say that it’s overproduced and dissonant, but those people need to get their ears checked. Every sound has its place, and forms a composition, in which the whole far surpasses the sum. Layered drums hitting on a downbeat might not jive with many, but here it works. Samples as cliché in concept as a Star Trek siren become successful hooks. Raps about underage love become startling confessions. El-P has created a new genre; we’ll call it aural therapy. Each song is a session on the psychoanalyst’s couch. Commiseration never felt so good.