4AD, 2008

Black Francis and Kim Deal were the creative and spiritual Yin & Yang of the Pixies. While Frank Black Francis seems locked in a perpetual, unspoken contest with Robert Pollard and Ryan Adams to release the most material in a calendar year, Mountain Battles is only the fourth Breeders album in 18 years. One theory being akin to Stephen King putting out so many books that some of them have to be good: the other more in line with creating when there is something to create.

The Deal sisters return with the much of the same support staff used on their last album Title TK, unfortunately, the results are decidedly mixed. While the last effort was quirky, it was still mostly enjoyable.

Mountain Battles is lethargic even in its few attempts to rock out. “Overglazed” kicks things off with echo-laden vocals and persistent drums and guitars, but quickly grows tiresome with the repetition of “I can feel it” throughout the duration. “Bang On”, “Walk It Off” and “It’s The Love” round out the upbeat portion of the album. “German Studies” is sung in German and, while kind of cool in theory, is pretty horrible in practice. “Regalame Esta Noche” is sung in Spanish. Not the same revved up sort of tune found on Surfer Rosa, but a tepid ballad that is instantly forgettable.

The rest of the album is filled with melancholia that doesn’t add up to much of interest. The problem with Mountain Battles is that it sits so firmly between pretty good and somewhat terrible that it is difficult to develop any real feelings for it one way or the other. If you retain affection for Kim, then you might find enough in it to enjoy on an occasional visit. If not, it’s probably not worth your time.