The Breeders' great skill has always been Kim
Deal's ability to pull seemingly random bits into something cohesive, both
within individual songs, and on an album level. On their fourth full-length in
18 years, Deal reunites with twin sister Kelley, as well as bassist Mando Perez
and drummer Jose Medeles, from 2002's Title TK, with some of the songs
recorded by Steve Albini. But without credits, it's easy to assume that Mountain
Battles consists
mostly of somewhat shaky solo Kim demos. There are exceptions, and they usually
rock, after a fashion, as on the deconstructed classic-rock opener "Overglazed,"
or the cross-harmonies-led lurch of "German Studies." But while Deal's music
has often been enhanced by its try-anything roughness, here, she sounds like
she's just hoping something will stick. But most of it is too
shapeless—from the Kelley-sung Spanish-language ballad "Regalame Esta
Noche" to the vaguely Eastern "Istanbul" to the drowsy pop of "Night Of
Joy"—to find much of a fit anywhere.