...And the Battle Begun

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...And the Battle Begun
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 10, 2006
Recorded2005-2006
Genre
Length50:32
LabelMash Down Babylon[1]
ProducerRx Bandits
Rx Bandits chronology
The Resignation
(2003)
...And the Battle Begun
(2006)
Mandala
(2009)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk.net(79%)[2]
Punknews.org[3]

...And the Battle Begun is an album by the Rx Bandits.[1][4] It is the band's first album released by Matt Embree's label Mash Down Babylon. The album was released in stores on October 10, 2006, but was first made available in late June both directly from the band whilst on their 2006 summer tour and online via their website.

Background and recording[edit]

Rx Bandits served as the backing band of the Bruce Lee Band for a series of shows in March 2005.[5] They went on a US West Coast tour with Steel Train, Before Braille and Facing New York.[6] The band recorded their next album in May 2005.[5]

Like The Resignation, the rhythm section was recorded live for ...And The Battle Begun.[7] Overdubs were done in various studios, one of which was Embree's.

Release[edit]

They supported Finch in July and August 2005.[8] In September and October 2005, they toured across California with Mike Park and Dan Potthast.[9] On March 23, 2006, "Only for the Night" was made available for streaming through the band's Myspace profile.[10] In April and May 2006, the band embarked on a tour of the UK.[11][12] The album was eventually pushed back to May 2006; however, on June 5, 2006, it was announced for release in four months' time, with the intention of it appearing on Embree's label Mash Down Babylon.[13][12] Three days later, "In Her Drawer" was posted on the band's PureVolume account, and the album's artwork was posted online.[14] Following this, saxophonist player Steve Borth left the band.[15]

Between June and August 2006, the band went on a cross-country US tour; the first portion was supported by the Exit, Men, Women & Children and Desa, the second portions had I Am the Avalanche replaced the Exit, while the last portion had I Am the Avalanche and Men Women & Children replaced by State Radio and Monty.[16][17] On July 9, 2006, "1980" was posted on the band's Myspace.[18] In September 2006, the band were actively searching for a new saxophonist or trombonist ahead of an upcoming tour.[19] Towards the end of the month, "...And the Battle Begun" was posted on their Myspace, ahead of the album on October 10, 2006.[20] In October and November 2006, the band went on a short tour of the US with Vaux, Days Away, and the Lawrence Arms on various dates.[21] On December 22, 2006, they filmed a music video for "...And the Battle Begun" with director Adam Thomson; it was posted online on January 6, 2007.[22][23] Between February and April 2007, the band supported Gym Class Heroes on their headlining US tour.[24] They then went on a West Coast tour in August 2007 with support from the Fall of Troy and Maps & Atlases, and a European tour in September and October 2007 with Facing New York.[25][26][27] The album was released on two ten-inch vinyl records on October 1, 2007.[28] The following month, the band embarked on an East Coast tour.[29] In February and March 2008, the band supported the Beat on their headlining tour of the US.[30] In early 2008, the band appeared at the South by Southwest and Bamboozle Left festivals.[31][32] In August 2008, the band posted acoustic versions of "1980" and "To Our Unborn Daughters" on their Myspace.[33]

Critical reception[edit]

The Sacramento News & Review wrote that the album "challenges your ears in the best way possible, with shifting time signatures, wildly varying moods and general chaotic genius. Countless experimental bands mine similar 'anything goes, so long as its good' territory, but rarely has this boundary-pushing been so refreshing."[34]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Untitled"0:46
2."...And the Battle Begun"4:56
3."In Her Drawer"5:11
4."Only for the Night"3:47
5."On a Lonely Screen"2:44
6."1980"3:03
7."One Million Miles an Hour, Fast Asleep"2:54
8."Apparition"3:39
9."A Mouth Full of Hollow Threats?"3:33
10."Epoxi-lips"6:04
11."Tainted Wheat"3:30
12."To Our Unborn Daughters"5:14
13."Crushing Destroyer"5:11

Credits[edit]

Rx Bandits[edit]

Additional Personnel[edit]

  • Robert Cheek, Ryan Baker, David Embree – Engineer
  • Louis Teran/Marcussen Mastering – Mastering
  • Aaron Nagel – Album cover painting
  • Lisa Huey – Photography
  • Josh Mintz – Layout

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "RX Bandits | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "chorus.fm". chorus.fm--AbsolutePunk.
  3. ^ "Rx Bandits - ...And the Battle Begun". www.punknews.org.
  4. ^ "RX Bandits take a bow at final L.A. show at the Glass House". August 8, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Shultz, Brian (February 23, 2005). "Rx Bandits recording plans; touring as Bruce Lee Band". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  6. ^ Shultz, Brian (March 24, 2005). "More Rx Bandits West Coast dates". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  7. ^ "Seal Beach's Well-Traveled Rx Bandits Return With a New Album and Tour – OC Weekly". www.ocweekly.com.
  8. ^ Paul, Aubin (June 10, 2005). "Finch / Rx Bandits / Head Automatica". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on May 19, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  9. ^ Paul, Aubin (August 22, 2005). "Mike Park's touring plans". Punknews.org. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  10. ^ August, Justin (March 23, 2006). "RX Bandits post song from upcoming album". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  11. ^ Paul, Aubin (March 6, 2006). "Rx Bandits in the UK". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Paul, Aubin (June 5, 2006). "Rx Bandits reveal release plans". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  13. ^ Paul, Aubin (December 8, 2005). "New Rx Bandits album tentatively set for May 2006". Punknews.org. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  14. ^ Paul, Aubin (June 8, 2006). "More new music, artwork from the Rx Bandits". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  15. ^ August, Justin (June 28, 2006). "Steve Borth leaves the Rx Bandits". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  16. ^ Paul, Aubin (March 28, 2006). "RX Bandits post summer tour routing". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  17. ^ Paul, Aubin (April 24, 2006). "Rx Bandits with The Exit, Desa, Men, Women and Children, I Am the Avalanche". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  18. ^ Reinecker, Meg (July 9, 2006). "RX Bandits post new track". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  19. ^ Paul, Aubin (September 11, 2006). "Rx Bandits looking for tenor saxophone player". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  20. ^ Paul, Aubin (September 28, 2006). "Rx Bandits post another new song". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  21. ^ Paul, Aubin (September 20, 2006). "Rx Bandits". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  22. ^ Paul, Aubin (December 23, 2006). "RX Bandits film video". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  23. ^ Paul, Aubin (January 6, 2007). "Rx Bandits debut new video". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  24. ^ Reinecker, Meg (December 17, 2006). "Gym Class Heroes / RX Bandits / P.O.S / K-OS". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  25. ^ Reinecker, Meg (June 26, 2007). "Rx Bandits / The Fall of Troy / Maps & Atlases (West Coast)". Punknews.org. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  26. ^ Paul, Aubin (July 19, 2007). "Rx Bandits (USA, Europe)". Punknews.org. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  27. ^ Paul, Aubin (August 24, 2007). "Rx Bandits / Facing New York". Punknews.org. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  28. ^ White, Adam (September 12, 2007). "Upcoming releases and a look at a Sex Pistols classic". Punknews.org. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  29. ^ Paul, Aubin (October 16, 2007). "Rx Bandits". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  30. ^ Paul, Aubin (January 4, 2008). "The English Beat / Rx Bandits". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  31. ^ "Blaqk Audio, Hot Water Music, H2O added to Bamboozle Left". Alternative Press. February 15, 2008. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  32. ^ White, Adam (February 8, 2008). "SXSW showcasing bands list". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  33. ^ Paul, Aubin (August 21, 2008). "Rx Bandits post two acoustic tracks". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  34. ^ "Rx Bandits - In the Mix - Music - Music - November 23, 2006". Sacramento News & Review.