The Bells are overtly ringing

ALBUM REVIEW
by Shardae Jobson
(released on May 11, 2010 in the U.S.)

Sleigh Bells are a duo completely under the radar, yet their debut album Treats received much praise from music critics, including the always austere elitists Pitchfork Media. They're on a joint contract with M.I.A.'s N.E.E.T. Recordings which is not only pretty supreme in their range of connections, will also guarantee them more attention than the average independent artists, as they've also performed at SXWS and CMJ music festivals. Treats is utterly overwrought in its lofty level of sound, but is very representative of what today's music will be remembered for, making the record likable enough--if you're into soundtracks for an ADD generation.

Bells first official single "Tell 'Em" is incredibly infectious and slightly '80s arena pop rock, and it hypnotizes the listener even as you can barely comprehend a sentence Alexis Krauss is saying. The thrusts of guitar riffs by Derek Miller are transformed into sonic lasers, giving the track an urgency that lets future fans in the know that more anxiety is on the way, and we're thankful for the warning because Treats does not quit until its very last note.

It's hard to define Sleigh Bells as anything other known than straight up noise (maybe "post dance-punk", but this specific noise has an odd artistic touch to it that enables Treats to be considered somewhat stimulating. The music take the approach of cut and paste craft and recreates into something of their own at its most original finest. At times, the music seems to only make sense to Krauss and Miller, but its hard to cover your ears because you find yourself wildly charmed by their boisterous behavior.

"Run the Heart" was made for imagined galaxy adventures with the soothing but knowingly flirtatious voice of Krauss, and is a love story in disguise, that has a part two continued in "Rachel". "Rill Rill" is the one song that is the most unlike the rest, with a country music resonance and is nice break from the brash tunes, but Bells don't stray for long. "Crown on the Ground" takes the award for being the most obnoxiously hurtful to the ears, and Krauss' lovely inflections are again a bit passed over by the beats. "Kids" teases with its moments of resistance, going back and forth against thick bounces and clattering shrills.

The album is only 32 minutes, and throughout their record, Sleigh Bells bring to mind another rowdy duo of cacophonous proportions, Crystal Castles. The major discrepancy that keeps Bells from being a facsimile is that they're surprisingly stalwart, while Castles is unforgivably melodic, though both duos trade off from song to song on their respective works.

Treats was adored by critics because Sleigh Bells didn't act on being loud just to be musically pseudo shocking, or to thrive as irritable young things just looking to create a raucous. They've made an interesting record that sparks effortlessly through speakers like a kaleidoscope of sound waves which is an accomplishment considering its mostly patterns of colossal distortions. You want some bleeding ears within seconds of pushing play in the name of music? You asked for it.

THE BEST: "Tell 'Em", "Kids", "Riot Rhythm", "Run the Heart", "A/B Machines", "Treats"