Sleigh Bells - "Treats"

Sleigh Bells – “Treats”

2010

N.E.E.T.

I’m not sure you can handle this. I was a little skeptical myself, but this new album from the Brooklyn based Sleigh Bells is pure noise-rock magic. Akin to the famous adrenaline shot scene from “Pulp Fiction”, “Treats” starts and never lets off the gas. You are most likely to end up with a headache at some point, but don’t worry, in the end its all worth it.

This is an album of extremes, with Alexis Krauss’ sweet bubble-gum voice transposed against sometimes shrill and violent rhythms of guitar and percussion. Listen to “Rill Rill” transition into “Crowns on the Ground” and you will hear what I mean. Creativity flows like wine here, and album than begs to be turned up to max volume, a festival of sound for the ears.

Sleigh Bells share a record label with international superpower M.I.A. but don’t expect the same philosophy; Sleigh Bells know when to attack and when to live in the moment. Take “Kids” which should remind you of MGMT’s monster hit by the same name, its one of many sub 3 minute jams that define “Treats”.

Any competent hip-hop artist like Kanye West or Jay-Z would kill to sample the hell out of this album. They could work wonders with a remix of “Run The Heart” or “Rachel”. The latter reminding me of a post-apocalyptic dance track for the barren wasteland. Or maybe a soundtrack to a sunset over our now ruined Gulf Coast, Hauntingly beautiful nonetheless.

“Rill Rill” feels like a mash up between the sweet sensisbility of She & Him mixed with the sonic wonder that is Phoenix. A breezy ode to 70’s folk-pop, with a modern spin. It will have you feeling good driving on a sunny afternoon.

Word on the street is Sleigh Bells puts on a killer live show, and I have no doubt they do if they are able to bottle the magic in “Treats” for the audience.

Sleigh Bells have made banner headlines in the indie world this yeah, so make sure you see them now, before the mainstreamers get a hold of them.

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