Sleigh Bells
Treats
Mom + Pop/NEET
Jun 03, 2010
Web Exclusive
Despite a name that evokes thoughts of Christmas kitsch and a stage persona that leaves many cold, Sleigh Bells are here to stay. With the blown-out speaker quality of last year’s widely-circulated, under-produced demos (“Ring Ring,” “Crown on the Ground,” “Beach Girls,” “Infinity Guitars”) tamed to a more palatable squeal, multi-instrumentalist Derek Miller and vocalist Alexis Krauss have created a delicious summer album, shimmying through the worlds of pop, electro, and hip-hop like a pair of sugar-buzzed kids in a candy store. While the lasting power of Treats past the warm weather months may be questionable, the duo is out to make hay while the sun shines with a high octane combination of combustible beats, finger snaps, cheerleader chants, beat machines, giddy screams, and unfiltered sass.
In the grand tradition of debut albums, Treats still sounds like a band trying to figure out exactly what it is they do. When sticking to their respective strengths (Her: coquettish tough-girl charm. Him: crisp backbeats and crunchy guitars) Treats is downright banging. Sure we’ve already heard the majority of the best cuts in demo form, but shined to a glossy guilty-pleasure sheen, they paint a pretty picture. The hooks of “Infinity Guitars” are worth revisiting, and even the brainless spoken segments of “Kids” (retooled from the goofy fun of “Beach Girls”) are guaranteed to elicit a smile. Sure come autumn every Beverly Hills 90210 come-lately will have optioned “Rill Rill” as their girls-just-wanna-have-fun anthem, but can you really begrudge them an acoustic tune so fluffy it plays like a double mocha straight to the brain? On the opposite side of the coin is the downright genius “A/B Machines,” featuring rapped line “Got my A machines on the table/Got my B machines in the drawer” stretched across hypnotic, rapid-fire beats.
Addictive as the highs might be, Treats sags noticeably when Miller and Krauss stray too far from their comfort zones. “Run the Heart” flirts with mediocrity, but is redeemed by Krauss’ slinky delivery of promise/threat “You can take a heart/I can take out you.” However, even base sexuality can’t save “Rachel.” The track’s heavy breathing opening feels like a trite eleventh hour attempt to save a song marred with lazy instrumentals and generic cooing—the collective discordance creating a gestalt that’s decidedly less than the sum of its parts. Meanwhile their aimless and abrasive stab at hardcore, “Straight A’s,” simply flunks. Thankfully though, the low points are brief and Miller and Krauss connect more than they miss—creating an album that’s more sweet than sour. Treats may disappear quickly, but it’s sure to leave behind a pleasant buzz. (www.myspace.com/sleighbellsmusic)
Author rating: 7/10
Average reader rating: 0/10
Most Recent
- 10 Best Songs of the Week: Palehound, Pip Blom, Margaret Glaspy, Blonde Redhead, and More (News) — Songs of the Week, Palehound, Pip Blom, Franz Ferdinand, Margaret Glaspy, Blonde Redhead, The Clientele, Protomartyr, Oceanator, Helena Deland, Foo Fighters, Patio
- Neighbourhood Weekender, Warrington, UK, May 27-28, 2023 (Review) — Self Esteem, Pulp, Picture Parlour, CMAT
- SXSW 2023, Austin, Texas, March 10-19, 2023 (Review) — Coco and Clair Clair, Teethe, Peel Dream Magazine, Indigo De Souza
- Fontaine D.C’s Grain Chatten Shares New Solo Song “Last Time Every Time Forever” (News) — Grain Chatten
- Bloc Party Team Up with KennyHoopla on New Song “Keep it Rolling” (News) — Bloc Party, KennyHoopla
Comments
Submit your comment
June 4th 2010
1:03am
apart from the rating, which i feel is a touch too low, i would written pretty much the same review even down to the specific things about the tracks. well done laura, and it’s not only cos i agree with you. very thorough and constructive arguments compared to other UTR reviewers.
June 4th 2010
6:58pm
“rachel” is about a girl that was murdered in florida…the heavy breathing at the beginning of the song is not sexual. it is the breathing of a girl running away from her murderer.
January 31st 2011
7:53pm
Great review, but I would disagree on the rating. I would put it at a six at most. As high as the highs on this album are, they simply cannot overcome the lows brought about by “Straight A’s” and “Rachel”. It’s a shame because so much of the rest of the album is phenomenal. A bit of time spent revising(or deleting altogether) a few songs would have put Treats on top.
April 6th 2011
10:02am
I have listened last week to Sleigh Bells the first time and really like their music. They are not very known in Germany but I think I’m gone buy the album and tell my friends about them.
April 14th 2011
4:39am
Can I make a suggestion? I think youve got something good here. But what if you added a couple links to a page that backs up what youre saying? Or maybe you could give us something to look at, something that would connect what youre saying to something tangible? Just a suggestion.
June 29th 2011
12:32pm
Je suis ok avec quasi tout. Je vous aurais bien donné un bon point de facebook, mais je ne trouve pas le bouton.
August 6th 2011
10:54pm
I think that to receive the mortgage loans from banks you should present a great motivation. Nevertheless, once I’ve got a financial loan, because I was willing to buy a car.
August 9th 2011
9:14pm
Following my investigation, billions of persons on our planet get the loan at well known banks. Thus, there is good chances to get a bank loan in any country.
August 9th 2011
9:17pm
Don’t have a lot of money to buy a house? You not have to worry, because this is available to receive the credit loans to resolve such problems. Thus get a credit loan to buy all you want.
December 28th 2011
10:28am
Houses are expensive and not everyone is able to buy it. However, personal loans was created to help people in such kind of cases.
July 30th 2012
1:23am
I would like to propose not to hold back until you earn enough amount of money to buy all you need! You can just get the mortgage loans or short term loan and feel yourself free
October 1st 2012
8:40am
Following my own investigation, billions of people all over the world receive the credit loans at well known banks. Thence, there’s great possibilities to get a car loan in every country.
January 11th 2013
4:28am
Have no a lot of cash to buy a building? You should not worry, because it is real to receive the credit loans to resolve all the problems. Thence get a credit loan to buy everything you require.
January 11th 2013
3:57pm
Professional writing online help is guaranteed, whenever you check out TopWritingService company and buy perfectly written online essay from the recommended company.
January 12th 2013
1:53am
A lot of approaches must be recognized when you want to get great results. Students even buy essay to succeed!
January 16th 2013
8:27am
Check up here so that you would get good written essays and get the best of our wonderful organization when it comes to best essays writing.
January 20th 2013
10:09pm
The progress seems to be newsworthy thing and it is great to watch how do custom academic papers corporations evolve offering people to buy custom papers.
January 24th 2013
2:22am
I do know that I can’t live not using the custom writing uk service! I order customized essays anytime I need! I am not indolent! I just would like to submit premium essay papers!
February 23rd 2013
11:30am
Purchase Ethics Essay according to your instructions written by certified writers and take pleasure from writing process.
February 23rd 2013
2:02pm
Order Law essay, don’t waste your time and do other important things while professional writers take care of your writing task.
May 16th 2013
5:46pm
I think that to get the loan from banks you must present a firm reason. But, one time I’ve got a commercial loan, just because I wanted to buy a bike.