Sleigh Bells long-awaited (it’s been, like, so many months) future-pop blueprint/debut LP is out today, and you can hear it. Today. Not before, because M.I.A.’s N.E.E.T. imprint kept Treats on non-leak lockdown under threat of excessive violence. We’re all in the same boat here, so feel free to log responses in the comments. A quick primer for fellow obsessive consumers of the duo’s various demos and 2HELLWU CD-R, after a very quick pass through: ”Beach Girls” is now “Kids” (Track 2); “Ring Ring” is now “Rill Rill” (and managed to hold on to that “Can You Get To That” Funkadelic sample from Maggot Brain); “Infinity Guitars,” “A/B Machines,” and “Crown On The Ground” all made the cut, as did some of those in-the-red guitars and beats. But those aren’t the only tricks for Treats — as told by “Tell ‘Em,” Derek and Alexis (and engineer Shane Stoneback) didn’t waste their access to the high-end studio: The alternately crisp and cataclysmic production’s as much a focus as the songs’ sugar and slice. This should make for a happy Tuesday.
Stream it at NPR for a week — buy it at iTunes forever more. If you want to compare to older iterations, there are still a bunch of those demos up in our BTW post. Take “Tell ‘Em” to go:
See them live; M.I.A.’s been known to get “Rill Rill” here and there.
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So thrilled! Maybe I can get through the work day with this…
i bet it takes about two weeks for people to get sick and tired of this record, right about the time they will start blasting it at your local claire’s. then rill rill will take off for a bit. then sleigh bells will sound ridiculously dated in about a year. say hello to your 14 year old niece’s new favorite record.
on second and third listen, i can see why all the press about their live show is so positive. i’m sure this would melt your face at 1 or 2 a.m. i just think the sound will get old fast.
i like how their music told you to quit your stupid whining
your little avatar makes you look like a total douche, but based on your comment, i can see that’s clearly not the case. truth be told, their music tells me they fucking blow.
@lalalalala: It’s a good album, no doubt. I do agree that it’s not a classic I’ll be playing in two years, but that’s the nature of music. I mean, this isn’t Van Morrison’s ‘Astral Weeks’. It’s not changing anyone’s life. But it’s good for what it is. And I’m enjoying it now.
hey man good job with the stupid whining
It’s loud, trashy fun. It’s a record to put on when you’re getting drunk and doing trashy things. I can understand why some people think it’s going to get old fast; but I like it and will be listening to it for a while, in the right situations. I see a lot of comparisons to the 1st Crystal Castles album, and like that one, this is probably going to divide a lot of people’s opinions.
I really don’t care about how long it lasts, all I know is that it sounds amazing right now so if you don’t mind I’m going to go turn the volume up and blow my eardrums out.
Oh great! An iTunes only release until June 22nd. This means I will pirate the album instead of purchasing it, which I was all prepared to do as I am not a huge fan of pirating.
Yup, looks like it. I would even buy it on iTunes but it’s a US only release. Take a hint M.I.A.: people will pirate the fuck out of your artists music if you keep doing this crap.
Have fun with that!
I actually feel opposite as you guys. For me, I will pirate if it is available illegally before it hits stores, but when people do the electronic release before the hard copy, it doesn’t usually leak early and i end up buying it the day it is for sale.
Listening to this Sleigh Bells album makes me feel seriously old. I’m afraid that this is just too loud for me to listen to it, ever. It’s all compressed so far in the red, I can’t turn it down enough to digest anything, which is a shame because I hear some things that I like! But seriously, I have the NPR stream volume all the way down, and my speaker volume all the way down, and I’m still uncomfortable. I’m not even an audiophile anti-compression curmudgeon.
Anyhow, have fun with this one younger generation! I’ll be at home listening to my Edison Phonograph.
Try chugging some whiskey, railing some coke, going out with some friends to a party/da club, and try again.
hahah… nicely said….. or just drive real fast… either way…
Dude, you could listen to Celine Dion under those circumstances and be blown away.
Ugh…maybe YOU could.
Hell YEAH I could. I’d play the shit outta that Celine Dion.
is that’s what you need to appreciate this music, that doesn’t say good things about it. personally, i think some of the tunes are catchy but for the most part, they’re forced and cheezy.
Similar to spelling cheesy with a z.
dude i chugged some whiskey and railed some coke and everything is awesome now. sleigh bells, america’s next top model, even the tea party. but especially sleigh bells.
I admit, the first time I heard Crown To The Ground I had to turn my Stereo down a bit…… but their music is incredibly refreshing, new, and breath of fresh air in what was a very static music scene… I couldn’t have possibly dreamed up what these guys are doing in my wildest imagination.. And after closely following their musical development this year and downloading their newest tunes (off Stereo Gum thank you very much), I can honestly say I really enjoy their music… and I’m far from 13… I’m 39… and I’m anxiously awaiting their arrival in the SE US for a live show!
I saw them live about a month ago after listening the hell out of those demos. They are amazing live, great show and amazing energy. I just can’t wait till their 2nd album now so the live show can go past a half hour. One thing I’ll say is that I loved how Infinity Guitars sounded live compared to the ending on the demos, happy to hear they made the album version closer to that of the live version. Those last 40 seconds are fucking awesome.
Don’t really think this is that good. It’s got moments, but overall will definitely get old fast.
Ok whateva whateva, it still makes you feel like you’re in a dangerous-ass chase when you play it in your car.
This album is the tits
Pretty much sums it up.
amazing album. for the summer. for when i go partying. kinda slims down the listening opportunities. but yea. still great.
Anyone else feel the non-demo half of the album feels a bit sub par? None of the new tracks seem to match the fun of 2HELLWU. ‘Rachel’ is 2 minutes of panting and the same boring synths, Straight A’s sounds like a sketchy demo from Crystal Castles’ latest, and Treats is a lazy Deerhoof. And sure, 2HELLWU the track sucked, but why no ‘Holly’?
Feels like the blog-flu epidemic has claimed the debut of yet another promising young band.
i was going to tell you to shut up, but it appears you are rather attractive from your profile picture. therefore, i’ll just say that i disagree with you. i hear them sleigh bells ring-a-ling.
I wouldn’t call this a record, but it definitely has it’s moments. I’m sure it’ll be fun to listen to at times this summer.
the non EP tracks are super weak.
I’m sure this would be fun live, but it just feels like it’s all be done before. Anyone remember Le Tigre!
I enjoyed Le Tigre, but they did not have Derek Miller.
Not the same. Le Tigre knows as much about cranking hyphy beats as martin scorsese does about making movies that suck dick…..sooooooo zero….at the very least Sleigh bells genre-blends WAY cooler, don’t put em in a box cuz they got a weiner and a vagina…..that aint chillllll
lol, sorry my friend threw down this lil gem after I left my account logged in at his casa, my bad.
Damn it! This should read – all “been” done before.
I hate typos!
another overhyped awful female/male duo.
I was all set not to like this album. I felt the hype brewing on this one as much as LCD Soundsystem and The National. But I actually liked this. It’s good fun. As was LCD.
LEN.
this band is LEN.
I HATE “RILL RILL”
Ring Ring is so much better :(
I’m sad
it’s good the songs are short. and i do like the album a lot. just to tac-on.
I heard people say the same thing when the first jj record came out. No. 2 still sounds fresh to me
crystal castles meets andrew wk
Damn, seems like the vast majority of Stereogum had a huddle and decided to get high as ballz on their haterade before posting on this skizz. Is there really that much to dislike about these fools? Its basically a series of euphoria inducing slappers, who listens to this and then promptly decides to go on a blog and complain….? its just retarded. No, its not about to be listenable in 2 years or whatever, but thats honestly not the point. Thats like watching Kill Bill and bitchin about how its incredible (yeee, I’m using that literally, like, not believable) and its purpose as a revenge vehicle is vitiated. Its not really cool to compare this to LCD though, the only thing they gots in common is a release date mang. quit being lugubrious bewbz and live a little.
Everybody relax.
This album is the tits..
Even the Christians in my studio like this.
One word: LOUD
I think a good deal of the problem lies in the fact that this whole album is basically jock jamz run through a distortion plug-in married with some seriously weak (melody + delivery) vocals. It is the essence of noncommittal, ‘contrived to be cool’ music. The production is lousy, the musicianship is lazy and it seriously rehashes a terrible time in hip-hop. It should work well on the 12-15 demo, along with the shitty new MIA. This is a garageband baby that should’ve been aborted a long time ago. If you want some summer party tunes, listen to Le Tigre and Funkadelic, lord even some DFA 1979. Do you feel that? That feeling is excitement and it is created by judicious use of groove and soul. Recognize it and seek out music that has it. Your children will thank you.
” jock jamz run through a distortion plug-in married with some seriously weak (melody + delivery) vocals”
Dead on!
I need more go out and get trashed/drive fast music. Thank you, Sleigh Bells!