Did You Know You Could Make Me Scream?

Tell 'Em, from Sleigh Bells' album Treats, is all climax and sonic maximalism. This maelstrom of sound topped by saccharine-sweet vocals must be heard to be believed.

"What in the hell is this?" was the question on my mind the first time I heard Sleigh bells. I'm still not sure I know the answer, but that's OK. I don't have to know what something is to vibe with it. Sleigh Bells' first album, Treats, is giving pep rally produced by NIN and The Chemical Brothers. I am here for it and ready to cheer, scream, hold up spirit fingers... whatever.

Epic reverb, ferocious fuzz, stomps, and screams all make this album sound louder than it is, and that's already pretty damn loud. Snaps and claps shine like diamonds combined with pristine pop vocals lighting our way through swirling darkness. This maximalist approach means that on a trash stereo, this album kinda sounds like, uh, trash. Some argue that's the point. It's plausible. Maybe this is punk?

I say, "Nay! Not trash." 

"Treats" is a sly one and shouldn't be underestimated. Put this through a real hi-fi system, and the trash morphs into beautifully choreographed chaos. It's not a barroom brawl; it's a fight scene in an action movie. There's an excellent soundstage, some genuine craftsmanship to the placement of sounds in the space, and it deploys Alexis Krauss's uber-girly vocal stylings to tame the frenetic blitz Derek Miller has conjured. The wall of sound takes on a multilayered persona, and you can hear all the individual Rube-Goldbergian parts and pieces used to construct this monstrosity. It makes me want to scream.

Data

Song: Tell 'Em
Album: Treats
Artist: Sleigh Bells
Genre: Rock
Year: 2010
Length: 2:56
Composer: Derek Miller, Alexis Krauss
Producer: Sleigh Bells