During the height of High School Musical's popularity, South Park's Matt Stone and Trey Parker took on the phenomenon in typical smart-ass fashion, creating an episode that spoofed the runaway hit. In the episode, the character of Eric Cartman views a High School Musical film for the first time to try to understand why it is so popular. Looking like a stunned bunny, Eric finally says "This is COOL? THIS is cool?...Well, I'm out guys. If this is what's cool now, I think I am done. I no longer have any connection to this world, I'm going to go home and kill myself, goodbye friends." Cartman's response may be funny, but it is also an entirely reasonable response when finally coming face to face with something that is as overwhelmingly bad as it is popular. My own initial reaction to Sleigh Bells was pretty similar to Cartman's reaction to High School Musical. Internet murmurs about the band that began last winter had built into a deafening hype on the eve of the band's debut album "Treats." Reading some previews you couldn't help but think that musical salvation awaited listeners once they cracked open the case on "Treats." Everyone and their mother, it seemed, loved the Sleigh Bells, and if you didn't, well then, you just didn't get it. Because, as one critic has even claimed, this is just like "Kid A," man. Yeah that was something different and unique and maybe it was hard to grasp at first, but in the end it was classic. Right!? Right!? Well guess what? I got "Kid A" on the first listen and it was an instant classic, and one that I happily return to on any given day some nearly ten years later. The Sleigh Bells, on the other hand, are nothing more than a white hipster crunk rip-off who make cotton candy for music and whose success has been solely determinate on critics and fans trying to maintain their street cred by proving that they are cool enough to "get" it. Yeah well, I get it. I get that the emperor wears no clothes.
That hasn't stopped reviewers from bloggers to the LA Times talking about how the Sleigh Bells are both amazingly accessible and difficult at the same time, hailing that alone as an accomplishment, Or how the band is really original and no one else sounds like them, and, oh yes, how complex it all really is. I am not sure what album those critics are talking about, but if there is one thing the Sleigh Bells are not it is complex. They also aren't original. They sound pretty much like crunk with some Chemical Brother's styled effects laid over the top of the beats and cooed female vocals. It kind of reminds me of M.I.A. at times. Really they sound a lot like the picture on the cover of their album - cheerleaders with a bit of distortion. Wow, revelatory.
Admittedly, "Treats" isn't the worst thing I have ever heard (that would have to be Neon Indian). A couple of tracks actually grab my attention and, as they used to say on American Bandstand, "it has a good beat, and you can dance to it." "Riot Rhythm" and "Straight A's" are indeed a lot of fun. "Tell 'Em" and "Kids" worm their way into your ear after a while, even if you don't really want them to. I can see this stuff being nothing but shits and giggles live. Hell, I might even go see them when they play here later this summer, or check them out at Pitchfork. The problem is just that once again the internet hype does not match reality.
This isn't going to be an album that people "get" over time, as with "Kid A." You either like it or you don't. It is shallow ear candy, and that is alright. Sometimes we need something this sickly sweet, but let's not pretend that this has the sustenance of a seven course meal. If you are looking for some light summer time bangers, Sleigh Bells may have what you need, but if you are looking for something that is going to change your life and change music as we know it, don't even think about wasting your time here. Of course, I realize that no matter what I say, it won't matter. Right now the indie nation is caught in a Sleigh Bells frenzy, and people are going to buy this shit right up based on the hype. All I ask is that once you pack this album away in the storage space of your basement a couple of years from now, just remember this review and think of me saying "I told you so."
"Tell 'Em" live with an intro of Slayer's "South of Heaven"
"Infinity Guitar" live
"Crown On the Ground" live
Stop hating fun, this album is awesome!
ReplyDeletewhat's wrong with fun? not every band has to transcend space and time
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people thought Milli Vanilli was fun as well.
ReplyDeleteLook, I don't hate fun, what I hate is the critical acclaim and hype - the type that is claiming that this is an album that transcends space and time - is totally unwarranted.
Reread what I wrote toward the end, I recognize this album is pure candy and if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth, have at it, but as a critic I don't find this album very compelling. A couple of songs would sound great at a party, but after listening to this album for nearly a week straight, I wanted to tear my hair out.
this record isn't fun OR good.
ReplyDelete