New Music Report: Brooklyn's Sleigh Bells Make Primitive, Potent Noise

In this week's New Music Report, Rolling Stone contributing editor Christian Hoard presents another segment of "Christian Rock," focusing on M.I.A.'s favorite new band, Sleigh Bells. One of the most buzzed-about bands of 2010, Sleigh Bells is the Brooklyn-based duo of Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss who bring big noise, hip-hop beats and waves of synths on their debut album Treats. "This is a very noisy album, but that noise is often shaped into really potent riffs," says Hoard, adding that the band is similar in primitivism to the White Stripes. "There are songs, too. This is not the kind of album that comes up and gives you a kiss; but it’s certainly body-rocking. And even though it sometimes seems like these guys are just screwing around, it’s a pretty fun listen." Check out this week's New Music Report plus clips of the duo's "Rill Rill" and "Tell 'Em" in the video above.

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Is It True”

Brenda Lee | 1964

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter