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.

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Song Stories

“My President”

Young Jeezy | 2008

Young Jeezy teams up with Nas on this track, in which he compare his own success with the idea of an African-American winning the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2008 presidential election. "When I pulled up in my car, that s--- was unbelievable to people in my neighborhood because they were like, 'We grew up with him. How the hell did he accomplish this?'" he told Rolling Stone. "I feel like it was the same way with Obama. I grew up all this time, but I've never seen a black man this close to running this country."

More Song Stories entries »

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