Sleigh Bells (band)
| Sleigh Bells | |
|---|---|
 Alexis Krauss of Sleigh Bells performing at the South By Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas in March 2010. |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | n/a |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Noise pop, power pop, dance-punk, digital hardcore |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Mom+Pop, N.E.E.T. |
| Associated acts | Poison the Well |
| Website | www.reignofterror.tv |
| Members | |
| Derek E. Miller Alexis Krauss Jason Boyer (touring) |
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Sleigh Bells is an American noise pop music duo signed to N.E.E.T. Recordings and Mom + Pop Records.[1] The group released their debut album, Treats, on May 11, 2010.
Contents |
[edit] History
Based in Brooklyn, New York, Sleigh Bells is composed of Derek Edward Miller[2] (songwriter, guitarist, producer) and Alexis Krauss (vocals, songwriter). Miller was formerly the guitarist for the hardcore band Poison the Well, and Krauss was a member of the teen pop group Rubyblue. Krauss also appeared in a Nickelodeon Magazine commercial as a young girl where she winked at the camera.[3][4]
[edit] Sleigh Bells EP (2008–2009)
The duo met and formed in 2008. Miller was waiting tables at a neighborhood Brazilian restaurant, Miss Favela, where he encountered Alexis and her mother.[5] When he mentioned he was looking for a female vocalist to work with on a musical project; Krauss' mother immediately volunteered her. The duo performed at the CMJ Music Marathon in October 2009.[3] They signed to M.I.A.'s N.E.E.T. Recordings soon after and Mom + Pop Records.[1] The two quickly got in the studio and recorded a 7 track self-titled EP. Their EP soon gained attention from The Guardian, New York Times, Pitchfork Media, ABC News's Amplified, and other sources. Stereogum named them a Band To Watch October 22, 2009.[6] The Guardian named them Band of the Day in December 2009.[7] Pitchfork named their song "Crown on the Ground" the 57th best track of 2009.[8] Miller recorded the track "Meds and Feds" with M.I.A. from the album Maya towards the end of 2009, and began recording Treats with Krauss in 2010. "Rill Rill" uses a sample from Funkadelic's "Can You Get to That".
[edit] Treats (2010–2011)
The group released "Tell 'Em", the first single from their debut album, Treats, as a free download in April 2010.[9] Treats was released on May 11, 2010 exclusively through the iTunes Store by Mom + Pop Music.[10] They performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2010 and 2011,[11] the Primavera Sound Festival in May 2010,[12] and the Pitchfork Music Festival in July 2010. In June 2010, they released "Crown on the Ground" as their second single. The track "Rill Rill" from the album Treats was featured in a 4th season episode of Gossip Girl. The song "Kids" off of the album Treats was used in an advert for Koppaberg and the Promo for MTV's Skins, adaption of UK series. Music videos were shot for their third and fourth singles, "Infinity Guitars" and "Rill Rill". "Infinity Guitars" has also featured in commercials for Windows Phone.[13]
[edit] Reign of Terror (2012)
Sleigh Bells began tracking songs for their second studio album in June 2011. Describing the sound of the new album, Krauss said, "It sounds really huge, so there's going to still be tons of volume."[14]
On December 2, 2011, the band's website began to link to this Vimeo video. It served as a teaser trailer for the upcoming album, revealing the title to be Reign of Terror. There was no release date or any other information attached to the trailer. The trailer features scenes of Alexis Krauss sitting at a vanity mirror, grooming herself, interspersed with various backstage and live concert footage, as well as footage depicting the band's touring. During the duration of the video, a riff plays in the background and serves as the only sound. This can be assumed to be part of an upcoming song on the album.[15]
On December 7, 2011, the band announced via press release the date of the album's release and the tracklist. The band's publicist said of the upcoming release [The album features] "songs that are as crushing and authoritative as their title suggests; they're effortlessly robust and heavier than any of the band's previous output ... the sonic equivalent of a beautiful shotgun to the head."[16]
On December 15, 2011, the band released the first single of their new album, "Born To Lose".
The album was set to be released on February 14, 2012, but was pushed back to February 21, 2012.[17]
Along with the announcement of the release date and tracklist, Sleigh Bells also announced a tour of strictly Floridian venues.[18] This tour will precede the release of the album.
Sleigh Bells were the musical guest on the February 18, 2012, episode of Saturday Night Live. They performed the songs "Comeback Kid" and "End of the Line". In an interview with coupdemainmagazine Sleigh Bells was quoted saying that Reign of Terror "is a much more personal record"
[edit] Use of music in other media
The Sleigh Bells song "Kids" was featured in a trailer of the 2011 game Bodycount; their song "Infinity Guitars" was also in a trailer for Brothers in Arms: Furious 4. Additionally, "Tell 'Em" was featured in a teaser commercial for X Games 17. The song "Kids" was also featured in the trailer of the movie Abduction and in the trailer of the game FIFA 12. "Riot Rhythm" features on the soundtrack to Saints Row: The Third. The song, "Kids" was also featured in the MTV's American version of the television show's trailer for Skins. Rapper Childish Gambino used "Crown on the Ground" and "Infinity Guitars" as base tracks for raps found on his mixtapes.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- Treats (2010)
- Reign of Terror (2012) UK #48
[edit] EPs
- Sleigh Bells (2009)
[edit] References
- ^ a b Wilhelm, Alex (March 16, 2010). "Sleigh Bells sign to N.E.E.T. and Mom + Pop". Crazed Hits - The Music Industry's Leading A&R Site. http://www.crazedhits.com/sleigh-bells-sign-to-neet-and-mom-and-pop/. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858836207/
- ^ a b Dombal, Ryan (July 12, 2010). "Pitchfork: Sleigh Bells". Pitchfork. http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/7831-sleigh-bells//. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
- ^ "Youtube: Nickelodeon Magazine's Ad". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5VFxeikXPg//. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
- ^ Marino, Nick (October 14, 2010). "Do Not Adjust Your iPod". LA Weekly. http://www.laweekly.com/2010-10-14/music/do-not-adjust-your-ipod/. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
- ^ Singh, Amrit (October 22, 2009). "Band To Watch: Sleigh Bells". Stereogum. http://stereogum.com/97041/band_to_watch_sleigh_bells/franchises/band-to-watch/. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ Lester, Paul (December 1, 2009). "New band of the day - No 680: Sleigh Bells". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/dec/01/new-band-sleigh-bells. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ "Pitchfork: Staff Lists: The Best 100 Tracks of 2009". Pitchfork. December 14, 2009. http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7742-the-top-100-tracks-of-2009/5/. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ Saba, Michael (April 29, 2010). "Listen to Sleigh Bells' First Single "Tell 'Em"". Paste. http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/04/listen-to-sleigh-bells-first-single-tell-em.html. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
- ^ "Sleigh Bells reveal debut album’s tracklist". FACT. April 29, 2010. http://www.factmag.com/2010/04/29/sleigh-bells-reveal-treats-tracklist/. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ Martens, Todd (March 31, 2010). "Coachella, beyond the main stage: Sleigh Bells can ring a racket". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/03/coachella-beyond-the-mainstage-sleigh-bells-can-ring-a-racket.html. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ http://www.archive.org/details/OlasKoolKitchenSleighBellsLiveSetPrimavera2010
- ^ YouTube: What if? Ad | Windows Phone 7 Official TV Commercial. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
- ^ Helton, Eric; Murphy, Matthew (May 13, 2011). "Sleigh Bells: Reveal details of their next album". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/videos/new-and-hot/sleigh-bells-reveal-details-of-their-next-album-20110513. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675296/sleigh-bells-reign-of-terror.jhtml
- ^ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675613/sleigh-bells-reign-of-terror-valentines-day.jhtml
- ^ http://pitchfork.com/news/44981-new-sleigh-bells-album-pushed-back/
- ^ http://stereogum.com/899331/sleigh-bells-announce-tour-reign-of-terror-tracklist/tour-dates/
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Sleigh Bells (band) on Myspace
- Interview with Derek Miller
- Sleigh Bells (band) discography at Discogs
- BEAT magazine interview with Derek and Alexis
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