SLEIGH BELLS 'Jessica Rabbit'

After a chance encouter in 2008 at a Williamsburg restaurant, Alexis Krauss and Derek Edward Miller formed Sleigh Bells and quickly churned out three albums: Treats, Reign of Terror, and Bitter Rivals. For their first album in about 3 years, Krauss and Miller took their time, and although the loud, compression-heavy noise pop is still very much at the core of Jessica Rabbit, they expand their sound further, incorporating more synths and electronic programming. Also, more importantly, Krauss' vocals take a central position on the 14 tracks, as the two shar songwriting duties about equally. As a result, various mood shifts, tempo changes, and bold, forward-thinking approaches embellish their sound; check the super catchy "I Can't Stand You Anymore," or the opener "It's Just Us Now," which surprises with sudden changes in meter. "Crucible" is also undeniable, and the chilled-out (relatively speaking) "Hyper Dark" also presents interesting melodies, booming low-end work, and a memorable hook.