By Max Johnson
We know, we know. You’ve probably heard enough about Sleigh Bell’s sophomore album “Reign of Terror”. Appearing on SPIN’s cover, performing on SNL, and getting high marks from Pitchfork, the duo from Florida is set to take over their world with their bombastic and noisy metal-meets-pop sound.
The track “Comeback Kid”, in particular, has gotten a lot of attention, but the album’s second track, “Born to Lose”, is what might best convert you to the Sleigh Bells cult. Even with a knowing reference to the classic Johnny Thunders song, it’s one of the least punk-inspired moments on the album. Instead, it’s hair-metal-inspired instrumentation collides with a heavily delayed multi-tracking of Alexis Krauss’ vocals that seems drawn straight from Patti Smith’s “Horses”. It’s just one of many examples of Sleigh Bells’ excelling at the juxtaposition of “smart” and “dumb” music.
Listen to KRUI this week to hear this and other tracks from “Reign of Terror.”
