Albums of 2016: Sleigh Bells Show “Jessica Rabbit” Simmers Insanity
When you think of Jessica Rabbit, you think sex icon. She is considered more a glamorous image of feminine beauty than a sentient being. She walks into parties and men drool and trip over their libidos, and she plays into their fantasies. Yet, what goes on in the mind of Jessica Rabbit, a perfect icon, but that is it….. an icon. Sleigh Bells 2016 record Jessica Rabbit is a delve into the fragmentation a beauty can carry.
//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/platform.js Sleigh Bells fourth album has to be one of their most complex, particularly because it is their most spontaneous. Rhythmically and lyrically every track can go from an image of euphoria to an internal hard-drive of rough sentiments/ memories. “Torn Clean”, “Loyal For”, and “Crucible” are prime examples of the Sleigh Bells capacity to show the rips in beauty’s fabric. Like a musical Jessica Rabbit, beyond the plump lips/ bassline, shimmering red dress/synths, rock riffs/ rips in said dress, and the busty vocals of Alexis Krauss, is a beating heart with more depth than appearance. Krauss has a voice that furthers the notion of my “Jessica Rabbit” analogy by having a voice that is both stunning and mature. Her voice is a constan stream of intelligence, pain, and loveliness. Still, Jessica Rabbit becomes an artful experience from Sleigh Bells because you can hear their purpose.