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8.7
59829
8.7 |
Paste Magazine
An exciting and powerful record
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8.3
59793
8.3 |
Pretty Much Amazing
Are the melodies as strong as ever? Not always. Are the lyrics still largely infantile? For sure; but with an album this fun, do we care? Not at all
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8.0
59665
8.0 |
DIY
Krauss is on delicious vocal form throughout, sounding both as fierce and feminine as ever, matching cutting lyrics with sounds so girlish they almost risk being cutesy
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8.0
59663
8.0 |
The Digital Fix
A showcase both of their ever improving sense of pop melodies, and their skill at combining these with the cacophony of guitar and drums that they’re best known for
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8.0
59845
8.0 |
Spin
Fight-pop for grown-ups
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8.0
60490
8.0 |
Q
Breathlessly current in its maxed-out production, but also properly robust. Print edition only
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7.5
59772
7.5 |
A.V. Club
The band can stick around indefinitely, experimenting as much as Krauss and Miller want, so long as it keeps pumping up the volume
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7.0
59778
7.0 |
NME
Every moment of sweetness is followed by a deadly blast
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7.0
59784
7.0 |
Rolling Stone
The schoolyard chants are snarkier and the ooey-gooey melodies are sweeter
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7.0
59801
7.0 |
All Music
Some of their most enjoyable music since Treats
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7.0
59832
7.0 |
The Fly
Still deliciously entertaining
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7.0
59664
7.0 |
Clash
A concise, compact (just 10 tracks long) album that won’t outstay its welcome
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7.0
59759
7.0 |
PopMatters
Probably isn’t going to top Treats on anyone’s list of favorite Sleigh Bells albums, but it at least shows that Miller and Krauss are interested in branching out sonically
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7.0
59666
7.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
A solid effort from a band I didn’t expect to still be showing quite so much potential on their third full-length
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7.0
60025
7.0 |
Drowned In Sound
Offers the comfort of familiarity while being different enough to avoid breeding contempt
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6.0
59746
6.0 |
musicOMH
A mish-mosh of songs: some good, some of high quality though tempered by and succumbing to poppiness, and some that shouldn’t have made the final cut
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6.0
59662
6.0 |
The Guardian
While Krauss spins melodies gossamer as candyfloss, multi-instrumentalist Derek Miller distresses the soundsystem with juddering keyboards, blunt guitar riffs
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5.9
59754
5.9 |
Pitchfork
Bitter Rivals too often feels like a cheap thrill ride, firing on all cylinders but without any grand design
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5.5
59885
5.5 |
Under The Radar
It's always encouraging to watch bands evolving and progressing rather than churning out album after album of the same sound—but with Bitter Rivals, Sleigh Bells haven't quite hit all the targets they're aiming for
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5.0
60035
5.0 |
Slant Magazine
It took roughly three albums to get there, but Sleigh Bells' bombastic piss-n'-vinegar metal-pop has finally devolved into gimmickry
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5.0
60049
5.0 |
Loud And Quiet
Sleigh Bells will need a new trick next time
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4.0
59791
4.0 |
Consequence Of Sound
Bitter Rivals could be explained as playing to Sleigh Bells’ strengths, but mostly it gets stuck in the weaker aspects of their previous albums
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