Two of the biggest names in alternative rock are releasing their newest albums to the public a week early...at least for streaming purposes. If you're a Sleigh Bells or Cage The Elephant fan you can check out Bitter Rivals and Melophobia, respectively, below.
Bitter Rivals by Sleigh Bells
If it seems like the duo of Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss just released an album, you're halfway right. The pair dropped "Reign of Terror" less than two years ago.
"I can't just sit on our records," said Miller. "The only way for us to move forward creatively is to keep making them and putting them out."
Krauss described the vibe of the album as celebratory, citing single "Bitter Rivals" and other tracks such as "Tiger Kit" as moving the mood. Interesting that Sleigh Bells and Katy Perry, two acts on the opposite ends of the pop spectrum, have both gone for the tiger-theme on recent tracks. Miller's tiger-striped guitar is featured on the album art for Rivals.
Stream Sleigh Bells' Bitter Rivals at RollingStone.com.
Melophobia by Cage The Elephant
The Elephant took an entirely experimental route when setting about making its new album. The band stopped listening to recorded music altogether while they were in the studio, in an attempt to prevent outside influences from coming in.
"In the past, we would try to absorb as much music as possible and then we would interpret it however we saw fit," vocalist Matthew Schultz said. "This record felt like us allowing our own inherent style to come through."
That sounds easier said than done for a professional musician. Minor Threat might be able to lay down an album in a half-hour, but weeks without music has the potential to drive a band like The Elephant crazy.
Melophobia can be streamed at RollingStone.com.
