That catchy tune you heard in Apple’s iPhone 5C commercial this past September is just one of the many innovative tracks off of band Sleigh Bells’ 2010 debut album, “Treats.”  Both loud and original, it was a record that didn’t quite sound like anything before it, and one that demanded to be heard. The track Apple utilizes in the ad, entitled “Rill Rill,” opened up the eyes- and more importantly ears-of music lovers all over the country.

10 years ago Derek Miller was playing guitar in a metal band while Alexis Krauss was singing in a teen pop group. It all started in Brooklyn in 2009 when the duo came together with the provocative idea that the two genres had more in common than one may perceive.

The band’s Sophomore album “Reign of Terror” had massive shoes to fill, but met critics’ and fans’ high expectations easily with another track list full of new sounds.

This time around, unfortunately, we seem to be presented with just more of the same.  “The same,” of course, is by no means bad. We may be spoiled by having been able to hear something interesting and new from Sleigh Bells again and again each time they have a release. I suppose it can be difficult to come up with new ideas for songs when they all follow one specific sound, but Sleigh Bells’ signature pioneering “spark” is missing from this 10 track LP.

The opening track “Bitter Rivals” almost “psyches you out” as it gets you excited for what is to follow.  This song is about as good as the album gets with an ever-so-catchy opening guitar riff, but the rest will quickly disappoint as it all drifts into something you’ve heard ten times before.

Halfway through the album, however, another successful song titled “Young Legends” finally breaks through the mundane lineup. The chorus echoes “Young legends die all the time/But I don’t mind/Don’t close your eyes/Don’t say goodbye/I know you’ll try.” It is an interesting combination of an upbeat melody with rather melancholy lyrics.

Bitter Rivals proves to be an appropriate title as the album seems to have a rather bitter tone to it.  Krauss sounds upset in nearly every track, which ultimately adds to its lack of variety.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars