February passed quickly with regards to my blog. I was only forced into two deadlines throughout the month, neither of them having to do with actual contemporary music (For those who are wondering, I actually found my iPod in the crevice of my friend’s car, so the majority of my last blog can be completely discounted.) So to make up for the lack of content, I’ll give a quick round-up of anything new that I was listening to throughout February.

 Sleigh Bells: Reign of Terror

Reign of Terroris a continuation of the dynamic sound Sleigh Bells concocted on 2010’s delightful Treats. Guitarist and producer Derek Miller continues to run his instrument through a wall of distortion while front woman Alexis Krauss layers her sweetly high-pitched chants on top. The album has a more “arena-rock” vibe to it than its predecessor, but the aesthetic is essentially the same. Reign of Terror is able to skate by on the same charm of its precursor and introduces a few new tricks, but I anticipate a greater overhaul by the band’s third album.

Grimes: Visions

Visionsis a pop album so saccharine it would be almost sickening if it weren’t pulled off with such craft. Filled with sugary high-pitched vocal melodies counter-balanced with bubbling synth lines, the album feels futuristic and self-contained while eschewing traditional pop structure as melodies simply pile on top of each other.

Cloud Nothings: Attack on Memory

Attack on Memory was released at the end of January, almost exactly a year after Cloud Nothing’s self-titled 2011 album. Attack on Memory serves to be a self-fulfilling name, as its melody-laden indie punk is completely different from the rock album that frontman Dylan Baldi made in his bedroom. Now that he has adopted his touring band into the recording process, Attack on Memory has a much fuller sound, and with Baldi’s newfound vocal confidence, stands as one of the first prominent indie rock albums in a long time that dares actually rock.