You Can Be My Wave

When I started my journal back in 2021, I was motivated to seek out albums I wouldn't otherwise listen to. One such album was Sleigh Bell's Texis; an album that augmented pop's most stimulating characteristics to excessive heights. One could describe it as hyperpop despite not really being a part of that scene. It was so colourful and so re-playable that I awarded it my album of the year. While I was content keeping those songs in my rotation, I was really looking forward to new Sleigh Bells music, so the announcement of Bunky Becky Birthday Boy was met with excitement. Upon first listen, I wasn't really blown away as the album didn't seem to break new ground, or felt as bombastic as Texis' best moments. Over time though, I realized that the more straightforward songwriting made for some incredibly anthemic tracks. I also grew to love the pronounced campiness that came from the clash between eighties new wave and hair metal. In the end, it wound up being another infectious home run of a pop record.

One of my highlights was This Summer because of the catchy granular synths, driving pop punk passages, and Alexis Krauss' soaring belts in the chorus. I also really like the song's sentiment; embodying the summer by living passionately, making amends, and of course having fun. After all, not every summer is guaranteed. One track I didn't expect to grow on me was Badly due to its overly macho and straight-laced production mixed with the cheerleader-esque group vocals. What helped win me over were these very kooky organs that sound like they come right out of the Glover video game soundtrack. The last big highlight for me was Blasted Shadow solely for its impeccably strong chorus; the best one on the record in my opinion. The riff between punches of rhythm guitars and percussion is really catchy, the staccato keys are jovial, and Krauss' delivery possesses an emotional longing that I find to be rather gripping. With just seven seconds, Blasted Shadow is an immediate mood lifter.

With an album so bright and fun, it's really difficult to rain on its parade. Sleigh Bells happens to be really good at lowering my defenses, making me susceptible to their candied, relentlessly cheerful tunes. If put in the wrong hands, music like this could easily be considered tacky. If I was a complainer, I could maybe say that the opener, Bunky Pop, does come off a little repetitive with how often it switches between its two main quiet/loud sections. I could also say that Life Is Real, Real Special Cool Thing, and Hi Someday didn't feel as extravagant comparatively. But even those tracks have moments that are really cool like the guitar solo, the half time section of the chorus, and the way the militant verses charge up to those loud choruses respectively. At no point throughout this record is my listening experience ever truly soured. While I don't think it reached quite the same highs that its predecessor did, I appreciate Bunky Becky Birthday Boy for providing me with an aggressively joyful listen that invades the body and mind, even on my most stubborn days.