Beach House - Teen Dream [2010]

Artist: Beach House
Album: Teen Dream
Genre: Dream Pop

Do I really need to go into Beach House? I think we're all aware of this Baltimore sweetheart. They, seemingly, came out of nowhere three years ago to rave reviews from Pitchfork, Your Official Music Publication, for a somewhat-unique sound at the time. Not many bands were creating a shoegaze, lo-fi, dreampop concoction like they are now. The simple yet elegant nature of their debut earned them many fans who would, undoubtedly, stick around. Beach House came back with Devotion two years later, which I felt was a bit of a letdown, though I appear to be in the minority. Most of what that album covered had been done on their debut in a superior fashion, but so it goes. Devotion had some solid tracks, but as a whole I didn't feel it was as strong as the first. Teen Dream responds to this in a large way.

Beach House have given us their more mature record yet, and we should be thankful. It's simply stunning how beautiful it is. The production is more crisp (thanks, Sub Pop!) than what I'm used to in a Beach House record, which is a good thing, and I think it lends the album a more intimate sound.

This album needs more listens, by you and me alike.


MU