Teen Dream, Beach House’s third LP, continues their dreamy, opiate-haze pop sound while expanding their sonic palette and improving in terms of overall quality and consistency.
The Baltimore duo of Victoria Legrand (vocals and organs) and Alex Scally (guitars, drums and keyboards) does not fundamentally change their band’s sound—not on paper, at least. Legrand’s throaty and expressive voice serves as a counterpoint to Scally’s slide guitar and minimalist drumbeats, all overlaid with droning, ambient organs and synthesizers. The best of their earlier songs anticipate and generally put to shame the highlights of the so-called “chill-wave” sub-genre. Their first two records, 2006 self-titled debut and 2008’s Devotion, were uneven, with the lesser songs blending together.
Teen Dream, however, manages to avoid these pitfalls. They liven up their rhythms, especially on lead single “Norway” and album highlights “10 Mile Stereo” and “Take Care.” Elsewhere, the duo diverges from their previous formula, replacing Scally’s slide work with an old upright piano on “Used to Be.” At the same time, lush vocal harmonies and vintage synthesizers throughout make for a fuller sound without overwhelming the listener.
Teen Dream is the document of a band maturing and experimenting without abandoning the core of their sound. If you like Grizzly Bear, you’ll like Beach House, but I like them more.
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