Beach House's "Teen Dream"

Baltimore, Maryland has been thrust into the public consciousness as a result of David Simon’s brilliant television series, The Wire. Delving deep into the underpinnings of the human condition vis-à-vis various socio-political institutions and their inherent corruption, the realism of The Wire sets it apart from any mainstream piece of art in recent memory. The city’s grit has allowed for such a glaring entry point into the examination of our reality, but, unfortunately, Baltimore upstarts Beach House have dared to dream, avoiding reality altogether on their latest record.

Beach House, the duo comprised of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally, have always placed ambience at the forefront of their musical endeavours. Employing a sound often described as “dream-pop,” the duo’s output has been generally well-received by critics and peers alike, resulting in their inclusion on many “Artists to Look Out for in 2010,” lists. I would be remiss to say that I, too, had not included them on such a list. Since stumbling upon their sophomore album (2008’s Devotion) I’ve been anticipating the release of Teen Dream, a record that I hoped would build on the poignant pop sound of their earlier work. Though equally beautiful, Teen Dream does not extend itself beyond its predecessor. The duo should take heed to Jay-Z’s advice: “It’s all about progression / Loiterers should be arrested."

Aptly titled, Teen Dream sounds like just that: the muddled dreams of befuddled teens. Nearly each of the ten tracks begins softly with wistful synth-notes, tribal percussion and a hint of excitement to come. But alas, few of the songs make good on their evolutionary promise. Tracks tend to bleed into each other, not cinematically however, but more in the sense that they, for the most part, lack any distinct personality. The blame here lies primarily on Legrand’s vocals. Mostly inaudible, with the exception of multiple “oooh”’s and “ahhh”’s, lyrics are nearly impossible to decipher on most of the album. While her range does move with the music and add to the dream-like sound of the record, one is left to wonder, What is the point of writing lyrics if nobody understands them?

Instrumentally, Teen Dream is both whimsical and exceedingly pretty, but its neglect of any real substance will undoubtedly result in a lack of staying power. Listeners who appreciate this style would be better served with anything by The Dodos or M83’s Saturdays = Youth, a record that truly delivers in terms of both ambience and depth.

Aside from “Better Times,” “Take Care” and the stand-out, “Used to Be,” the record is as quickly forgotten as any dream. However, at $9.99 in the iTunes Store, it’s a much better deal than most sleep aides on the market.

Rating: C -

Listen to: “Used to Be”; “Better Times”; “Take Care”

"Used to Be"