by Cori

The first time I heard Beach House- 2008's Devotion- it nearly put me to sleep. I couldn’t understand the buzz and excitement about the band, and I hastily stashed them away in the “overrated” section of the filing cabinet in my head. Given that initial experience, I am not entirely sure what prompted me to give their new album, Teen Dream, a spin. The name alone is pretty off-putting, bringing to mind angst and drama and all the things I hated about high school. Maybe that’s just my neuroses showing.

To say that I didn’t expect much from Teen Dream would be an understatement. Happily, this album seems to be the perfect soundtrack for a rainy day with its fluffy, soft ambience and easy melodies. Stand-out tracks on the album include Silver Soul, 10 Mile Stereo, and Lover of Mine. The vocals and music nestle perfectly together for a sound that gives equal weight to both parts, creating a dreamy feeling. While Teen Dream may not have convinced me to put Beach House into regular rotation, hearing something completely different from time to time is really refreshing.