Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.
Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student worker Eve (class of 2020) and features Beach House’s 2010 album Teen Dream. Thanks, Eve!
I’ve been really into the band Beach House lately, so I was excited to see that we have their 2010 album Teen Dream in our catalog!
Beach House is a dream pop duo originating in Baltimore, Maryland, that I first listened to when visiting my twin brother in Los Angeles, California. Their music is beautiful, intense, evocative and emotional, perfect for a late-night drive or particularly cinematic moment. Lead singer Victoria Legrand has an incredible voice, and the lyrics of songs like “Used to be” and “Space Song” are haunting and melancholic, speaking to existential struggle and the human condition. At the same time, Legrand’s dreamy vocals, sweeping keyboard tones and swirling organs and guitars keep a lightness to Beach House’s sound, creating a beautiful contrast between song feeling and form.
My favorite song on Teen Dream is “Take Care”, a track in which Legrand speaks to her younger self with compassion, promising guidance and gentle care. “Take Care” embodies thew ability of Beach House’s music to be simultaneously moving and comforting, providing listeners with nostalgia but continued familiarity. I’m excited to check out tracks on the Teen Dream album that I don’t know as well, like “Walk in the Park” and “Silver Soul”, and see where Beach House’s inspiration takes me next.
