Teen Dream

Beach House released their self-titled debut studio album in October 2006, which was recorded on a four-track recording tape under a budget of approximately $1,000.^[1] It was met with a positive reception from music critics.^[2] They followed this with the release of their second studio album, Devotion (2008), which was announced on June 2007.^[3] That album became Beach House's first to appear on the US Billboard 200, debuting at number 195, selling roughly 3,000 copies within its first week.^[4] While touring in 2009, they stated that they were planning on recording new material during the upcoming summer.^[5] In September of that year, it was announced that the duo had signed onto independent record label Sub Pop, along with a confirmation that the duo were recording their third studio album.^[6] This would mark their departure from Carpark Records, where they released their first two albums.^[1] In October of that same year, the duo announced their third studio album, Teen Dream.^[7]

Unlike the writing process for Devotion (2008), where they wrote in between tour dates, the duo began writing songs for Teen Dream right after they finished touring,^[8] being done within nine months.^[9] Lead vocalist Victoria Legrand stated that while on tour, they preserved their energy and any concepts in mind for the album, additionally showing their excitement for once the touring cycle concludes.^[9] Most of the album's recording took place at Dreamland Studios in Hurley, New York,^[10] in a matter of three weeks in July 2009.^[11] Most of the instruments used on the album have also been used on Devotion.^[12] With the duo's record deal with Sub Pop, they were able to hire an outside producer for the album, Chris Coady.^[1]

Their record deal also allowed them to produce a DVD version of the album.^[13] This was conceptualized for a while, with Legrand stating that the album had a precise amount of energy for it to be done.^[12] In June 2009, a few demos were sent to video artists, in order to obtain accompanying music videos for the DVD.^[9] Guitarist Alex Scally had also stated that the album was considerably more expensive, stating that, "Every bit of money we got, we spent. The recording was insanely expensive. Every single step of the way, we've just tried to go more, go further".^[12]

Teen Dream has been described by publications as a dream pop^[14] and shoegaze album.^[15] According to Paul Lester of The Guardian, the album uses "simple elements – spectral piano, shimmery organ, steady percussion, pedal steel, and languorous female vocals".^[16] The duo strove to create a more "sophisticated" album and, according to the group, the demos of this record were comparable to the final tracks that made up their previous record. Also, their use of extensive reverb was held back significantly, according to Scally.^[12]

"Used to Be" was released as the lead single from Teen Dream on October 21, 2008.^[17] "Norway" was released on the band's website as a free download on November 17, 2009, as the second single from the album. A 7-inch single of it, which includes "Baby" as its B-side, was also released.^[18][19] The full album was leaked onto the Internet a few days after the release of "Norway".^[20] A four-track EP for "Zebra", the album's third single, was released on April 17, 2010, as a Record Store Day exclusive.^[21]

Teen Dream released on January 26, 2010, through Sub Pop. It was released internationally, through Bella Union in Europe, Mistletone Records in Australia, and Arts & Crafts in Mexico. The album was also released as a CD with an accompanying DVD featuring visualizers for each of the album's tracks.^[22] The album debuted 43 on the Billboard 200 with 13,000 copies sold in its first week. It has sold a total of 140,000 copies as of May 2012.^[23] As of April 2012 Teen Dream has sold 21,000 vinyl copies in United States according to Nielsen Soundscan.^[1] On February 1, 2010, the band released their Daytrotter Session EP, which features live renditions of four songs from Teen Dream.^[24][25][26] On August 24, 2010, the band released their six-track iTunes Session EP, featuring a new previously unreleased song, "White Moon", along with five renditions of songs from Teen Dream and "Gila".^[27][28]

More information Aggregate scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.8/10[42]
Metacritic	82/100[43]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[44]
The A.V. Club	A−[45]
Entertainment Weekly	A−[46]
The Guardian	[47]
The Irish Times	[48]
NME	9/10[49]
Pitchfork	9.0/10[22]
Q	[50]
Rolling Stone	[51]
Spin	8/10[52]

Close

Teen Dream was met with critical acclaim upon release.^[53][54][55] Review aggregator Metacritic, which collates reviews from various publications, indicates a score of 82 out of 100 from 35 professional critics, indicating "universal acclaim".^[43] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.8 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.^[42]

Many reviews commented on the change in sound including BBC Music, who stated that "the most unmistakeable sound on Teen Dream is that of a band truly finding its own voice".^[56] Several publications focused on Victoria Legrand's vocals, with Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone complimenting Legrand's "dusky torch singing"^[51] and The Boston Phoenix praising her voice as "coiling like smoke in the arches of the church".^[57] Robert Christgau, writing in MSN Music, selected "Lover of Mine" and "Norway" as highlights and awarded the album an honorable mention rating.^[58] In a negative review, Tom Hughes of The Guardian felt that Teen Dream is "carefully, even beautifully arranged", but nonetheless "oddly icy and melodically a little ineffectual".^[47] Audra Schroeder of The Austin Chronicle called the album "solid" but felt that it was "not Beach House's masterpiece," quipping that the duo "still got some gold dust to kick up".^[59]

A special edition DVD package was released containing either a CD or vinyl and a DVD, featuring psychedelic visuals for each track from Teen Dream, produced by a separate director.

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Teen Dream.^[95]