Beach House – Norway

So I’m completely obsessed with Beach House (this is not news), so naturally when I heard they’d be playing The Black Cat here in DC, I immediately bought tickets for myself and my equally obsessed roommate. After looking forward to it for months, yesterday it was here at last. We walked in and the place was packed (it was a sold out show) and the air was thick with Victoria Legrand’s voice. After listening to their records for so long, I had lost sight of the fact that there were real people responsible for these sounds, and the whole scene came off as immensely surreal. Their performance was very true to their recordings, but more amazing because it was happening in front of my eyes. That voice, that voice, so hypnotically sublime that at times it felt as if I were in a trance. For writing such heavy songs, I was surprised at how humorous Legrand’s banter with the audience was, midway through stating, “Thanks for coming, even those people back there who aren’t sure what show they’re at. No, this isn’t Ike and Tina Turner, it’s Beach House.” Wow, I already lusted after her voice, but now I just want to BE her. As they performed surrounded by sparkly diamond-shaped pinata-esque stage decorations, it was almost as if we were inside a dream of the band’s creation. It was a performance without flaws, one that left me an even bigger fan of the duo, a thing I didn’t even know was possible.

It’s that time of year again, Valentine’s Day, the holiday that divides us all. A year ago today I made a mix for my friends to celebrate the joys of friend love (and beautiful music of course), and I’m at it again, only now I have a lot more people to share this with. So make the most of today, and never fear, regardless of whether or not you’re in a relationship, always remember, Danger Loves You. Download the mix here.

Track Listing
1 “Always Love U” – Theophilus London
2 “Make You Mine” – Breakbot
3 “Always Like This” – Bombay Bicycle Club
4 “Lover of Mine” – Beach House
5 “Love Me Girl” – Yeasayer
6 “One Life Stand” – Hot Chip
7 “July Flame” – Laura Veirs
8 “Odessa” – Caribou
9 “I Want A House” – Twin Sister
10 “In The Bedroom” – Xylos
11 “Billie Holiday” – Warpaint
12 “Time For Us All To Love” – Bullion
13 “Let Go” – jj
14 “So Light Is Her Football (Breakbot Remix)” – Air
15 “Stars” – The xx

I am obsessed with Beach House, and I’m okay with that. I have been waiting for this day for a while, ever since I heard whispers about Teen Dream in the fall. I had remarkably high expectations about this album, but it was so hyped that I initially became wary. Then I heard “Norway” and “10 Mile Stereo”, I felt comfortable and relieved that they wouldn’t be letting me down, but I just grew all the more anxious. Well it’s out, I’ve heard it, I love it (you could have seen that one coming), and here’s why. Devotion was an album that didn’t hit me all at once, it took repeated listens to really wrap mind around it. Teen Dream is noticeably more upbeat, yet still haunting, hypnotic, but definitely loveable. There is a new version of “Used to Be”, which does have its charms, but I still prefer the single version. After already being familiar with a few tracks, one of the hardest initial hits was “Silver Soul”. It was as if I was caught in a relentless wave of sound. Rarely is there a silent moment with Beach House, sounds are constantly blossoming and evolving, repetitively building to that epic release. As of right now, “Lover of Mine” is the track I am most addicted to, love at first listen. This entire album has such a cohesive sound, and is worth listening to for the quality of Legrand’s vocals alone. I could go on and on, but the truth is you’ll just have to listen and decide for yourself.

Beach House – Silver Soul
Beach House – Lover of Mine

Dipped in Dollars has been enjoying a week long feature on BreakThru Radio, where you can now listen to/download our “Anatomy of a Blogger” radio show. We picked a lot of our favorite songs of the year and weaved them together with Danger Dome/Chief interviews over Comanche beats. We tried to make it something you could thoroughly enjoy from start to finish. Tracks listed below for anyone interested. Check it out by clicking the Anatomy of a Blogger link on BreakThru‘s program guide.

00:00 Alex Bleeker – These Days (DJ Mimi intro)
00:41 MGMT – Electric Feel (Justice Remix)
06:05 Comanche – Ivory (Danger Dome interview)
07:19 Hudson Mohawke – Overnight
10:04 Bibio – Lovers’ Carvings
13:55 Comanche – On the Floor (Danger Dome interview)
14:22 The Cool Kids – Pennies
17:22 Washed Out – Feel It All Around
20:26 Comanche – Light on the Nile (Danger Dome interview)
20:52 Warpaint – Billie Holiday
27:25 School of Seven Bells – Iamundernodisguise (Alternate Version)
30:49 Comanche – Octubre (Chief interview)
31:15 Dirty Projectors – Stillness is the Move
36:30 Animal Collective – What Would I Want? Sky
43:15 Mountain Man – Animal Tracks
45:35 Comanche – These Birds (Danger Dome interview)
46:05 CFCF – Half Dreaming
51:30 Real Estate – Snow Days
55:48 Alex Bleeker – These Days (DJ Mimi outro)
56:46 Beach House – Used to Be

Hey, so did you guys know that I like Beach House? Enough of my silliness, just came across another track from the upcoming Teen Dream, and now I am completely sold. “10 Mile Stereo” is Beach House at their finest. You’re casually listening, and then you get swept along in the waves. After the first minute, you decide to stick it out, but by a little after the second minute, you’re hit in the face with how beautiful it all is, by the time they really hit that undeniable groove, the track is nearly over. You press repeat time and time again, but yet you are never satisfied. What to do? I finally had to just pre-order the album so I could feel that I was doing something to bring myself closer to more of their music. January can not come soon enough for me.

Beach House – 10 Mile Stereo

So by now it’s no secret that I love me some Beach House. It was a love that slowly snuck up on me, with each listen I realized more and more how delicately fantastic their songwriting was. I must have listened to “Heart of Chambers” non-stop for weeks. New album is due out in January, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. The interwebs is all abuzz about this preview of their new material. I for one, am excited for things to come.

Beach House – Norway

So as a result of talking about Beach House being on tour with Grizzly Bear, I realized that I hadn’t given Beach House their dues. Came across this positively lovely song, “Used To Be” which is so beautifully sung, as well as another (In addition to previously posted “Gila”) fantastic track off of Devotion. I initially described Beach House as being like a beautiful dream, and I stand by that, you’ll see.

Beach House – Used to Be
Beach House – Astronaut