Do songs have temperatures? Are some albums cold, while others are warm? I think the answer is a resounding “yes”, and I’d wager I’m not alone in this. Some pieces of music just exude a certain warmth or chilliness. After two excellent albums of wintery tunes, Baltimore duo Beach House have decided to mess with the thermostat, and the result is an early candidate for album of the year, and possibly the best thing the band has released so far.

Perhaps sensing a need to switch things up after two great but similar sounding albums, Beach House have smartly “warmed up” their sound, producing ten fuller, more inviting tracks than the songs that have preceded them. This was immediately apparent when first single and obvious standout “Norway” was released towards the end of last year. A welcoming song on an album full of them, “Norway” features singer Victoria Legrand crooning over woozy instrumentals. It’s a sunny affair with a captivating chorus that really takes off at the end, providing an excellent moment of release that’s a real highlight.

Teen Dream is remarkably consistent, as every track brings something to the table. Really, everything present has the potential to lodge itself in your brain after a few listens, and while it’s the warmer sound that makes the record stand out from its two predecessors, it’s a familiar Beach House staple (Legrand’s gorgeous vocalizing) that provides the punch behind the album’s most rewarding moments. I could point to just about any chorus here, but “10 Mile Stereo” and “Take Care”, in addition to the aforementioned “Norway” really need mentioning in this regard. When these tracks hit their respective strides, it’s truly something to behold, you’ve got to check it out for yourself to see what I mean.

I certainly don’t mean to downplay the instrumentation though. The band works with a broader sonic palette here and the lilting dirges that power “Silver Soul” and “Walk in the Park” provide an excellent framework for Legrand’s beautiful voice to dance all over. The chugging, bouncy, “Used to Be” arrived two years ago after the release of Devotion and it shows up here as the most upbeat number on the album, and surprise, it’s extremely catchy.

All in all, Teen Dream is the sound of a band deciding to not rest on its laurels despite two successful outings, and coming up roses. It’s a smart move, and one that shows a lot of skill, as the band managed to bring in new textures, sounds, and yes, temperatures, while still managing to include a lot of what made their first two records great. In less skilled hands, this could have ended up poorly, as the band could have decided to ditch too much of their sound. Beach House kept all the right parts while adding new components, and in the process they’ve avoided a potentially redundant third album, and instead end up with what is likely their strongest collection of songs to date.

Beach House -- “Silver Soul”

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Catch Beach House Friday, April 2 at the Metro. Buy tickets at Etix.com for only $13.
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