I recently have been exploring the greatness of this duo since about November of last year when I realized they were releasing a new album, a co-worker recommended Bloom and I was hooked. I have other I guess you could say reviews of two other albums Here's my tidbit of Depression Cherry here and then my thoughts on the beloved debut album is seen here.

Can definitely call myself a growing fan of this duo, love the vibe and everything they bring to the table. some music I've never heard before. What I do with each album is kind of give it it's own space for listening, give it a week or two, or however long I enjoy the album where I solely listen to this album by them unless I fiend for another type of listen. Currently I am going in a mixed match path of album listening to kind of see how Beach House is across the board.

I started with Once, Twice, Melody -> Bloom -> Depression Cherry -> Beach House -> Devotion
My next move maybe Thank Your Lucky Stars or 7. Idk yet, but I am saving Teen Dream for last because people say it's the best. So far my favorite changes with each new album, I love bloom, I really enjoy the somber sounds of Depression Cherry and I loved the 19th century, rawness, and charm that Beach House has provided. I thought my next listen should be Devotion.

So;

I liked the project, it didn't hook me off rip like how Bloom or Beach House did. But I ran into this problem with Depression Cherry where I was like alright maybe it needs some time. Idk if the best strategy was to go into this directly after their debut because it kind of all meshes together in sound for me, the 19th century, organ sound to it. At first Wedding Bells didn't do it's best to hurl me in for the album, now it's a reallllyyy good start to the tape, I think in fact all 3 of the starting songs lure me in after the first couple listens, they set up the album well. Where this album differs drastically from their debut is, it has pace, structure and cleaner/smoother transitions from song to song. It has a theme that it wants to play out. I had stated in my debut review that the self titled project was made from a lot of great songs, but it has a lot of raw-ness and lack of structure to it, there is no theme it's just like here is beach house and i love that, but song ends very abrupt on that tape, Saltwater, Master of None.

Now even though this album has structure, transitions and a theme, at time for me it's hard to maintain that. The first 3 songs are amazing, translucent, dreamy, devouring of space to me. But, when I hit Holy Dances I lose that sense, which starts off with a guitar like it was off a Mac Demarco Tape. Now neither of these songs are bad on their own, but for the pacing of the album it kind of loses me for a moment in this time.

Luckily the album recovers shortly after with All the years which transitions well with Heart of Chambers. and Some Things Last a Long Time which are great in-between, theme carrying tracks, but the last two tracks before the final of the album do the closing in for me, Home Again throws me off with the Tambourine for me idk what it is, I wish Astronaut finished off the tape. I love the way it finishes. Even though this album has a theme to it at times it struggles to find out if it wants to be that 19th century, organ, almost folky, type of production with Wedding Bells, Home Again, and Holy Dances. or if it wants to be this almost super pre-mature version of space songs into a void of Depression Cherry with songs like Astronaut, You Came To Me, Turtle Island, Gila, and D.A.R.L.I.N.G I see the first half of songs fitting well onto self titled, and still enjoy these songs, just not my favorites

This album to me seems like a Bottle of Wine, with every glass you pour the first sip starts off with a sweetness to a bitter taste mid way through with a delicate finish on your tongue, you don't think it's the greatest wine but you still finish the bottle cause who doesn't love indulging themselves in a great wine?

This album was a great step foreword for Beach House being there sophomore album and you can see the progression not only in their sound but in the way they created an atmospheric space for their albums to come that we experience on later projects. I like this album, it's got a good amount of high's I think Starting and Final 2 tracks before Home Again will keep me coming to this tape and enjoying it, but overall I think compared to it's prequel album, I'd have to give the point to the self-titled project, the first one just has so much Charm to it, it captured me off the very first listen and this one took a little time to grow on me, I'm sure with more time this album could be a favorite and I do plan to add this to my vinyl collection cause it's a great listen.

I think this album is a solid 8/10

Favorite tracks off the tape: Wedding Bells, Turtle Island, You Came to Me, D.A.R.L.I.N.G, and Astronaut.
Least favorite tracks of the tape: All The Years, Somethings Last a Long Time and Home Again

Current Ranking of the albums:

1. Bloom - 10/10
   2 Beach House - 8.8/10
   
2. Depression Cherry - 9.7/10
   
3. Devotion - 8.4/10
   
4. Once, Twice Melody - 7.3/10
   

What should I listen to next Thank Your Lucky Stars or 7? I heard TYLS could be considered top-3 and that 7 is either love it or hate it, thinking going the 7 route.