Tonight: Beach House at the Entry (Plus "Sound Opinions" Tears Devotion a New Asshole)

Download: Beach House - "Master of None"
Download: Beach House - "Gila"

The ethereal, mid-tempo sound of dream-poppers Beach House is one that both detractors and admirers agree takes a goodly amount of time to properly digest. On their second album, Devotion, the band smoothed over the rough production edges of their 2006 self-titled debut album. That doesn't mean they've gone all Hannah Montana on us; indeed, the core sound remains. What has changed, though, is that on songs like "Gila", is that the dirge-like tempos in which Beach House specialize become a little brighter, with the church-organ elegance shining through the solemnity in a much more clear fashion. The result is a listening experience that may be initially underwhelming at first, but, like a seedling, grows exponentially greater if you keep returning to it.

Or, you know, it just might be boring as hell.

That's the take that both Greg Kot and Jim D-Rog had when they reviewed the sophomore effort from the Baltimore duo on their radio program "Sound Opinions". Essentially, the segment went something like this:

This is the part where I, Greg Kot, very carefully, patiently, and throughly, set up my argument by properly putting the music we're discussing in a clear, thoughtful context and then, as I get closer and closer to finishing my point...I...start...to...slow...down...and...admit...that...I...don't...really...

AND THIS IS WHERE I, JIM DEROGATIS, JUST SAY, "BAH! THIS SUCKS ASS, GREG! I KNOW YOU AGREE WITH ME! JUST SAY IT SUCKS ASS!

And scene. Obviously, those aren't exact quotes, but you get the general idea. "Gila", as well as Beach House in general, has grown on me over time, but, nonetheless, I found the review to be pretty humorous. Listen to the rest of the segment here.

Minneapolis music fans will be able to judge for themselves whether or not Beach House's austere nature is compelling in a live context when the band plays the 7th Street Entry tonight at 8 p.m. The show is 21+ and tickets will set you back $10.

Devotion is available now.

Beach House MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Prozac Rat - "Bald Spot"

Download: Prozac Rat - "Everbody's Livin'"
Download: Prozac Rat - "Bald Spot"

Music fans who like their soundscapes on the genre-bending, eclectic side should head on over to the Turf Club tonight to hear a Minneapolis-based duo Prozac Rat. Self-described small town cousins, Noah Daniel Smith and Mr. Dietr (it's just that) have been writing songs together since they were in high school and, according to their own account, have written some 375 songs.

Of course, they probably are yanking our collective chain, but when the results are as fascinating as "Everybody's Livin'", a track which touches upon radical bases like Tom Waits, Man Man, Captain Beefheart, amongst others, then most people will probably feel compelled to go for the ride. (This is especially the case when the song reaches its sing-along, singer-songwriter conclusion.) Ditto "Bald Spot" which sounds like Beach House's "Gila" remade as a funk track.

Lord knows what the band's live show is like, but it's probably amazing. See for yourself tonight at the Turf Club. Doors are at 9 and the show is 21+.

Prozac Rat MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Beach House Announces Tour Dates

Download: Beach House - "Gila"

Beach House is hitting the road starting the end of Feb. 2008, and are hitting all the key markets. The most key ofcourse are Mpls and Chicago. Here is "Gila," a new track just released.

02/28 Baltimore, MD Gspot
02/29 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506
03/01 Atlanta, GA The Earl
03/02 Birmingham, AL BottleTree Cafe
03/03 Memphis, TN The Hi Tone Cafe
03/05 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon
03/06 Houston, TX Walter's on Washington
03/07 Austin, TX Emo's
03/08 Denton, TX Hailey's
03/10 Tucson, AZ Solar Culture
03/11 Phoenix, AZ Modified
03/12 San Diego, CA The Casbah
03/13 Los Angeles, CA The Echo
03/14 San Luis Obispo, CA Steynberg Gallery
03/15 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
03/17 Portland, OR Holocene
03/18 Seattle, WA The Crocodile Cafe
03/19 Vancouver, BC Media Club
03/21 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
03/22 Denver, CO Hi-Dive
03/24 Omaha, NE The Slowdown
03/25 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
03/26 Chicago, IL Schubas
03/27 Cleveland, OH The Grog Shop
03/29 Montreal, PQ Casa del Popolo
03/31 Cambridge, MA The Middle East
04/02 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
04/03 Philadelphia, PA The Barbery
04/04 Washington, DC Rock and Roll Hotel

Beach House on MySpace

(Ian Anderson)

New Music: Beach House - "Gila"

Download: Beach House - "Gila"

P4K posted a new song from Beach House. The track is called "Gila" and it is the first single from the band's upcoming February 2008 release Devotion. The song is already #4 on the Elbo.WS charts and will likely remain there by the end of the week. Because of that, the official review of "Gila" will be part of the next installment of "The Top Ten Tracks On Elbo.WS Reviewed In 50 Words Or Less", which will be posted on Friday. What I will say, though, is that there is a definite Beatles-esque melodicism and some of the more subtle vocal inflections suggest a male Nico.

Devotion is out in February 2008. Listen to "Gila" at the top of the post.

MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)