Bloom (Beach House album)
Bloom | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 15, 2012 | |||
Recorded | 2011 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Dream pop[1] | |||
Length | 60:28 | |||
Label | Sub Pop | |||
Producer |
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Beach House chronology | ||||
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Bloom is the fourth studio album by American dream pop duo Beach House. It was co-produced by the band and Chris Coady, and was released on May 15, 2012, by Sub Pop, in Europe by Bella Union, in Australia by Mistletone Records, and in Mexico by Arts & Crafts. The album was written over two years of touring and was recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, over seven weeks. Building on their previous album, Teen Dream (2010), the duo continued to add live drums to their song arrangements for Bloom, supplementing their drum machine rhythms.
Bloom received positive reviews from critics and debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, selling 41,000 copies in its first week.[2] It was ranked by many critics as one of the year's best albums, and in August 2014, was recognized on Pitchfork's list of "The 100 Best Albums of the Decade So Far", appearing at number 53.[3]
Recording
[edit]Bloom was written "between countless sound checks and myriad experiences during two years of tour",[4] and was recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas. It was co-produced by Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blonde Redhead), who also produced the band's previous album Teen Dream.[5] Beach House chose to record in west Texas after being captivated by the area while resting there during a tour.[6] Bloom was mixed at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.[5] The album took seven weeks to record.[7]
Victoria Legrand described the album's title as an "abstraction of many feelings". Legrand continued:
"To find a word or a set of words we felt curated the whole thing, Bloom was it. And it was based on feeling and just a belief in the word. It actually has more weight for me than it has an ethereal quality. It came about where it made sense. [...] For things to feel right, it definitely has to sit for a while and I think that's why it's not ethereal for me. I associate that word with fleeting or not having any substance, I don't know. [...] I'm just saying that for us there's a certain intensity with this record, and I think the word 'bloom' is an attempt at that."[7]
Release
[edit]The first song released from Bloom, "Myth", was posted on Beach House's website on March 7, 2012.[8] On March 8, 2012, the album's release date was announced.[4] A second song from the album, "Lazuli", was released as a Record Store Day single on April 13, 2012.[9] On May 6, 2012, the album was streamed in its entirety on NPR Music.[10] On June 6, 2012, the music video for "Lazuli", directed by Allen Cordell, was released.[11] On March 19, 2013, the band released a music video for the track "Wishes". The video was directed by Eric Wareheim of comedy duo Tim and Eric.[12]
"Equal Mind" (the B-side to "Lazuli"), "Saturn Song" (recorded during the Bloom sessions) and "Wherever You Go" (the Bloom hidden track) were all included in the band's 2017 compilation album B-Sides and Rarities.
Reception
[edit]Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.4/10[13] |
Metacritic | 78/100[14] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The A.V. Club | A−[16] |
Consequence of Sound | A−[17] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | 7/10[20] |
Pitchfork | 9.1/10[21] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | 8/10[24] |
Bloom has received mostly positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 78, based on 45 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[14] PopMatters' Zachary Houle gave the album a perfect score and praised it as "simply, in the most awe-inspired sense of the term, absolutely golden from end to end—a real treasure and an utter delight to experience every time you play it."[25] J. Pace of Under the Radar also praised the album, writing, "It's always a perfect pairing of nostalgia and wistfulness with these two [Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally], who serve up these completely affecting but somehow ethereal moods you can't quite put your finger on."[26] Pitchfork's Lindsay Zoladz gave the album a Best New Album designation and praised the interplay between Legrand and Scally, writing that the two "sound in perfect sync: his nimble riffs punctuate her long, drawn-out notes to add depth and layered rhythm to the tracks."[21] Harley Brown of Consequence of Sound stated that Bloom "culminates six years and three albums of anticipatory ache with subtlety and meticulous song placement that unfolds if you let it",[17] while BBC Music's Hari Ashurst felt that the album was the band's best work thus far.[27]
Will Hermes of Rolling Stone said that "the melodies, guitarscapes and thrift-shop organ swells make for exquisite comfort".[23] Zack Kotzer and David Greenwald of The A.V. Club gave the album an A−, saying "Bloom takes what worked before and intensifies it" and that with the record, "they have mastered their sultry formula".[16] Other reviews of Bloom were more mixed. Annie Zaleski of Alternative Press felt that the album did not possess "as many memorable hooks (or as many well-defined song structures)" as the band's previous album, Teen Dream, and that as a result, "the record tends to fade into the background and become something so indistinct that it's forgettable, even after multiple listens."[28] Maddy Costa of The Guardian criticized the album's lack of surprises, writing that "nothing happens to shatter the perfect surface, either within individual songs or across the album as a whole, and that might be Bloom's problem. It's beautiful, spectral, dreamy, but never makes your pulse quicken."[18]
Accolades
[edit]Bloom appeared on many year-end lists of critics ranking the year's top albums, several of them with the album being included in the top 10: Urban outfitters ranked the album at number two on their list, Magnet and Under the Radar at number three, PopMatters and Obscure Sound at number four and Idolator, Consequence of Sound, Gorilla vs. Bear and Pitchfork at number seven,[29] with Pitchfork adding: "since 2006's self-titled debut, Beach House have been patiently refining and expanding a singular, easily recognizable sound."[30] Stereogum and Rolling Stone listed the album at #27 and #28 respectively,[31][32] with the latter saying "Languid lead singer Victoria Legrand has some dark stuff on her mind – mortality and ruin keep bubbling to the surface of the Baltimore act's fourth LP...But you'd hardly know it from the blissful way she lets her voice blend with the softly bobbing organ chords and arpeggiated guitars."[32] Rolling Stone also named the song "Other People" the 19th best song of 2012.[33]
Track listing
[edit]All lyrics written by Victoria Legrand; all music composed and arranged by Alex Scally and Legrand with assistance from Daniel Franz.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Myth" | 4:20 |
2. | "Wild" | 4:58 |
3. | "Lazuli" | 5:02 |
4. | "Other People" | 4:24 |
5. | "The Hours" | 4:08 |
6. | "Troublemaker" | 4:56 |
7. | "New Year" | 5:24 |
8. | "Wishes" | 4:40 |
9. | "On the Sea" | 5:32 |
10. | "Irene" (ends at 6:44; hidden track "Wherever You Go" starts at 13:16) | 16:56 |
Total length: | 60:28 |
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from liner notes of Bloom.[34]
Beach House
- Victoria Legrand – vocals, keyboards, organ, piano
- Alex Scally – guitar, basses, piano, organ and keyboards, backing vocals; drum machine edits/programming
Additional musicians
- Daniel Franz – live drums and percussion
- Joe Cueto – viola (track 9)
Production
- Chris Coady – production, engineering, mixing
- Beach House – production
- Manuel Calderon – assistant engineering
- Brooks Harlan – engineering
- Phil Joly – assistant engineering
- Joe LaPorta – mastering
Artwork
- Beach House – photography
- Brian Roettinger – design
Music videos
[edit]In 2013, the band produced a short film titled "Forever Still," which included "Wild," "The Hours," "Lazuli," and "Irene." They may be viewed individually or as a whole, as seen below:
Other music videos from the album include:
Charts
[edit] Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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Release history
[edit]Country | Date | Label |
---|---|---|
United States | May 15, 2012 | Sub Pop |
United Kingdom | Bella Union | |
Mexico | Arts & Crafts México | |
Australia | Mistletone |
References
[edit]- ^ Freeman, John (May 15, 2012). "Beach House - The Quietus". The Quietus. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (May 23, 2012). "Adam Lambert Snags First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
- ^ Powell, Mike (August 2014). "The 100 Best Albums of the Decade So Far (2010–2014)". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ a b Pelly, Jenn (March 8, 2012). "Beach House Confirm New Album, Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ a b Colletti, Justin (May 17, 2012). "Behind The Release: Beach House Bloom". SonicScoop. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
- ^ Lewis, John (May 14, 2012). "Beach House Interview: Black Widows, Motel 6, and Mysticism". Baltimore. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ^ a b Paez-Pumar, Luis (May 14, 2012). "Q&A: Beach House's Victoria Legrand On Singles, The South, And Controlling Your Music". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (March 7, 2012). "Listen: Beach House: "Myth"". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ Battan, Carrie (April 13, 2012). "Listen: Beach House: "Lazuli"". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ Katzif, Michael (May 6, 2012). "First Listen: Beach House, 'Bloom'". NPR Music. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ Bort, Ryan (June 7, 2012). "Watch Beach House's Video for "Lazuli"". Paste. Archived from the original on June 8, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
- ^ "March 19, 2013". March 19, 2013. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
- ^ "Bloom by Beach House reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
- ^ a b "Reviews for Bloom by Beach House". Metacritic. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ Phares, Heather. "Bloom – Beach House". AllMusic. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ a b Kotzer, Zack; Greenwald, David (May 15, 2012). "Beach House: Bloom". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
- ^ a b Brown, Harley (May 15, 2012). "Beach House – Bloom". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ^ a b Costa, Maddy (May 10, 2012). "Beach House: Bloom – review". The Guardian. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ "Beach House: Bloom". Mojo (223): 93. June 2012.
- ^ Denney, Alex (May 15, 2012). "Beach House – 'Bloom'". NME. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ^ a b Zoladz, Lindsay (May 14, 2012). "Beach House: Bloom". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ "Beach House: Bloom". Q (311): 98. June 2012.
- ^ a b Hermes, Will (May 15, 2012). "Bloom". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
- ^ Powell, Mike (May 9, 2012). "Beach House, 'Bloom' (Sub Pop)". Spin. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ^ Houle, Zachary (May 14, 2012). "Beach House: Bloom". PopMatters. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ Pace, J. (May 10, 2012). "Beach House Bloom (Sub Pop)". Under the Radar. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ Ashurst, Hari (May 14, 2012). "Beach House Bloom Review". BBC Music. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ Zaleski, Annie (May 15, 2012). "Beach House – Bloom". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ^ "Beach House - Bloom - Critic Lists". Album of The Year. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
- ^ The Top 50 Albums of 2012 Archived 2016-02-29 at the Wayback Machine. Pitchfork. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ^ "Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2012". 5 December 2012.
- ^ a b 50 Best Albums of 2012. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
- ^ Rollingstone
- ^ Bloom (CD liner notes). Beach House. Sub Pop. 2012. SP 965.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "10 Best Music Videos of 2013". Rolling Stone. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Beach House – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Beach House – Bloom" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Beach House – Bloom" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
- ^ "Beach House Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Beach House – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Beach House – Bloom" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Beach House – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Beach House – Bloom" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 20, 2012". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
- ^ "GFK Chart-Track – Independent Albums: Week 20, 2012". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Beach House – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Beach House – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Beach House – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Beach House – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Beach House – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Beach House Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Beach House Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Beach House Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Beach House Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Independent Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ "Alternative Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ "Rock Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2018.