Contenders Series #10: Beach House - "Walk in the Park"

(see also:  Jenny's Coachella Preview, Day Two)

Download:  Beach House - Walk in the Park

First, the song:

Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion leaked in late December, 2008, and by January 1, everyone with two blog posts to rub together was declaring it the album of the year for 2009.  Now, this being the internet, I thought I detected just a hint of hyperbole there (I know ... turns out there's hyperbole and sarcasm on the internet ... did you guys know about this?).  I guess I was wrong, though.  The album teamed with Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest and Dirty Projectors' Bitte Orca to form a holy triumvirate of critically bulletproof albums that everyone but me loved with a fiery passion.  Come year-end, there was Merriweather Post Pavilion ... Pitchfork's album of the year ... and everyone else's, too ... just like they said it would be.

There hasn't been that kind of a coronation yet in 2010.  The closest we've come is probably Beach House's Teen Dream, sporting a sparking 9.0 Pitchfork review and similar love all over the blogosphere.  I haven't heard anyone declare 2010's album of the year race over, though.

And, like the three great albums of 2009 ... I just don't get it.  "Norway," the lead single, is fine, and "Walk in the Park," my favorite track on the album, is airy and pleasant, and ... the album just kinda goes on like that.

So, I guess this is a confession from me:  sometimes I don't really know what all the fuss is about.

Official Site
Hype Machine
Buy Teen Dream

Second, Coachella:

Saturday.  Wow ... just wow.  This lineup is as bad as Friday's was good.  There are legitimately, I dunno, five bands on this list I would pay actual money to see (and maybe Hot Chip).  I really believe there are more good bands playing in San Francisco on this date (seriously ... I'm going to put up a post about it soon).  From Muse as headliners on down, this day just doesn't do much for me.  The top half-dozen or so ARE good though, and it's a music festival ... I'm sure you'll find something to do.  And, to be honest, there are a few bands in here I just don't know that much about.  So stay open to surprises.

(1) The XX - "Islands"
(2) Gossip - "Heavy Cross"
(3) MGMT - "Kids"
(4) Girls - "Lust for Life"
(5) Camera Obscura - "French Navy"
(6) Hot Chip - "Ready for the Floor"
(7) Old Crow Medicine Show - "Wagon Wheel"
(8) 2 Many DJs - "Smells Like Booty"
(9) Portugal. The Man - "People Say"
(10) Beach House - "Walk in the Park"
(11) Dirty Projectors - "Stillness is the Move"
(12) Sia - "Breathe Me"
(13) Steel Train - "Firecracker"
(14) The Raveonettes - "Last Dance"
(15) Major Lazer - "Keep It Goin' Louder"
(16) The Temper Trap - "Sweet Disposition"
(17) Band of Skulls - "I Know What I Am"
(18) Tokyo Police Club - "Tessellate"