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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Devotion
by Beach House


8.7

based on 29 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 11 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Beach House

Official Artist Site

The sophomore album for the Baltimore-based indie-rock duo.

LABEL:	Carpark
RELEASE DATE:	26 February 2008
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Rock, Indie

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Drowned In Sound

Beach House have created as profound an invocation of the sacred and the sentimental as you’re ever likely to hear.

Slant Magazine

Devotion includes all of the same essential ingredients as its predecessor, but a ratcheting-up of intensity makes this album shine even brighter.

Pitchfork

These are crisper, brighter, bolder songs, retaining Beach House's sense of elegant decay while sweeping up the debris.

Filter

Slide guitars and steel drums seduce the listener into a world of gentle pain, making for a sophomore album that is, like its predecessor, a beautiful collection of songs and images seemingly constructed upon repulsion and ennui.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Devotion's half-submerged, half-weightless ambience feels like a shaky yet sure transition into something even more abstract and fragile.

Magnet

The melodies and arrangements take center stage, and they're consistently stunning. [Winter 2008, p.97]

All Music Guide

Beach House's dark moods have more shades, and even a little bit of light, making them all the more compelling.

Delusions of Adequacy

This tandem of dream pop has crafted a beautiful, spectral and memorable album with Devotion.

The New York Times

As with many a lasting romance, the album’s secret is variety within the constancy.

Boston Globe

It's transfixing in the moment and even more so once you've stopped listening.

Austin Chronicle

The intoxicating arrangements of 'All the Years,' 'Heart of Chambers,' and closer 'Home Again' prove Devotion is haunted, a force hard to resist.

Entertainment Weekly

Despite the gorgeous production, listening to 11 of these ragged dirges in a row requirea unconditional Devotion. [29 Feb 2008]

Rolling Stone

As comfortable as the Beach House sound is, it's the uncomfortable moments that are most seductive.

Spin

The effect is like a vaguely remembered, pleasantly low-key dream. [Mar 2008, p.97]

Tiny Mix Tapes

Devotion has that same opiated warmth that left me lying in a bed of rose petals for long stretches last year, and though I would have preferred a bigger growth spurt from the Baltimore duo, they shot up at least enough to warrant a new pencil mark a half-inch/inch above where I placed them in ‘06.

Under The Radar

In all, Devotion teems with as many moments of ethereal beauty as the debut. [Winter 2008, p.80]

Dusted Magazine

Devotion goes down a little easier is both its strength and a feature that proves a bit disappointing in the end.

PopMatters

Beach House’s revamped sound may disappoint shoegazers upon first listen, but the band’s newfound command of melody, fuller instrumentation, and excellent pacing make Devotion a better record altogether.

Urb

One almost has to listen closely to take notice of Devotion’s every last little benumbed intricacy but it’s as rewarding as it is tantalizing.

New Musical Express

Legrand’s nebulous vocals may have the effect of casino music at times, but we’re reeled into a settling autumnal haze.

cokemachineglow

Devotion is a delicate, often gorgeous listen that flows remarkably well, though I can’t help but attribute its coherence to the utter lack of variation among its eleven songs.

Lost At Sea

When they hit even small strides, like the album's murky single 'Gila,' the relief is like a breath of ocean air. Otherwise, for the most part, the admittedly pretty songs simply fade away, like footprints in the sand.

Q Magazine

Legrand and Scally have wisely not radically tinkered with their hypnotic formula. Everything is dreamily understated. [Mar 2008, p.100]

Mojo

Scally's armoury of drum boxes, Bontempi organs and electric guitars provides shape-shifting backgrounds--classic '60s pop arrangements filtered through the fuzzy prism of a dream. [Mar 2008, p.108]

musicOMH.com

The songs lack the emotional pull of the duo's debut. Seeds of greatness are still evident, but this direction just seems like a dead end.

Sputnikmusic

The album truly is beautiful within its down tempo setting, and as a soundtrack for the morning after, there’s nothing quite like keeping the lights off and the volume low and simply letting Devotion get you through the day.

Uncut

If you like Galaxie 500, Mazzy Star, Low, you'll adore them. If you don't, you won't. [Mar 2008, p.83]

The Guardian

To conjure this otherworldly sound is impressive, but the lack of variation in tempo and atmosphere makes sustaining interest for a full 45 minutes difficult.

Village Voice

Rather than fading into you, they're content to simply fade away.

The average user rating for this album is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Brendan D gave it a10:
This is just a gorgeous album to listen to on the beach on a cloudy day. Really. That sounds like it should be to its detriment, but it's not at all. This is one long mood piece, and it's for a very specific setting (don't, for instance, listen to this on a sunny day if you're looking to feel all Beach-Boys-y happy). But the harmonies are glorious, and the music is as beautiful as anything you're likely to hear this year.

Jason gave it a7:
Nice follow-up.......however their debut is much better.

J C gave it a9:
Yes, I can't tell the songs apart, but that is not because they all sound the same, they just go together so well. This is an album and there is no point in it that I want to advance to the next song (though "All The Years" is especially gripping). Ever watch a David Lynch movie and get that emotional tingle down the spine? Here is the soundtrack to that tingle.

O. Gawd gave it a7:
If you fancy music with which to down two shots of Jack Daniels, a bottle of red wine, and a Corona, just to set the proper mood, which one saw Victoria Legrand do before performing a set of this music to eat 'Ludes by, then by all means become hopelessly devoted to this album.

Matt M. gave it a10:
Amazing. 'Heart of chambers' is one of the best songs ever. Must have.

Jeremy F. gave it a9:
Beach House's debut was a nice little offering, but it failed to sound utterly complete. And now we have the follow up, Devotion, which does a good job of outdoing their debut in all ways. Lyrically, musically, and even the production is crisper. Whether it's soaring through the brilliant opener "Wedding Bell" or shining in the mist on the delicately beautiful "Turtle Island," Beach House are officially a force to be reckoned with. "Gila" stands out as the best track here, with brilliant "oh oh oh" refrains and hooky guitar lines. "You Came to Me" wallows in a dark cubicle, while "Heart Of Chambers" (one of the other highlights) bursts through with the best vocal line of the record. "All the Years" has a perfect melody and "Astronaut" is an airy, tender lullaby. The only misstep is "Holy Dances," which fails to impress me much, especially when wedged between two fantastic songs. Their version of "Some Things Last a Long Time" is brilliant in its smallness, making a short 6 lines feel so full and complete. And the ending note "Home Again" is a masterwork of a closer, leaving us with a soft bang. Devotion is a brilliant record, and it only makes me await the next advances in this wonderful dream pop duo's career.

Peter L. gave it a10:
Let me clear this up: there WILL be people who hate this album. It's not for everyone- impatient listeners on the first listen might find it boring or think that the songs all blend together. Still, though, I strongly recommend listening to any samples or MP3s you can find and judging for yourself. Even if you don't love it the first time, if the first listen makes you just a little curious, you should pick it up because in time it will be worth your while. These songs, like with their first album, grow on you and slip into your subconscious. An amazingly beautiful album.

Devotion by Beach House

Devotion
by Beach House