Holy crap! I can’t believe we made it. 40 artists in 40 days. It was quite magical, wasn’t it?

I want to say thank you to all my wonderful guest bloggers, I couldn’t have done it without you! So, lots of thank you hugs to:

• James B.
• Nate Bagley
• Shelika Báez
• Colleen Burns
• Ashley Edwards
• Michael Fil
• Dani Kent
• Joel Lehman
• Tanna Orgeron
• Jessica Roman
• Kim Taylor
• David Toback

You guys rock! And here is a quick recap to all the musicians featured during the Summer Music Series for easy access in case you want to listen again and again and again. =)

Day 1 – Youth Lagoon
Day 2 – Princeton
Day 3 – Matt Corby
Day 4 – Firehorse
Day 5 – Duologue
Day 6 – Ben Howard
Day 7 – Mutemath (Jessica Roman guest post)
Day 8 – Deadwood Floats
Day 9 – Beach House (Dani Kent guest post)
Day 10 – Oh Land
Day 11 – Alabama Shakes
Day 12 – Marina & the Diamonds
Day 13 – The Dogs (Nate Bagley guest post)
Day 14 – Of Monsters and Men
Day 15 – Purity Ring (James B. guest post)
Day 16 – Imagine Dragons
Day 17 – Poliça
Day 18 – Late Night Alumni (Colleen Burns guest post)
Day 19 – Electric Guest
Day 20 – Matt Pond PA (Kim Taylor guest post)
Day 21 – Alex Winston
Day 22 – Dan Mangan (Michael Fil’s guest post)
Day 23 – Langhorne Slim & The Law
Day 24 – Emily Brown
Day 25 – Hola A Todo el Mundo, Chambao, Russian Red, and Los Delinquentes (Shelika Báez guest post)
Day 26 – Vanbot (Ashley Edwards guest post)
Day 27 – XXYYXX
Day 28 – Le Butcherettes
Day 29 – Sarah Jaffe
Day 30 – Wintersleep
Day 31 – Blind Pilot (Joel Lehman guest post)
Day 32 – Gossip
Day 33 – Tanlines
Day 34 – Rebecca & Fiona (Colleen Burns guest post)
Day 35 – Justin Rock
Day 36 – Kishi Bashi (David Toback guest post)
Day 37 – A.A. Bondy (Tanna Orgeron guest post)
Day 38 – Adrian Lux (Colleen Burns guest post)
Day 39 – Germany Germany
Day 40 – Lulu & The Lampshades

Additionally, I’ve made a Spotify playlist of as many songs as they had featuring all the artists from the Summer Music Series so if you’re interested in that, click below:

Summer Music Series Playlist 2012

Again, huge thank you to my guest bloggers and I hope you have found at least one new artist that you didn’t know before and maybe, just maybe, kinda love already.

Until next time, kids!
xoxo,
Elizabeth

*****
Hi everyone! Welcome to day nine of the Summer Music Series! Today we have a very special guest from one of my music soul mates, Dani Kent. Say hi to Dani! :)

Today she will be sharing her love for Beach House so, enjoy!

xoxo,
Elizabeth
*****

By: Dani Kent

A few summers ago, my sister introduced me to this little band called Beach House. She said they were this awesome duo that was great music to just chill out to. So, I gave it a listen and from that first song, ‘Zebra’ I think it was, I was hooked on the mellow vibes and beautiful harmonies that were coupled with Victoria Legrand’s deep, sultry mesmerizing vocals. Beach House has since been one of my top 5 favorite groups. Needless to say, when I heard they were working on a new album I was thrilled. But I was also apprehensive. I felt that with Teen Dream, they had really come into their own and made a near perfect album. I didn’t know if it was possible for them to get any better without straying too far from what makes them so great. But, as it happens with all great musical talent, they did it. I heard Myth, the first song to be released off the new album Bloom and I was blown away. It was like hearing them for the first time all over again. But, somehow it was even better because I knew this meant that Beach House had done it again and that Bloom was going to be as awesome as ever.

Now that I have the album in its entirety and have listened to it about 500 times, I have had the chance to really get to know Bloom. First off, I adore ‘Myth’. The first 30 seconds make you want to kiss someone passionately as if it’s the last time you will ever kiss another human being. Then comes Victoria’s vocals– just exquisite. And just when you are thinking to yourself “Man, this is a pretty good song” come the lines: “If you built yourself a myth, you’d know just what to give. What comes after this momentary bliss, the consequence of what you do to me” And BOOM you are left with jaw dropping awe at how amazing this song really is. There is something universally relatable about fleeting moments of bliss that make the most memorable life experiences. Beach House has captured that sensation and wrapped it all up in one heart-wrenching yet whimsical lyrical triumph.

Most of the songs from this album have this same effect. Many of the tracks seem to relish in the bittersweet while also celebrating the unexpected blessings that come from missed opportunities and bad timing.

‘The Hours’ is probably my second favorite song off Bloom. The tempo is upbeat enough to happily hum along to in the car on my way to pick up my kiddos from school and beautiful enough for me to start thinking about some pretty heavy shit while I’m on a run. But, to me I think that’s the mark of a truly great song– whatever you’re doing, whatever mood you’re in–it fits in that moment, harmoniously and pertinently.

And then there’s ‘On the Sea’, a song that carries its own on just Legrand’s voice and straight up piano chords and guitar/mandolin. It’s a very different kind of sound for them but fits in nicely and offers a change of pace for the album that is refreshing and unexpectedly needed.

Beach House has this visceral affect on their listener: they know exactly the precise words to use and how to connect them with unique beats and harmonies that have the power to make you want to tell your best friend you are in love with them or drive to the beach in the middle of the night just bc it’s crazy and you haven’t done it since you were in college.

If you liked Devotion and Teen Dream you will not be disappointed by Bloom. And if you have never given Beach House a good heartfelt listen, do it now. You need this kind of music in your life, trust me.

*****
Huge thanks to Dani for this gem. Hope you enjoyed today’s Summer Music Series musician. See you tomorrow for day ten!