Beach House

Jonathan Richman once said the Velvet Underground didn't make music, they made atmosphere. That's also true for this Baltimore dream-pop duo, whose dense-fog organs, reverb-y slide guitars, and nodding harmonies feel as lush as a midnight walk in a wet garden. On their third album, those feelings now sound like actual songs, with swelling choruses and an all-encompassing ache. Singer Victoria Legrand holds vowels in her mouth like smoke rings on "Matter of Time," moaning "more, you want mooore." Yes, please.

By Melissa Maerz