Myth (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Myth

| cover = Myth-BeachHouse-Single.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Beach House

| album = Bloom

| released = March 7, 2012

| recorded = 2011

| studio = Sonic Ranch (Tornillo, Texas)

| genre = Dream pop

| length =

4:18 {{small|(album version)}}
3:58 {{small|(radio edit)}}

| label = Sub Pop

| writer =

| producer =

Beach House
Chris Coady

| prev_title = Zebra

| prev_year = 2010

| next_title = Lazuli

| next_year = 2012

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|FuvWc3ToDHg|"Myth"}}|header=Official audio|type=single}}

}}

"Myth" is a song by American dream pop duo Beach House. The song was released on March 7, 2012, through Sub Pop, on the band's website, as the lead single for the band's fourth studio album, Bloom. The song was written and produced entirely by the duo, along with co-production from Chris Coady, and was recorded alongside the album in 2011 at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas.

A dream pop track, "Myth" received universal acclaim from music critics upon release, who considered it a fascinating evolution in their musical style; it was also considered as one of the duo's best songs to date and one of the best songs of the year. The song was also performed live on Late Show with David Letterman and Later... with Jools Holland. In 2023, the song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting a total of 500,000 units sold in the United States.

Background and recording

In 2009, Beach House began working on their third studio album, Teen Dream, when they eventually signed a label contract with Sub Pop, departing from Carpark Records, where they released their first two studio albums.{{cite web |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/beach-house-the-story-behind-bloom-and-indies-most-reliable-duo-492327/ |title=Beach House: The Story Behind {{'}}Bloom{{'}} and Indie's Most Reliable Duo |magazine=Billboard |date=April 20, 2012 |accessdate=May 16, 2025}}{{cite magazine |last=Hogan |first=Marc |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/03/teen-dreamy-praise-beach-houses-sublime-myth/ |title=Teen Dreamy: In Praise of Beach House's Sublime 'Myth' |magazine=Spin |date=March 7, 2012 |access-date=August 29, 2024}} Aside from the entire album being leaked on the internet that same year,{{Cite news|url=https://www.stereogum.com/102071/premature_evaluation_beach_house_-_teen_dream/franchises/premature-evaluation/|title=Premature Evaluation: Beach House – Teen Dream|date=November 20, 2009|work=Stereogum|access-date=June 5, 2025|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924110255/http://www.stereogum.com/102071/premature_evaluation_beach_house_-_teen_dream/franchises/premature-evaluation/|url-status=live}} it was released officially on January 26, 2010, through Sub Pop, garnering universal acclaim among several contemporary music critics.{{cite web |last=Durham Wilson |first=Sarah |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/beach-house |title=Beach House |work=Interview |date=May 3, 2012 |accessdate=June 5, 2025 }}{{Cite web |last=Colombi |first=François |date=March 16, 2012 |title=Myth : le nouveau single de Beach House |trans-title=Myth: Beach House's new single |url=https://toutelaculture.com/musique/myth-le-nouveau-single-de-beach-house/ |website=Toute La Culture |language=fr}} In 2012, the duo announced their fourth studio album, Bloom, including "Myth" as its opening track.{{cite web |last=Battan |first=Carrie |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/45548-beach-house-announce-new-album/ |title=Beach House Announce New Album? |date=February 24, 2012 |accessdate=June 9, 2025 |website=Pitchfork |archive-date=March 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330215947/http://pitchfork.com/news/45548-beach-house-announce-new-album/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Hudson |first=Alex |url=https://exclaim.ca/News/beach_house_return_with_new_bloom_lp |title=Beach House Return with New {{'}}Bloom{{'}} LP |date=March 8, 2012 |accessdate=June 9, 2025 |website=Exclaim! |archive-date=April 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429050108/http://exclaim.ca/News/beach_house_return_with_new_bloom_lp |url-status=dead}}

The album, as well as "Myth", was recorded within a seven-week period in 2011 at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas.{{cite web |last=Colletti |first=Justin |url=http://www.sonicscoop.com/2012/05/17/behind-the-release-beach-house-bloom/ |title=Behind The Release: Beach House Bloom |publisher=SonicScoop |date=May 17, 2012 |accessdate=June 9, 2025 |archive-date=May 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523172059/http://www.sonicscoop.com/2012/05/17/behind-the-release-beach-house-bloom/ |url-status=live }} It was additionally mixed at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The song's title originated from the word "Myths" being written on Legrand's notebook, with nothing else written, with her additionally stating that the song "is a beautiful journey of what it takes to make something and to create something, and the vastness of that".{{cite magazine |last=Pelly |first=Liz |url=https://thephoenix.com/boston/music/145501-beach-houses-artful-myth/ |title=Beach House's artful myth |date=October 10, 2012 |access-date=June 10, 2025 |magazine=The Phoenix}}

Composition

Serving as the opening track for Bloom, "Myth" runs at a length of four minutes and 18 seconds.{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/track-review-beach-house-myth-1067038/ |title=Track Review: Beach House, 'Myth' |magazine=Billboard |date=March 31, 2012 |accessdate=August 29, 2024}} A dream pop track,{{cite web |last=Schatz |first=Lake |url=https://consequence.net/2020/05/incubus-brandon-boyd-cover-beach-house-myth-tour-cancellation/ |title=Stream Brandon Boyd's Cover of Beach House's 'Myth' |website=Consequence |date=May 19, 2020 |access-date=June 10, 2025}} it begins with a simple cowbell beat,{{cite magazine |last=Helman |first=Peter |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1008802/beach-house-equal-mind/news/ |title=Beach House {{'}}Bloom{{'}} 10th Anniversary Review |website=Stereogum |date=May 12, 2022 |access-date=May 28, 2025}} arpeggiated keys and a build-up of live drums,{{cite journal |url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/bloom/ |title=Beach House: Bloom (Sub Pop) |journal=Under the Radar |date=May 10, 2012 |accessdate=June 9, 2025 |last=Pace |first=J.}} along with a bass synth that begins playing before Legrand starts singing about 45 seconds in.{{cite magazine |last=Wickman |first=Forrest |url=https://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/03/07/beach_house_release_new_song_myth_.html |title=Beach House release new song 'Myth' |magazine=Slant Magazine |date=March 7, 2012 |access-date=August 29, 2024}} She sings in the song's first verse, "Drifting in and out, you see the road you're on".{{cite web |last=Phares |first=Heather |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bloom-mw0002334053 |title=Bloom – Beach House |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=June 9, 2025}} Halfway through the song, there is a key change and Legrand sings in the chorus, with layers of echo,{{cite web |last=Fitzmaurice |first=Larry |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/13283-myth/ |title=Beach House: "Myth" |website=Pitchfork |date=7 March 2012 |accessdate=12 December 2012}} "Found yourself in a new direction / arrows falling from the sun". Marc Hogan from Spin referred to the song's instrumental arrangements as an "amalgam of sinuous guitars, glistening synths, galloping drums, hazy reverb". Ace Ubas from Beats Per Minute described the song's outro to have used a "pedal combo of distortion and delay".{{cite web |last=Ubas |first=Ace |url=https://beatsperminute.com/track-review-beach-house-myth/ |title=Track Review: Beach House – 'Myth' |website=Beats Per Minute |date=March 8, 2012 |accessdate=June 9, 2025}}

Release

"Myth" was released on the band's website as a free download on March 7, 2012, through Sub Pop.{{cite web |last=Fitzmaurice |first=Larry |title=Listen: Beach House: "Myth"|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/45669-listen-new-beach-house-myth/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309123420/http://pitchfork.com/news/45669-listen-new-beach-house-myth/|archive-date=March 9, 2012|url-status=dead|website=Pitchfork|date=7 March 2012 |accessdate=9 December 2023}} The song was also posted onto the band's Twitter page.{{cite web |last=Young |first=Alex |url=https://consequence.net/2012/03/check-out-beach-house-myth/ |title=Check Out: Beach House - 'Myth' |website=Consequence |date=March 7, 2012 |access-date=August 29, 2024}} It was subsequently announced as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album, Bloom.{{cite magazine |last=Singh |first=Amrit |url=https://www.stereogum.com/969951/beach-house-myth/photo/ |title=Beach House – 'Myth' |website=Stereogum |date=March 7, 2012 |access-date=August 29, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Beach House unveil new track 'Myth' – listen|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/beach-house-16-1275403|website=NME|date=7 March 2012 |accessdate=9 December 2023}} On May 19, 2012, Beach House performed "Myth" on Late Show with David Letterman.{{cite web |last=Pelly |first=Jenn |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/46569-watch-beach-house-on-letterman/ |title=Watch Beach House on {{'}}Letterman{{'}} |date=May 19, 2012 |accessdate=May 23, 2025 |website=Pitchfork}} Three days later, on May 22, they performed it on Later... with Jools Holland.{{cite web |last=Pelly |first=Jenn |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/46606-watch-beach-house-play-myth-on-jools-holland/ |title=Watch Beach House Play 'Myth' on {{'}}Jools Holland{{'}} |date=May 22, 2012 |accessdate=May 23, 2025 |website=Pitchfork}} The song also appeared on international song charts, reaching a peak of number 41 on the Mexico Ingles Airplay chart, number 40 on the UK Independent Singles chart, and number 56 on the Ultratip Bubbling Under chart for Belgium's Flanders region. On April 12, 2023, "Myth" received a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting a total of 500,000 units sold in the United States.

Critical reception

Upon initial release, "Myth" received universal acclaim from contemporary music critics. An author from Billboard gave the song 4.5 out of 5 stars, stating that it is "the sonic equivalent of comfort food — a savory buffet spread of the musical trademarks the group has already perfected elsewhere". Ace Ubas from Beats Per Minute rated it a 9 out of 10, complimenting its instrumental arrangement and concluding with, "This is Beach House at their best and shows that they look to top Teen Dream". It was chosen upon release as "Best New Track" by Larry Fitzmaurice of Pitchfork, who wrote, "What sets 'Myth' as another sonic evolution for Beach House, then, is all in the details." Fitzmaurice continues by saying, "The layers of echo surrounding Legrand's voice during its chorus, as well as the gauzy glow wrapped around everything, give the impression that the airy expansiveness of 2010's Teen Dream has contracted, but somehow the sound is just as 'big', if not bigger, than before."

Most critics found "Myth" to be a highlight track from Bloom. J. Pace of Under the Radar considered it "a powerful opener, instantly on par with Teen Dream{{'}}s finest". Michell Eloy from Paste said that it "evokes a dream-like state with its simple, repetitive keystrokes and synth overlay", additionally "stand[ing] in contrast to Legrand's lyrics".{{cite web |last=Eloy |first=Michell |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/beach-house/beach-house-bloom |title=Beach House: Bloom |work=Paste |date=May 15, 2012 |accessdate=June 9, 2025 }} Responding favourably, Alex Denney of NME said that it "retains the hi-def sparkle of [Teen Dream] without especially adding anything new".{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/beach-house/13144 |title=Beach House – 'Bloom' |journal=NME |date=May 15, 2012 |accessdate=November 25, 2015 |last=Denney |first=Alex |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091019/http://www.nme.com/reviews/beach-house/13144 |archivedate=March 4, 2016}} Somewhat less enthusiastic, Maddy Costa of The Guardian considered the song, along with "Other People", as a "conventional verse-chorus-middle-eight pop number[...]", which are "all more or less catchy".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/may/10/beach-house-bloom-review |title=Beach House: Bloom – review |work=The Guardian |date=May 10, 2012 |accessdate=June 9, 2025 |last=Costa |first=Maddy}} "Myth" was named the eighth best song of 2012 by Brian Howe of Pitchfork, who considered it one of the band's "most powerful" songs to date.{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9015-the-top-100-tracks-of-2012/ |title=Staff Lists: The Top 100 Tracks of 2012 |website=Pitchfork |date=December 17, 2012 |accessdate=June 9, 2025 |archive-date=December 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221102329/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9015-the-top-100-tracks-of-2012/10/ |url-status=live}}

Track listing

UK CD single{{cite AV media notes |title=Myth |type=CD liner notes |author=Beach House |publisher=Bella Union |year=2012 |id=BELLACD342P }}

"Myth" (radio edit) – 3:58
"Myth" (album version) – 4:18

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes of Bloom.{{cite AV media notes |title=Bloom |type=CD liner notes |author=Beach House |publisher=Sub Pop |year=2012 |id=SP 965 }}

Beach House

Additional musicians

Daniel Franz – live drums and percussion

Production

Chris Coady – production, engineering, mixing
Beach House – production
Manuel Calderon – assistant engineering
Brooks Harlan – engineering
Phil Joly – assistant engineering
Joe LaPorta – mastering

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Chart performance for "Myth" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2012) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{single chart\|Flanders Tip\|56\|artist=Beach House\|song=Myth\|rowheader=true\|refname="Flanders"\|access-date=September 25, 2022}}
scope="row"\| Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard){{cite web\|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/beach-house/chart-history/min/\|title=Beach House Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay\|work=Billboard\|access-date=September 25, 2022}} \| 41
{{single chart\|UKindependent\|40\|date=20120527\|rowheader=true\|refname="UK Indie"\|access-date=September 25, 2022}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Chart performance for "Myth"

! scope="col"| Chart (2012)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Flanders Tip|56|artist=Beach House|song=Myth|rowheader=true|refname="Flanders"|access-date=September 25, 2022}}

scope="row"| Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/beach-house/chart-history/min/|title=Beach House Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay|work=Billboard|access-date=September 25, 2022}}

| 41

{{single chart|UKindependent|40|date=20120527|rowheader=true|refname="UK Indie"|access-date=September 25, 2022}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Beach House|title=Myth|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2012|certyear=2023|refname="RIAA"|access-date=April 15, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

References

Category:2012 singles

Category:2012 songs

Category:Sub Pop singles

Category:Beach House songs

Category:Songs written by Victoria Legrand