Beach Fossils
Formed: 2009
Location: New York, New York, USA
Genre: Dream Pop, Surf Rock
Years Active: 2010 -
Meaning of the Name: Chosen randomly out of a notebook.
Core Members: Dustin Payseur
Way of Working: Led by Dustin Payseur
Essential Releases
Clash the Truth (2013)
Dark dream pop.
Somersault (2017)
Surfing on a sea of nostalgia.
One day in North Carolina a young Dustin Payseur dropped out of university, packed his bags and traveled over 500 miles (813 km) to become a rock star in the big apple. They say a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step because the first step is often the hardest. Sometimes a person hears destiny calling.
Upon reaching the promised land of New York, Payseur assembled a band who pursued a lo-fi, dream pop aesthetic through the cities clubs until they found their sound. An arduent process culminating in the 2017 release of Somersault.
It wasn't all plain sailing however. One day, in 2017, the bands drummer, Tommy Gardner, had himself felt the inextricable lure of fate and announced he was leaving the band leaving to become a Buddhist monk.
This difficult period was preceded by a change in the way Beach Fossils operated. Previously, Dustin Payseur had full creative control, but on the record that would become Somersault, he shared the reins. The result was the group's best-received project to date.
Somersault, as the name suggests, was a change in direction, moving towards a more joyful, mature territory that was a culmination of their time in the big city. It had been seven years in the making, four of which were spent on this record. Previously, they had released two albums in a three year period, which is to be expected from an eager young band wanting to be heard.
The time sunk into Somersault was an investment that paid dividends. It's a richly layered and textured album that features complex arrangements absent from their earlier efforts. Some bands shine brightly for a short time before fizzling out, but in the case of Beach Fossils, their sound matured as they did, slowly, with practice, and patience.
Skills
*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.Emotional Impact
65
Mental Impact
60
Originality
65
Artistry
45
Authenticity
40
Live
80
Production
80
Musicianship
80
Singing
80
Songwriting
85
Danceability
60
Fun
55
Consistency
55
Range
75
Cool
65
Charisma
55
Commercial & Critical Success
Awards
Certifications
Charts
Critics
CRITICISM
- Dismissed by some as music for posing hipsters in Brooklyn.
- There's a perception that the band are trust fund kids. This was strengthened when bassist John Pena thew his guitar into New York's east river in 2010. It was simply something a struggling musician wouldn't do.
