Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 3, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Slumberland Records
• ASIN: B001LGXIDS
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,999 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #15 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Shoegazing

Editorial Reviews

2009 release. Since forming in early 2007, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart have become one of the most talked-about Pop bands in years. Their distinctive style tidily distills all the great Noise-Pop precedents (early My Bloody Valentine, House of Love, Pale Saints, Rocketship) with incredible exuberance and energy in every song. 10 tracks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best new British bands from the U.S.?, February 23, 2009

By 

Scott M. "Skeeter" (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart (MP3 Download)

Oddly, this American band from NYC is listed under Amazon's British Alternative new releases section but it's rather fitting as they bear a resemblence to some great acts from the late 80's/early 90's UK music scene. You can hear a little My Bloody Valentine in the track Contender, The Smiths in Stay Alive, and the Jesus and Mary Chain in Gentle Sons. I'm not sure if the band was directly influenced by previously mentioned artists, but I really like the sounds they are mining. Fuzz infused pop jingles that get your head bobbing. Check out Young Adult Friction or Stay Alive as a starting point and if that suits you, you'll probably like the rest of the record. Although the album lacks some variety in terms of tempo and instrumentation, it's a very cohesive collection from a new band that I hope to hear more of in the future.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Joys of Being Good at Pop, April 27, 2009

By 

A. Fontaine - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Audio CD)

The Wall of Sound-meets-distortion tones of the Jesus & Mary Chain. The reverb-drenched, dreamy pop of Echo & the Bunnymen. The lisped, twee vocals of Belle & Sebastian. If you've ever loved these features of the aforementioned bands, odds are in the "certain to very certain" range that you'll hold a special place for The Pains of Being Pure at Heart as well.

The guitar reverb and synthesizers scream "1980's mopey shoegaze" but they're contradicted by a vibrant rhythm section driving home every peppy tune. The vocals are purposely buried low in the mix, so good luck deciphering them (although their label, Slumberland Records, provides a lyric sheet on their website).

The four piece out of Brooklyn, NY have seized upon a highly effective formula and wrote ten highly catchy songs around it. Adventurous? No. A fine debut record? Yes.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Music, April 12, 2009

By 

S. Bidwell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Audio CD)

This is simply a great album. I'm already looking forward to what they come up with next.

My experience with a lot of indie music is that it takes a few spins to sink in. This is usually a result of the fact that the artists have so much leverage to do what they want, which gives them the ability to come up with new and far-out ideas. My ears aren't usually ready for what they're hearing. It goes kind of like this: first listen: "this is interesting"; second listen: "I'm really liking this" *foot begins to tap to the beat*; third listen: "How could I live without this?!"

Well, this album elicited the same reaction, although I must admit that it doesn't even take "a few spins" to sink in. The music is almost immediately catchy, different, and exciting.

We need more bands like this one.