[P4K Reviews] The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Just dropping in to say that "Gentle Sons" is, by far, one of my favorite songs of the year.

"Monday morning comes too fast / you stumble down the diamond path / and every step will be your last," the roar of the feedback-soaked guitars, and the solo—without a single note wasted—right in the middle. The sequencing on the record, with this closing, is perfect.

And I have to disagree with Alfred; I think the album's better than the EP, but then again I would, because I prefer albums, and I see the songs on Higher Than the Stars EP as slight variations on the songs that are on the self-titled record. Plus, in addition to "Gentle Sons," we have "Stay Alive," which is their second best song.

Is "Gentle Sons" the album closer? Seem to remember it cherry-picking the JAMC "Just Like Honey" drum intro... not that they're the first to do so, but it's very noticeable.

Yeah, Hal Blaine was ripping off that intro twenty years before JAMC even formed!

This goes all the way back to the first post, but someone once quoted me a Dillinger Four review that may not actually exist in which the reviewer who may not actually exist said, "If you don't like this record (Midwestern Songs of the Americas), then you are an asshole." That is the only record in the world where I could somewhat get behind that sentiment.

Oh, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart are pleasant when they are fuzzy.

Is "Gentle Sons" the album closer? Seem to remember it cherry-picking the JAMC "Just Like Honey" drum intro... not that they're the first to do so, but it's very noticeable.

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Sunday, November 1, 2009 1:13 PM (2 hours ago)

Yup, that's the song!

missing u ott

anyway, i really like the new single

http://pitchfork.com/news/38714-hear-the-new-pains-of-being-pure-at-heart-single-say-no-to-love/

They're playing here in six weeks. Can't wait!

still love the "[P4K Reviews]" in the title, dude went out of his way to save future ilx taxonomers some trouble

digging the hazy harmonies behind those guitars in the chorus.

i like how this band churns out stand-alone singles that are strong enough to be A-material on an album. bands did this type of thing in the 80s, i think.

alfred, they're playing in south florida? where?

xpost

Fierce theory.

good to see they've moved to a new artwork paradigm

They're playing here in six weeks. Can't wait!

― cool and remote like dancing girls (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, May 6, 2010 10:19 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark

i might be home alfred, if so i'll see you at the show

Awesome! A long-deferred pleasure.

Daniel, they're playing at Grand Central, where PopLife is currently.

spotted it; thanks.

good to see they've moved to a new artwork paradigm

― hell and the handbaskets (electricsound), Thursday, May 6, 2010 10:21 PM

yeah. i really like that cover! it's better than either of last year's releases'

the show i saw was kind of boring, unfortunately

wow, this new song sounds a lot like the field mice

doesn't the riff also sound a lot like "12:51" by the strokes?

Love it!

When I saw them live they sounded eerily (and kind of disappointingly) like the album. It's good to know they're not just studio rats but at least throw in an extra guitar solo measure or two.

i finally listened to this, it was okay, even though it sounded like everything from the early 90's. and there was one song that sounded just like something off the last yo la tengo record. but you know whatever.

The drummer is so cute in this video. The cross-legged conducting of 1000 drummers, etc. I love this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWHYwzSdfWE

Is anyone going to the show on Thu?

I would expect nothing less from Ian 'Throb' Cohen.

― cee-oh-tee-tee, Friday, February 6, 2009 12:20 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

this guy

doesn't the riff also sound a lot like "12:51" by the strokes?

u_u

I haven't listened to this record in a while, but it was definitely one of my favorites from last year

i pretty much prefer everything they've done that wasn't on the album to anything on the album

i wonder if they will show any development on future releases, they do tend to write the same song over and over. it's a catchy song mind.

I'd take an album and a couple more EPs of that same song over and over.

tweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

thoughts?

new album is just kinda whatever but man the first one is totally a classic

I think my favorite is the stuff from the interim between the 1st and 2nd albums. This one's okay, though I believe everyone in the band except the singer is a new hire.

New one is rather good, much better than the last. Probably relative to how much like the field mice they sound, closer to wratten the better.

Been surprised at how well the new record's stood up. I've listened to it a number of times and think it's probably as good as the s/t; but any band that's made the same album 3 times is going to fly under the radar. Love "Simple to Sure" > "Kelly" and "Eurydice" > "Masokissed".

I guess if you're going to ape your entire sound, do it as well as these guys do (see also: Yuck's debut).

Probably reductionist to post this in here, but Peggy Wang from TPOBPAH has a new band called Store Front. They put out their debut EP today and frontwoman Amy Rose Spiegel has a nice voice. Will appeal to fans of Pains and shimmery indie rock songs between 2:30 - 3:00.

https://storefrontnyc.bandcamp.com/

Task EP: https://open.spotify.com/album/5rcF3nAW28mDCcSJGBaOfX

Press: https://www.stereogum.com/2072593/store-front-rip-the-price-off/music/

repost it over here so we can build up some indie pop discussion momentum:

Not Pop Not Indie Shambhala 2020 Thread

wait wrong thread, here:

Rolling Indiepop/Twee/Jangle 2020