The Echo of Pleasure
by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
  • Record Label: Painbow
  • Release Date: Sep 1, 2017
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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  1. Magnet
    Aug 28, 2017
    60
    You have to admire the survivalist nature at hand here and the ability to craft an album that doesn't smack of inorganic hashtag laziness like those of many contemporaries. [No. 145, p.59]
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  2. Under The Radar
    Aug 28, 2017
    60
    This is farm from Berman's best work, but sequencing aside, there is enough here to suggest that he's still got something left in the tank. [Jul - Sep 2017, p.59]
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  3. The 405
    Aug 28, 2017
    40
    Whether it's their brutal attempt at gloomy chamber pop on 'My Only', their embarrassingly direct ripoff of a My Bloody Valentine track on 'Anymore', or their goofy, oddly timed guitar licks on 'The Garret', The Echo of Pleasure results in being an incredibly vague arena rock statement, one that's hopelessly gasping for life (and critical acclaim). As Berman's vocals have clearly aged, so have his songwriting abilities.

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User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Ricko
    May 1, 2018
    7
    I think The Pains of Being Pure At Heart are a great outfit. I get it that they lack a bit of substance but Kip Berman has a serious ear for aI think The Pains of Being Pure At Heart are a great outfit. I get it that they lack a bit of substance but Kip Berman has a serious ear for a tune. "Belong" is my favourite album of theirs and album number 4, "The Echo of Pleasure" comes a full 6 years after what I would consider to be their peak. From what I can gather, this is an album put together by Berman pretty much on his own. When held against past work, the differences are interesting. Much more synths, a bit more expansiveness and freedom in the songwriting but definitely a thinner, more compressed sound and for me the overall delivery of the material is less powerful than before. The youthful energy that was once a driving force now sounds a little put on. There has been a move away from indie pop and shoegaze to standard pop. The opening few tracks are outstanding and set the album up nicely and the rest of it is decent as well but I would say it's my least favourite Pains album.… Full Review »
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