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. Paste Magazine
    Aug 29, 2017
    83
    The album bursts with breezy and tight arrangements, meditative melodies, and beautifully poignant lyricism, making it a simultaneously boyish and mature exploration of love, longing and everything in-between.
  2. AllMusic
    Aug 31, 2017
    80
    It may not pack the same sonic punch as their early singles, but it has an overall more interesting sound, and the hard-won wisdom and feeling Berman injects into the songs now means that the Pains have transcended their struggles to find a sound, and have truly arrived at last.
  3. The Skinny
    Aug 28, 2017
    80
    It's a low-key record for a certain type of listener--this isn't a band clamouring for arena-rock status, just one that is happy making good music and having fun doing it.
  5. Exclaim
    Aug 30, 2017
    70
    While Berman's sentiments are sweet, there's nothing revolutionary here. That said, revolution isn't a prerequisite for good music, so if insular, sensitive indie rock is your thing, you'll probably love The Echo of Pleasure.
  6. PopMatters
    Aug 29, 2017
    70
    Even with a relatively small amount of outside help, Berman’s songs are beefy, melodic throwbacks to college radio staples of decades past.
  7. Pitchfork
    Sep 7, 2017
    68
    If Abandon was the sound of a young man in flux, then Pleasure is the sound of settling.

User Reviews

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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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