The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
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Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 27 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the debut full-length album for the New York indie-rock band.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 23
  2. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Muffling their excellent knowledge of English in jangle and reverb, four theoretical nerds demonstrate why a band is better than grad school.
  2. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart have crafted an impeccable debut way beyond their years, and any misconceptions about them being mere revivalists of a scene only their elders could recall at first hand will surely be diminished instantaneously upon hearing this most accomplished of long players.
  3. Pure indie-pop to hold close to your heart.
  4. 60
    Hugely enjoyable, with nagging tunes too, but let's move forward next time. [Mar 2009, p.106]

See all 23 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. 10
    A freshness retrospective of twentyfive years of indie music (Indie Pop, Dream Pop, Twee Pop, Jangle Pop, Noise Pop, C86. I've forgotten anyone?).
    And '80s has been a great decade, it's cool a revival still now.
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  2. Being 18, I obviously never got a chance to actually live through the 80's. However, 80's pop culture references are always around, the references that state that the music was such better then, and with glam metal being existent during that era, I can't agree. However, there were bands like the Smiths, the Jesus and Mary Chain and so much more great indie bands. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, remind people who were able to lived through the 80's that there WAS actually some great music, and it makes people like ME, realize that same thing. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, noisy, and innocent sound work so perfectly here that it's almost impossible to not love this album, with it's straight forwards lyrics and sound. My Terrible Friend and Heart of Your Heartbreak are the two best tracks here, accompanied by a handful of other solid songs. Great album, great debut. Haven't listened to their sophomore effort yet, and I can only hope that they built towards their own identity, but still having the ability to help some of those relive the highlights of the 80's. Expand
  3. 8
    They have a pretty original name but the same can't be said of the tunes. That's not necessarily a bad thing though. Like you'll see in most reviews of this band, these guys are obviously big 80's early 90's indie fans. The influence of The Smiths and My Bloody Valentine is prominent. The guitar playing is reasonably simple and the vocals aren't great - really low, but there is something about this album that I really like that I can't quite put my finger on. It's far from a classic but it's not got any bad tracks on it, its full of upbeat indie pop and it. The singles Hey Paul and Everything With You kind of embody everything about this record so if your looking for a taster before you dive in check those out. Expand
  4. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart is an indie pop gem. Each track is incredibly catchy and surprisingly has some very deep depth to them. All In All, this isn't the pop record to end all pop records, but it surely is a well-written, indie rock record that shouldn't go missed. B Expand

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