The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. AllMusic
    70
    A little more variation from song to song, a little more of their own sound, or another song or two as compelling as the best stuff here and the POBPAH's debut would have been classic. Settling for impressive is fair enough and good enough for fans of loud, fuzzy, and heartfelt indie noise pop.
  2. Austin Chronicle
    78
    Everything sounds vaguely familiar, but rarely has it been done with such pristine confidence.
  3. cokemachineglow
    82
    The album’s accompanying trappings do little to dull its impressiveness or the band’s command of its lineage.
  5. Delusions of Adequacy
    70
    Unless you demand pure, cutting-edge originality out of your pop music, this is a solid debut effort.
  6. Drowned In Sound
    80
    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.
  7. Dusted Magazine
    80
    They’re simply better songwriters than many others in the field, and their ability to recontextualize these sounds into something so subsequently fresh and familiar is a stunning achievement.
  8. Lost At Sea
    80
    For a band noted for their precious aesthetics, their secretly aggressive riffs and jabbing zings are the most essential facets to their authenticity.
  9. Mojo
    60
    Hugely enjoyable, with nagging tunes too, but let's move forward next time. [Mar 2009, p.106]
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  10. MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)
    91
    Muffling their excellent knowledge of English in jangle and reverb, four theoretical nerds demonstrate why a band is better than grad school.
  11. musicOMH.com
    60
    All told it's a slightly patchy album, but one which is nonetheless saved by a couple of pop gems.
  12. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Pure indie-pop to hold close to your heart.
  13. No Ripcord
    90
    The Pains of Being Pure at Heart can easily be at the forefront of this scene because, simply put, they have the best hooks.
  14. NOW Magazine
    60
    These kinds of shameless retro-isms would usually be cause for a scathing review. But as much as we’d like to snub their lack of originality, it’s hard to deny that the Pains do what they’ve set out to do quite well.
  15. Pitchfork
    84
    The Pains of Being Pure at Heart simply made a slyly confident debut that mixes sparkling melodies with an undercurrent of sad bastard mopery.
  16. PopMatters
    50
    It is a love song to the bands they grew up on, at times purely imitation as flattery, and, in those modest goals, it succeeds.
  17. Prefix Magazine
    90
    There is something distinctly perfect about the naivety that the Pains of Being Pure at Heart seem to effortlessly inject into every bouncy ballad of young love and young living that makes their self-titled debut not only a welcome throwback but a much needed vacation from over-calculation.
  18. Rolling Stone
    70
    This quartet's exciting debut is a dark bodice-ripper for the buttoned-up-cardigan set.
  19. The A.V. Club
    91
    They’re sensitive and sublime.
  20. The Guardian
    60
    Anyone convinced that the C86 bands represent a nadir of tweeness will hate it--while anyone who thinks that Britpop and dance music ruined indie will fall hopelessly in love.
  21. Tiny Mix Tapes
    50
    Crafting a "singular" sound is as idealistic as the next musical virtue, but this album--the band’s debut--is glaringly commonplace.
  22. Uncut
    60
    Their sound is an accident born of naivety, but their unabashed love for '80s indie is unmistakeable. [Feb 2009, p.89]
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  23. Under The Radar
    70
    With such impeccable taste, it's just as hard to ignore what an irresistible cocktail it is. [Winter 2009, p.74]
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  24. Urb
    80
    The shimmering dream pop of the band’s debut is surprisingly accomplished and self-assured, a rare shoegaze-styled album that isn’t hellbent on aping the genre’s luminaries.
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Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Most Shared Album of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 35 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Vampire25
    Nov 28, 2012
    7
    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. AllThe 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… Full Review »
  2. Ricko
    Mar 13, 2012
    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 mostThey 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.… Full Review »
  3. 2hip2beahipster
    Jun 18, 2011
    9
    Being 18, I obviously never got a chance to actually live through the 80's. However, 80's pop culture references are always around, theBeing 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.… Full Review »
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