Band of the Week + record review: The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

this much buzzed about band from NY answer that question which everyone's pondered at least at one point in their lives:

can pop music be melancholy?

I mean, we have The Smiths, but they always seemed like a class of their own.

but, the answer to the question is indubitably, unequivocally, yes.

there's a good reason that everyone's talking about this band. I just wish that Voxtrot would have had this much attention, they make really similar music.

TPOBPAH's debut album is really, really, really fantastic. like all great debuts, they sound completely out of place in the modern age of music. anachronistic, if you will. TPOBPAH sound like a fantastic mesh of The Smiths, (early) Jimmy Eat World and The Cure.

good music is music that stands out. music that makes you stop, double back and think "whoa, nice one, guys". catches you off guard with guitar riffs that evoke happy memories of carefree adolescence ("everything with you"). makes you grin with sweet lyrics about intimate experiences that we all can relate to ("young adult friction")

the self titled album does all of these things.

I really, really dig it.

I probably wouldn't have bothered to get the record so soon but a friend of mine saw them open up for Deerhunter and told me that it was well worth listening to. I'm really quite glad that I took his advice.

the thing is nearly flawless, even though it's awkward at times. perfect in its very imperfection.

highly recommended for everyone: teenagers trying to figure things out for the first time and adults who still have no idea what the hell life's about. listening to the record somehow manages to make everything seem simultaneously relative and completely different.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Young Adult Friction [mp3]
(favourite track)

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Gentle Sons [mp3]
(closing track)

lyrics

MYSPACE (they're on a massive tour. check for a city near you)

the record dropped three days ago. go forth to your local record shop and pick it up! it's sure to be one of your best purchases of the year.

THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART ON AMAZON