The Needle Drop

the pains of being pure at heart

YUNOREVIEW: JULY 2014

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The magical monthly segment where I briefly touch down on a gauntlet of albums I didn't get a chance to review this past month. These are just my short, straightforward, passionate, biased opinions.

Braid - No Coast Jungle - Self-Titled White Lung - Deep Fantasy Strand of Oaks - Heal Matthewdavid - In My World The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Days of Abandon Sage Francis - Copper Gone '68 - In Humor and Sadness Bleachers - Strange Desire Big Freedia - Just Be Free

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart- "Jeremy" (The Magnetic Fields Cover)

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Stream: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - "Jeremy (The Magnetic Fields Cover)" Like so many great bands before them, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart have always made sure to tip their hat to the great bands that preceded them. When you listen to a song from the affable shoegaze pop band, you feel both the band’s sincere emotions (typically about young love) and the project’s genuine admiration of indie pop’s venerable progenitors (e.g. the early bands on Sarah Records) and 90s alternative rock (e.g. Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins). On their latest single for Slumberland Records, the band has chosen to do a direct homage to a great American indie pop band, the Magnetic Fields. Electing to cover the song “Jeremy” off the Magnetic Fields’ sophomore release The Wayward Bus, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart infuse the song with an electrifying rock energy completely different to the orchestral style of the original which featured cello and tuba. The way the Pains’ ebullient rendition of the song combines with Stephen Merritt’s lyrics about foolish youth and the inevitability of aging (“Like a Galapagos turtle we grow old and stay that way”) is simply perfect.

One of indie pop’s best new bands covering one of the genre’s most celebrated elder statesman? This is a piece of wax you should definitely pick up. The single is slated for release on October 9th via Slumberland Records with “Jeremy” on the A-side and a yet to be revealed East River Pipe cover on the B-side.

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart- "Tomorrow Dies Today"

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From the latest Pains of Being Pure at Heart single, "the Body," here's "Tomorrow Dies Today." The track is a b-side in the truest sense, sounding much different than the string of songs the band laid out on its new album, Belong. The production is a lot thinner, and intentionally so. A brittle guitar strums rhythm against some punchy drums, which lays a foundation for the same bring of pop bliss these guys lace into nearly every one of their songs.

Stream the track above, and see the art below. Buy the 7'' via PIAS.

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart- "The Body"

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New York's shoegaze revivalists the Pains of Being Pure At Heart have a new music video out for the song "the Body," which appeared on the band's sophomore record, Belong earlier in the year.

Released just in time for Summer, the video is is filled with well-shot scenes of the beach and ocean. Thankfully, however, this is not just another summery indie pop music video. The video's generally bittersweet tone matches that of the song, using the band members and adorable doppelganger versions of themselves to compare and contrast the monotony of everyday adult life with the joy and playfulness of childhood. It's worth a couple views, even if it's just to see just how much these kids look like the Pains.

Click here to watch a full review of Belong.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart- Belong

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It seemed impossible, but the Pains of Being Pure at Heart have somehow found a way to sound sweeter and more innocent than they did on their self-titled debut. This slight change in direction didn't sit well with me on first listen, though. I was a little disappointed to see the noisier, more experimental elements of their music sort of melt away here; however, the band is definitely moving in a definitive direction. This is the sound of the Pains coming into their own. Just like Beach House did with their latest album, the band is building on their initial sound with some panoramic production and more accessible sounds.

The songwriting is still strong and catchy. The vocals are still thin and breathy. The guitars still strum on a beat that's worth swaying to. Sonic innocence.

WATCH THE REVIEW