It took me awhile to correctly remember this band's name, so I surprised myself when I jumped on The Pains of Being Pure at Heart wagon last month. I didn't think that TPOBPAH was particularly amazing at first listen, but it turns out that they're more infectious than the This is Why You're Fat meme and way less gag-inducing.
For whatever reason, I really love starting and ending my weekend nights with TPOBPAH. I must be quite a sight, jamming on the street while walking home in the early hours of the morning, but I can't really stop myself. So, it only seemed appropriate that I kick off a weekend with a Pains show at one of my favorite venues, the Bell House. Riding the Pitchfork BNM wave, TPOBPAH packed the room with eager spectators, myself included. I expected a dancing-good time, and Pains absolutely delivered. Seriously, I don't understand how anyone could not have had fun at this show. Sure, the band wasn't always perfect on the technicals, but they make up for the lack of precision with irresistible songs like "The Tenure Itch" and "Everything With You." I really hadn't been giving TPOBPAH enough creative credit. Yes, some of their songs sound a little indistinguishable, but that's sort of the nature of their genre. After listening to the opening acts, I could see that shoegaze/dream pop is not as easy to execute as Pains make it sound. I only wish they had more songs because 30 minutes of TPOBPAH is not enough.
Like I said before, I can imagine listening to TPOBPAH during the middle of the day at an outdoors festival. Looks like we will be doing just that at Pitchfork Music Festival this July. And the July countdown begins...
The Tenure Itch - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart | Alternative Link
Everything With You - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart | Alternative Link
March 16, 2009
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Bell House 03.13.09
February 7, 2009
"The Tenure Itch" - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
via RCRDLBL
When K. of Escape Sounds asked me earlier this week if I had listened to any The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, I confessed that I had started to see some reviews for the band's self-titled album but that I had yet to really listen to any of their music. Also, this band could be in the running for winning a superlative for their bad band name. When I had a chance to check my library, I saw that I had a couple of their tracks that I hadn't even played. My iTunes has become an overwhelming inbox with no foreseeable bottom, so I'm not surprised that this one slipped through the cracks. Per K.'s recommendation, I finally got the rest of TPOBPAH's album and came across this gem. "The Tenure Itch" is my current favorite and is probably a good starting point for this album. Two of the songs available via RCRDLBL, "Come Saturday" and "Everything with You", are a little too indistinguishable for me to listen to repeatedly. But, "The Tenure Itch" is catchy dream pop song that makes me long for the summer. I can just imagine listening to this during the middle of the day at an outdoors festival. Winter, when will you end??
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart play Mercury Lounge tonight and the Bell House on March 13. Their self-titled album is currently available for purchase. Check out Escape Sounds' thoughts on TPOBPAH.
The Tenure Itch - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
