Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: Kip Berman (vocals, guitar); Peggy Wang-East (vocals, keyboards); Alex Naidus (bass guitar).
Audio Mixer: Archie Moore.
Audio Remasterer: Jon Chaikin.
Bridging the sound of mid-1980s Paisley Underground dream-pop and early '90s alternative rock/ shoegaze from both sides of the pond, this bi-gender Brooklyn quartet is pure melodic bliss for lovers of music both jagged and sweet. On "Stay Alive," the vibe is all Pale Saints, gentle and ethereal, while cleverly titled songs like "Young Adult Friction" crackle with David Gedge-worthy post-punk riffs. PAINS OF BEING PURE is everything that its title implies, but in its very beauty and simplicity, this LP offers little room for debate about any corresponding lack of depth.