(photo: Annie Powers)

One of the first albums that truly grabbed my attention in 2009 was the debut, self-titled album by New Yorkers The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.  It was retro in all the right places, and exuded a youthfulness and joyful melancholy (if there can be such a thing) that you just don’t get from a band who’s been around the block a few times.  There most definitely was pleasure in the pain, if you will.

Less than a year on the band have already completed a new recording–an EP–that signals some growth and movement.  Higher Than the Stars sees them taking their feet off the fuzz pedals and letting the melodies and pop shine through.  It reaches back to The Head On The Door era Cure on its dizziness-inducing title track before switching gears and years with the fuzzy Teenage Fanclub -like “103″.  Lest all this sound-alike-ism lead you to believe that all The Pains of Being Pure at Heart can do is recycle old sounds, let me assure you that while they may borrow elements freely, the resulting combination is a pure indie pop treat; something that their influences never could have pulled off.  Even with a slightly sinister clubland remix of “Higher Than the Stars” by Saint Etienne, The Pains of Being Pure of Heart manage to cram more doe-eyed optimism and fun into 5 songs than most people can do in five albums.

MP3: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart “Higher Than the Stars”
Myspace: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Facebook: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart