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8.3
98837
8.3 |
Paste Magazine
The album bursts with breezy and tight arrangements, meditative melodies, and beautifully poignant lyricism, making it a simultaneously boyish and mature exploration of love, longing and everything in-between
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8.0
98838
8.0 |
The Skinny
This album doesn't alter the Pains sound so much as it doubles down on exactly what the band is all about: Kip Berman's gently lulling voice, swooping synths and layers of feedback that ever so slightly distort what would otherwise be fairly run-of-the-mill pop/rock music
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8.0
98876
8.0 |
All Music
It may not pack the same sonic punch as their early singles, but it has an overall more interesting sound
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7.9
98869
7.9 |
Earbuddy
This new record sees the group returning to what they do best: write big, colorful anthems for the teenager in all of us
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7.0
99250
7.0 |
Spectrum Culture
Has a more personal feel than past Pains records
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7.0
98854
7.0 |
Exclaim
Revolution isn't a prerequisite for good music, so if insular, sensitive indie rock is your thing, you'll probably love The Echo of Pleasure
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7.0
98836
7.0 |
PopMatters
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are back to show us that '80s alternative synthpop isn't dead, and it's perfectly fine to be mopey as long as there's a good beat
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6.8
99048
6.8 |
Pitchfork
Full of gleaming exteriors
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6.0
98865
6.0 |
God Is In The TV
Berman has an interesting voice part wistful sigh, part conflicted forever teenager part joyous epiphany, unfortunately, he doesn’t reach the last place nearly enough here
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6.0
98840
6.0 |
Under The Radar
This is far from Berman's best work, but sequencing aside, there is enough here to suggest that he's still got something left in the tank
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4.0
98839
4.0 |
The 405
As Berman's vocals have clearly aged, so have his songwriting abilities. Genres clash like ass-backward magnets, and the conceptual strengths found on its predecessors are swapped for a messy, if not incompetent track list
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