Song of the Day: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Anymore

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is “Anymore” by The Pains of Being Young at Heart from their forthcoming album, The Echo of Pleasure, on band's own Painbow Music, Ltd.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Anymore (MP3)It’s summer in Seattle and “Anymore” is a wonderful take on sunny shoegaze. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart return with a blissed out, guitar-centric sound just in time for your drive to the beach. While they were first known in terms of lo-fi production, the band, now mainly a songwriting project for frontman Kip Berman, continues to move towards immaculate, crystal-clear studio work with The Echo of Pleasure.

Their last record, Days of Abandon, was a step in this direction which they now appear to be entering in full. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are a reminder of the bridge between new wave of the 80s (New Order, The Cure) and the shoegaze and dream pop that followed (My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive), while touching on the anthemic alt-rock of the early 90s (Smashing Pumpkins, The Pixies). In other words, this is not about modesty or quaintness. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart go all out to create the biggest, sweetest songs possible.

Later this year, on Saturday, September 23rd, you can catch The Pains of Being Pure at Heart in Seattle performing with NW favorites The Courtneys and The Prids at The Tractor Tavern. The band also recently released “When I Dance With You” which is even more New Order-ish than “Anymore”.  Work ‘em both and get into summer in Seattle!