
Every once in a while, an album comes along that feels perfect with the emotions you are experiencing at that point in your life. Last year, Frightened Rabbit's The Midnight Organ Fight - our top album in 2008 - jumped out at me for that reason. In 2009, the first band to follow suit is The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart with their self-titled debut. The melodies here are lush and gorgeous. Immediately, these are what draw you in. Every song is overflowing with hooks, with up-tempo guitars and a little distortion thrown in for good measure. [...]