The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Days Of Abandon (Album Review)

 

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Days Of Abandon

(2014)

My copy: 2014 press by Yebo Music.

After splitting with Slumberland Records, Kip Berman and co. released Days Of Abandon, which seemed intent on trading what personality the band once had for a shot at deeper pop success.

The dialed back acoustic jam of “Art Smock” is at least somewhat restrained, though the comically hammy, seductive vocals attempt to discredit their dreamy synth sounds. The band abandons all hope of originality on “Simple And Sure,” instead baiting for airplay on major “alt” radio waves with generic clapping and grocery-store-friendly vocal melodies - in their defense, the bass sounds wonderfully thick, with the whole of the production feeling relatively balanced. “Kelly” is a clear stab at 80’s jangle pop (The Smiths, etc.) and does provide one of the catchiest choruses though it is still bogged by cheap clapping and sickly sweet progressions.

The gently stuttering electronic drum loop of “Beautiful You” is almost interesting, but feels too similar to any other contemporary indie pop band and is not prominent enough to stand out. The writing suffers when they dial back the tempo but a dream-pop mystique does accompany these subdued moments, allowing them to rise above slightly. “Coral And Gold” switches between delicate arpeggios and mild, stomping expulsions of energy - but these songs feel deliberately groomed of any rough edges, ensuring safe play at the nearest Urban Outfitters. “Eurydice” is the other standout chorus, and the final trickle of synth is again just enough to push the track up to the bare minimum. 

The sun-soaked guitar solos of “Masokissed” prove that this is simply easy-going pop music with only a slight vignette of shoegaze. “Until The Sun Explodes” engages in more of the same, vaguely romantic feel-good indie tropes and the final tracks just fail to make a true impression. 

Days Of Abandon is not necessarily a bad album - but that would depend on your definition of “bad.” If “bad” equals lifeless, phoned-in songwriting and obvious melodies then yes, Days Of Abandon is quite bad. This album’s optimistic tone is at least effective enough that I’d consider it average - painfully so, but not worthy enough of my undivided disdain.