Introducing: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Name: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
From: New York, New York
Story: Prized Students of the School of Twee
Sound: Thee twee jamboree

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart sound like a troupe of fresh-faced kids let loose in the library of twee. Which may, indeed, be what they are. The New Yorker quartet are clearly students of the school of guitar jangle: their debut, self-titled album is mixed by Archie Moore, one-time member of Black Tambourine and Velocity Girl, has been released by classic twee imprint Slumberland Records. A pre-LP cut was even called "Kurt Cobain's Cardigan." These kids know early-'90s indie-pop, and aren't afraid to let you know it.

Of course, if those references were all that the self-titled Pains of Being Pure at Heart set had going for it, then few outside of twee's core coterie would care. And given that the Pains of Being Pure at Heart have been one of 2009's definite breakout acts, that's obviously not the case. What the case obviously is is that the self-titled Pains of Being Pure at Heart set has something most notable going for it: great songs.

Sure "Come Saturday" sounds eerily like The Field Mice, but, boy, what a song! "This Love is F**king Right," "A Teenager in Love," "Young Adult Friction"... what jams! The push-beat drums and dutifully-jangling guitars and winning, winsome melodies! The sense of irrepressible romance! Oh, to be young and in love and besotted with the Sarah Records back catalogue!

So far in the ought-nine, TPOBPAH have seemingly lived every day on the road, and they've still got dates lined up all over the globe from now 'til months down the road. For anyone who fell under the spell of 2008 breakout acts Crystal Stilts, Vivian Girls, or Los Campesinos! last year, there's a whole new musical crush awaiting you.

• Listen: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, "Young Adult Friction"
• Listen: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, "Everything with You"

The Pains of Playing Your Home Town:
May 25: Antwerp, Belgium - Trix
May 26: Paris, France - Batofar
May 27: Toulouse, France - Le Cri de la Moutte
May 28: Montpellier, France - Rock Store
May 29: Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Festival
May 31: Ravenna, Italy - Hana Bi
June 1: Milan, Italy - La Casa 139
June 2: St. Gallen , Switzerland - Palace
June 3: Munich, Germany - 59 to 1
June 4: Cologne, Germany - Blue Shell
June 5: Berlin, Germany - NBI Club
June 6: Hamburg, Germany - Knust
June 7: Utrecht, Germany - Ekko
June 8: Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Paradiso
June 9: London, England - Madame JoJo's
June 11: Oxford, England - Jericho Tavern
June 12: Cambridge, England - Soul Tree
June 13: Southampton, England - Joiners
June 14: Isle of Wight, England - Isle of Wight Festival
June 18: New York, NY - Cake Shop
July 18: Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Festival
July 20: Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
July 21: San Fransisco, CA - The Rickshaw Stop
July 23: Portland, OR - Backspace
July 24: Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret

Photo © [Pavla Kopecna]