Express 5: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's Favorite 7-Inches & Bands With Long Names

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BEFORE THERE WERE MP3s, there were 7-inches. And not to sound overly sentimental, but a 7-inch was just more special — as anyone who read the Simple Machines Mechanic's Guide can attest.

It took real effort to put out a record — you didn't just hit "upload" on MySpace. It meant more, both to the band and the listener. That's one reason why indie-pop fans have always been so dedicated to bands they liked: the struggle to create and distribute music forged a circle of appreciation from the groups who made it to the people who bought it.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are carrying on that tradition. The New York band made its (very long) name with a string of 7-inches, and that was no accident.

Singer/guitarist Kip Berman is just a fan of the format. "We love love love vinyl, and the 7-inch is just an awesome way to appreciate a single."

Berman's equally enthusiastic about Slumberland Records, the recently revived label that put out the band's "Everything With You" single and self-titled full-length debut.

"All of us were huge fans of the records Slumberland put out — Rocketship, The Aislers Set, Velocity Girl and Black Tambourine to name only a few," Berman said. "I honestly can't think of a better label for this record to have been released on, since those bands were so important to us when we were growing up."

The current roster is also a source of pride: "The new crop of bands he's releasing [Crystal Stilts, caUSE coMOTION, Sexy Kids] are really awesome," Berman said, "and it's cool that the label isn't just a retro thing, but continues to be a vital source for new noisy pop music."

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart shouldn't be mistaken for indie-pop purists, though Berman certainly doesn't mind the comparisons, noting, "We grew up listening to Nirvana and Sonic Youth a lot more than '80s British indie pop. It's cool, though — anytime people mention us and The Pastels or The Vaselines in the same sentence, we're super flattered."

And don't expect twee from the Pains' live show: "I think our loudness surprises people."

Berman indulged us with not one, but two Express 5 lists, one on the close-to-his-heart subject of vinyl singles, the other on the sillier topic of best lengthy band names.

» The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's Top 5 7-inch Singles:

1. Blueboy, "Popkiss"

2. Primal Scream, "Velocity Girl"

3. The Exploding Hearts, "Making Teenage Faces"

4. Dear Nora, "Make You Smile"
» Download the MP3 for free, courtesy Magic Marker Records

5. Dykehouse, "Chainsmoking"

» The Pains of Being Pure At Heart's Top 5 Long Band Names:

1. I Live the Life of A Movie Star Secret Hideout
2. My Favorite ("Not lengthy, but so epic.")
3. I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
4. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
5. The Pete Green Corporate Juggernaut

» Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW; with The Depreciation Guild and The Sugarplums, Mon., Feb. 9, 8:30 p.m., $10; 202-667-4490. (U St.-Cardozo)

Written by Express contributor Meg Zamula

» Download free MP3s of "Come Saturday" and "Everything With You," courtesy Slumberland Records. Stream the whole album here.

Photo by Annie Powers