Thursday Bears: Top 10 Albums of 2011 ... so far (Pt. I)

Well, summer is underway and 2011 is already past its midpoint. So, like most other music blogs out there, I figure I’d take a stab at what I feel are the best albums of the year so far.

10: Bon Iver - Bon Iver

9: Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

8: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong

7: The Antlers - Burst Apart

6: Ty Segall - Goodbye Bread

Tuesday Bears: New Pains of Being Pure at Heart video - Heart in Your Heartbreak

After my retroactive reversal of opinion of the Pains of Being Pure at Heart last week, the group premiered the first video from their second studio LP (released today), Belong. The video for "Heart in Your Heartbreak," which the group performed on Letterman recently, takes place in a Guitar Galaxy. That could be anywhere, really.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Heart in Your Heartbreak

Pains of Being Pure at Heart on Letterman

I'm a little unfair with the Pains of Being Pure at Heart. It might be their name. Okay, it's their name. But, from what I've heard from the New York group's follow up to their 2009 self-titled debut, I'm slowly coming around.

Last night, the group performed "Heart in Your Heartbreak" from their upcoming Belong LP on Letterman. Again, the naming might throw some people off, but that shouldn't be distracting anyone at this point.

Belong is due out next Tuesday, March 29 via Slumberland Records. You can stream the entire LP here.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Heart in Your Heartbreak (Live on Letterman)