[REVIEW] Purity Ring - Another Eternity

Back in the summer of 2012, music fans were greeted with the eccentric sounds of Purity Ring, an Edmonton-based dream-pop duo consisting of Megan James (vocals) and Corin Riddick (instrumentals).

Far from their reserved name, Purity Ring’s debut album Shrines offered an unconventional fusion of modern sounds by blending hip-hop and dubstep influences with eerie vocal lines and mournful lyrics to create something fresh and exciting. In doing so, Purity Ring – along with other artists like Grimes – showed there was more to indie music than simple guitar lines and repetitive choruses. Now, three years later, Purity Ring is back with their latest album Another Eternity, and while the catchy choruses and strong vocal lines remain, Purity Ring’s latest effort fails to innovate the genre in the way their previous efforts did.

Make no mistake, the sound of Another Eternity still stays true to what fans know and love about Purity Ring. James’ vocals continue to shine across the record and Riddick’s production is tight and polished. Despite that, significant changes have been made.

Most notably, James’ obscure and macabre lyrics have been replaced with more traditional subject matter such as love and breakups, while Riddick’s production has shifted towards away from the electronic dream pop they once were towards a more traditional pop sound. In the past, Riddick’s sound has reflected the dominant styles in electronic music, and this remains true in Another Eternity. However, what was once a sound channeling artists like Burial or Grimes, is now much closer to the sound of major record artists like Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.

This decision has mixed results. On one hand, the decision to model their sound after more traditional pop artists pairs well with Another Eternity’s new catchier material, but it also ends up at times sounding unoriginal, and struggles to compete with other mainstream music.

Don’t get me wrong, I actually enjoy pop music quite a bit, but to me the unique mix of sounds that Purity Ring produced was what made their music so interesting, and I can’t help but feel that this shift in style only hurts them. Yes, songs like “Push Pull” and “Bodyache” are catchy, but they struggle to compete with more compelling hits. One can’t help but feel like Purity Ring shifted towards a style that they simply aren’t as good at, and their music suffers because of it.

In spite of all this, fans will likely still enjoy the record. Another Eternity’s songs are catchy, and the distinct feel and energy of the band remains despite any changes in style. While the songs may feel different, that change doesn’t take away from their appeal. So, whether you’re new to Purity Ring or a die-hard fan, Another Eternity is an album that deserves multiple listens before drawing a strong conclusion.