Carnation (album)

Carnation is a 2024 studio album by American indie pop band, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart. It marks a return for the band after a five-year hiatus following their 2019 album Days of Abandon. The album's themes revolve around nostalgia, fleeting memories of youth, and the acceptance of adulthood's complexities. It's characterized by its dream-pop sound, featuring layered guitars, synth textures, and introspective lyrics. Initial reviews highlighted the album's maturity compared to the band's earlier work, praising its sophisticated arrangements and emotional depth, while some critics noted a slight departure from their signature indie-pop exuberance. The album's cover art features a close-up photograph of a carnation flower, visually representing the album's themes of beauty and transience.