The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: Belong Review

     

 The long anticipated album is out! After almost two years since their self-titled debut, The Pains of Pure at Heart returned with their new album “Belong” at March 29^th. With all sophomore albums, the band faces the internal and external pressure of presenting a more mature sound then the previous album. In this The Pains have certainly succeeded. The question being, is this a good thing?  Their first album had a distinct territory, sad melancholy pop music, the themes based on love, young adulthood, every part of our early twenties that brings up a happy nostalgia.

     From the start of the opening track “Belong” it’s obvious The Pains have been working out their chops. The drumming is tighter, the guitars more sonically diverse. Whereas the debut LP dealt with the throes of love, the passionate bliss that leaves one feeling safe and transformed, “Belong” spends a long time on the end, on the confusion and pain that’s left in the aftermath of a relationship (“And you're the one who's breaking me, And you're the one who just won't leave” lead singer Kip Berman coo’s in “My Terrible Friend”). Songs like “Even in Dreams” recall the loneliness of youth and of course, love transcending even the dream world (dreams are a common theme throughout the album), where “Strange” discusses the joy of finding somebody just as odd and un-inclined to conformity as you, in your red “Camp Arrowhead” t-shirt and your faded chucks. The romantic appeal to us lonely weirdoes is undeniable throughout an album that proclaims love between eccentrics as the purest endeavor one can partake in.

Ultimately, the change of scenery works well for The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. While perhaps a little less twee and in your face romantic then their previous LP, “Belong” benefits from a band at their sharpest musically. It also benefits from a band that still recognizes love as the key. That’s what The Pains are all about, love. There is nothing that can top it and nothing that can. As a romantic myself, I can’t help but agree and envy the conviction in which they go about it. Top shelf boys (and girl), top shelf.

8.8 out of 10 unicorn horns.

My Terrible Friend-The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart by David Tipto