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Album reviews Music

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Belong

THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART play Sonic Boom on August 1 and the Opera House August 2. See listing Rating: NNN


The Pains of Being Pure at Heart’s second album perfects that loud/quiet balance popularized by 90s college rock purveyors like My Bloody Valentine, Ride and Teenage Fanclub. No surprise, then, to discover it was produced by Flood and mixed by Alan Moulder, the team behind Nine Inch Nails, U2, PJ Harvey, Depeche Mode, the Killers and so many others.

The slick production values and mighty arena-filling guitar and drum sounds will jolt fans of the New York City band’s charming lo-fi debut. But the songwriting here is strong – particularly the Belle & Sebastianesque Heart In Your Heartbreak and the Smashing Pumpkinsish opener Belong – and singer Kip Berman’s breathy vocal style and heartfelt lyrics add a softer, introspective edge.

Better, though, would be less aping and more originality.

Top track: Heart In Your Heartbreak

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