The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's second album is no sophomore slump. Belong takes the band's propulsive shoegaze pop from their pleasurable debut and adds a layer of early 90's guitar crunch. Much has been made of Flood's arena-filling production (see U2, The Smashing Pumpkins) and the revival of alt-rock's fuzzy atmospherics. But more needs to be said for the band's inherent charms that are largely evidenced by the single thing great albums cannot do without: great songs.
It takes one listen to realize that the hooks are everywhere--Belong is instantly accessible and enjoyable, song after song, especially for listeners that get giddy over chiming guitars or dreamy synths. But the Brooklyn band has clearly elevated its status beyond writing love letters to The Pastels, My Bloody Valentine, or The Smashing Pumpkins, relying on the merits of their own power-pop brightness. Understandably, the guileless vocals of Kip Berman and Peggy Wang lend the band an irresistable attraction that cannot be summarized as mere tweeness. Belong simply sounds too big for that.
The opening title-track goes toe-to-toe with the best "track ones" of the year. The delightful ditty "Heart in Your Heartbreak" is euphoric sadness that only a pop song could celebrate. Other standouts include "The Body" and "My Terrible Friend." Ultimately, the band's message could be summed up by the music video below: just plug it in, play, and make someone happy.
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