My Kind of Candy

I just read Rob Sheffield's review of the new The Pains of Being Pure at Heart album, Belong, and he pretty much hit the nail on the head. I felt the same way when I heard the first single back in November. The bigger sound captures everything the band wanted to say but couldn't before. Obviously, Rob and I were listening because the message rings loud and clear. I love that we agree, Sheffield is seriously dreamy.

Anyway, the new 'Pains album:

Honestly, I can't help but think that the more things change the more they say the same. That goes for 'Pains, but on a larger scale rock music as well. Listening to Belong is kinda like falling through time. Images of 120 minutes flow through my head like a lost memory. But the sound is in no way anachronistic. Maybe, we've just gone full circle?

Still, that hasn't stopped the most jaded of our community calling the album "sexless." Some critics have even gone so far as to say that the record is a blatant rip-off of The Smashing Pumpkins. But with Flood behind the scenes, its no wonder the influence shows. Its also fair to mention that Alan Moulder did the mixing. There is something of an allusion to the best of 90s alterna there, but as a mere nod and nothing more.

Seriously, Belong is more Cure than Pumpkins and there is nothing wrong with that really. As far as influences go, they could do worse (far worse). NME can go suck it.

The whole album flows with a sound that is bright and dreamy, with a twinge of heartache. Sometimes caring and collected ("Even in dreams/ I cannot betray you"), and at others ruthless with a smile ("Everyone is gentle and gone/But everyone's just everyone"), the lyrics turn from heartfelt to seeming apathy in the span of a second. But they're almost too sweet to be mean. Or even dark.

And sadly, the lyrics don't always deliver. In The Body, frontman Kip Berman whines that "you look so hot(?)/in fishnets and leather," sounding almost juvenile in the process. Luckily, this last only for a moment. It's still one of my favorite tracks even with that awkward line.

Berman and Peggy Wang's voices blend together so well its like they are one being. The harmonies weave in-and-out of the music creating a landscape of heavenly high peaks and low, surreal fields and valleys of sugarcane. The guitar fuzz tastes like cotton candy. The bass shimmers, overflowing into the warm, familar drumbeat. The keyboard swells are bittersweet. Pure pop perfection.

Tracks to listen to: The Body, My Terrible Friend