Belong by The Pains of Being Pure At Heart
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart's 2009 self-titled debut album was truly an out-of-nowhere smash, garnering widespread acclaim from the likes of The New York Times ("sensitive and sublime, Best of 2009), Pitchfork (Best New Music, Best of 2009) and NME ("pure indiepop to hold close to your heart," Best of 2009) to countless indiepop forums and blogs, and landing the band a dedicated following that endures to this day.
It’s no mean feat for a young band under the spotlight and the weight of expectations to create a second album that retains the qualities of the debut that so charmed the fans and press in the first place, but against tall odds The Pains succeeded.
2011 follow-up "Belong" aimed for the stars and hit the mark resoundingly, full to the brim with monster tunes and polished to powerful perfection by the production and mixing team of Flood (Depeche Mode, U2) and Alan Moulder (Smashing Pumpkins, Jesus and Mary Chain, Ride). The combination was a resounding success, vaulting the Pains to a spot in the alt-rock firmament rarely reached by indiepop bands and cementing their status as one of the seminal guitar-pop bands of the era.
Tracklist
| 1. | Belong | 4:21 |
| 2. | Heaven's Gonna Happen Now | 3:54 |
| 3. | Heart In Your Heartbreak | 3:45 |
| 4. | The Body | 3:54 |
| 5. | Anne With An E | 4:08 |
| 6. | Even In Dreams | 4:24 |
| 7. | My Terrible Friend | 3:11 |
| 8. | Girl of 1,000 Dreams | 2:49 |
| 9. | Too Tough | 4:32 |
| 10. | Strange | 4:22 |
Credits
Pains Of Being Pure at Heart:
Kip Berman: Vox, Guitars Peggy Wang: Keyboards, Vox
Alex Naidus: Bass, Backing Vox Kurt Feldman: Drums, Percussion
Additional Guitars Performed By Christoph Hochheim
All songs produced and recorded by Flood in New York and London, Summer 2010 except "Too Tough."
"Too Tough" co-produced by Flood and James Brown.
Engineered by James Brown at Stratosphere Studios, New York City, July 2010.
Engineered by Darren Lawson at Assault & Battery Studios, London, August 2010
Studio Assistants for NYC Session: Adam Tilzer and Atsuo Matsumoto
Studio Assistant for London Session: Drew Smith
All songs mixed by Alan Moulder at Assault & Battery Studios, London (September 2010).
Mix Engineer: Catherine Marks
Studio Assistant: John Catlin
Mastered By Emily Lazar and Joe Laporta at The Lodge, NYC.
All songs written by The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart/Painbow Music, (ASCAP).
