Best new release: Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Who knew the Pains of Being Pure at Heart could rock? Belong, the opening song and title track of the band’s sophomore album, has an unmistakable sound: Siamese Dream-era Smashing Pumpkins. The influence is undoubtedly due to the Pains’ producer, Flood, who didn’t work on Siamese Dream but collaborated with Smashing Pumpkins on later albums.

Not every song sounds like a Smashing Pumpkins retread but the album definitely has a more sonic feel than the excellent self-titled debut from ’09. That album — as I said at the time – sounds like Jesus and Mary Chain if JMC was a pop band.  This is the second album released in the last couple of weeks that has a slick, polished sound that also resonates ’90s-era alternative (See my review of the Joy Formidable). But Pains continue to show their love for the ’80s on other songs, such as The Body and My Terrible Friend.

The album, out Tuesday, is recommended. The band is scheduled to play two shows next month, April 27-28, at Lincoln Hall. Twin Shadow opens.

Belong – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart