What more does anyone really want than some straightforward, earnest, well-crafted pop? Received Pronunciation, the sophomore album from Pants Yell!, isn't necessarily questioning sonic norms and it doesn't get in the listener's face - but it doesn't need to. It sounds effortless and clean, a refreshing change from the countless fuzzed-out records that came out last year. The horns and strings that dominated their debut have been cut away to reveal constructed, verbose, bittersweet songs in the like of Belle and Sebastian and Ben Kweller.

In the opening tune, "Frank and Sandy," singer Andrew Churchman croons, "A headache never felt so good, I'm glad I had more gin than candy." This acceptance of both the sweet and the bitter prevails on Received Pronunciation. The record's delight in melancholia is similar to looking through sunny beach photos of an ex, crying and laughing simultaneously. It's a feeling that comes from the often-catchy backing music layered with clever yet heartfelt lyrics.

The everyday is a focal point of the lyrical content, airing the typical ups and downs common to everyone. This exploration of commonplace occurrences is most successful in "Cold Hands." The song crescendos into a guitar lead that, in lieu of the lyrics, finds a triumph in the everyday, reminding us of the beauty and importance of this type of experience. Pants Yell! has successfully "cut the fat" on Received Pronunciation; there are no lofty instrumental breaks and zero gratuitous experimental noises. This is exactly what makes the record successful. We can relax and focus on nine songs that we can relate to on a base level. (Slumberland Records)