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Canadian sister duo Tegan and Sara Quin explore a new sound as they offer up their 7th studio album ‘Heartthrob’ this January. As a music connoisseur and devout Tegan and Sara fan, ‘Heartthrob’ excites me to no end. Known for their guitar and lyric driven tracks, Tegan and Sara try their hand at synth pop and manage to come out on top once more.
Tegan and Sara’s music rarely misfires. The progression of their music is easy to follow, though ‘Heartthrob’ is a leap rather than a mere step. Clocking in at a succinct 10 tracks, ‘Heartthrob’ is a far cry from the accessible coffee shop acoustic driven harmonies that propelled them to success. The near perfect album appeals to a more mainstream consciousness but still manages a quaint softness and ease in line with the duo’s previous releases.
The album begins with first single ‘Closer’, perhaps one of the more pop-driven songs on the album. The track is formulaic, diving into a verse-hook-chorus pattern straight out of the gate. Tegan and Sara sing behind big sounding synths and beats, sounding infinitely at ease despite the wholly different sound. ‘Closer’ is the perfect opener to the album because of its “club banger” like quality that pleases the ear while refusing to resort to cheap antics.
A striking contrast between lyrics and music is established right away. While Tegan and Sara master bubble gum indie-pop almost perfectly, their lyrics are melancholy and thoughtful throughout. The pair show what masterful lyricists and musicians they are and how heavily their craft relies on their writing abilities.
“Do you remember I searched you out?/ How I climbed your city’s walls/Do you remember me as devout?/ How I prayed for your calls” sings Sara on ‘I was a Fool’. Simple piano leads into a thickly layered melody carried by a simple yet definitive drum beat. The album continues on with well paced and perfectly executed ‘I’m not your hero’, driven by mournful lyrics set to an upbeat tempo. Themes of longing and upset are maintained on ‘Drove me wild’ and ‘How come you don’t want me’, a track that could easily be ripped from any John Hughes film.
‘I couldn't be your friend’ is an unexpected treat, slightly straying from the composition of the other songs. Here we experience an example of the unique structure that is often characteristic of a Tegan and Sara track. It is nestled nicely toward the end of the album and is a slight reprieve. ‘Love they say’ is another track whose composition is reminiscent of former releases, especially when they begin their trademark harmony. However, the steady beats and the swelling of synthetic instrumentals reinforce its place on ‘Heartthrob’.
The album wraps up nicely with ‘All messed up’ and ‘Shock to the system’ which are stark and rigidly structured. Echoing and haunting vocals guide all the way through and provide a strong finish to a thoroughly enjoyable release.
Tegan and Sara have long pioneered a specific sound that has evoked emotion and highlighted their skills writers and musicians. Though radically different, ‘Heartthrob’ offers up a perfect aesthetic with the same basic structure and appeal as ‘Sainthood’ and ‘The Con’. The sister’s bring forward a progressive and beautiful mix of songs about heartbreak and love, managing to further enamour this listener.
'Heartthrob' was released January 29th and is available on iTunes and Amazon.
Tegan and Sara//I was a fool
