Heartthrob
Tegan and Sara
Sire Records
Heartthrob is Canadian indie duo Tegan and Sara’s seventh studio album, released Jan. 29. This 10-track record is proof that these artists are determined to continuously recreate their sound while staying true to their heart-on-sleeve lyrics. The twins have been the idolized queens of indie rock for nearly a decade now, with hits like “Walking With A Ghost,” “The Con,” and “Northshore,” but Heartthrob has thrown the singers into the centre stage of new wave synth-pop.
The Quin sisters have grown up and out of the teen angst of their first few records and the passive aggressiveness of the last three, but don’t worry. These new songs still ring clear with the same “love sucks” approach that we’ve come to look for and appreciate.
A personal favourite, “I’m Not Your Hero,” is Sara’s quirky dance anthem and blends this new synthesized sound with heart-wrenchingly relatable lyricism: “Feeling like I am now / Lighting up the hall / I was used to standing in the shadow / Of a damaged heart.”
The album has received mixed reviews from long-time fans as it is a deliberate stride out of the sidelines and into the world of mainstream pop. The first single from Heartthrob, “Closer,” was released late last year and reached commercial success on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 with an impressive peak ranking of 21.
The upbeat ‘80s pop feel of this new record is the result of the gradual transformation that the girls have undergone since the release of their last LP, 2009’s Sainthood. These talented Calgary natives have been redefining their music in the past few years, collaborating with artists like Morgan Page, David Guetta, and DJ Tiësto for many dance club charters, like “Body Work.”
Six of the songs were produced by Greg Kurstin, known for working with pop princesses P!nk, Ke$ha and Britney Spears. The outcome is an original acoustic, indie-pop hybrid that makes you want to either belt the lyrics out in the shower between emotional sobs or get your tightest and brightest outfit on and rave all night at the local nightclub.
What sets these gifted musicians apart from the rest of the indie music scene is their transparency and openness to their fans. They have produced over 100 tracks, treating each one as open love letters and breakup ballads for their listeners. Tegan and Sara have offered their private lives to the public album after album, and it’s time they receive the widespread recognition they deserve with relatable songs like “I Was A Fool” and “Now I’m All Messed Up.”
Heartthrob has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for mindless music to hum along to while studying for midterms or catchy tunes to sing (read: scream) from behind your steering wheel. Listen to this album if only for the satisfaction of making intense eye contact with the senior stopped at the red light next you while mouthing the lyrics, “All I dream of lately / Is how to get you underneath me.”
