Tegan & Sara – Heartthrob

Tegan & Sara are leaving the indie world behind, seeking out a new pop sound with Heartthrob. Not only does it sound different, but also it represents a more collaborative way of making music. For the first time the sisters have written the majority of the songs together. Beneath the surface there is a maturity to the lyrics.

Heartthrob (their seventh full-length album) glimmers with flawless harmonies and vocal play that only twin sisters could manage. The rougher edges of 2009’s Sainthood are replaced with a generous coat of pop gloss. 

Closer’s breeze-blasting chorus does its best to help long-time fans adjust to the new Tegan & Sara, but a frenzy of synths and cheerleader-style chants make it a steep learning curve. It is the best pop song of 2013 so far, rejecting contemporary sickly sweet pop and creating something altogether more fun. 

The best tracks are those most unlike the duo’s previous efforts. I’m Not Your Hero bobs along playfully as they sing defiantly about tackling life the hard way: “I never walked the party line/doesn’t mean that I was never afraid.”  Lyrical declarations, accusations and percussion punches persist throughout. 

Final song Shock To Your System is level-headed despite its passionate name, with haunting lyrics and a chorus that builds subtly. Tegan & Sara have never hidden how they feel about heartbreak, and it’s an honesty that has earned them their success.  Heartthrob is a straightforward album, even conventional in places, but it gives a perspective of love with a fearless edge. 

Verdict: ••••

Naomi Couper 

Heartthrob was released on 29^th January. For further information about Tegan & Sara, click here.

Watch the video for Closer here