Tegan and Sara experiment with new style– and it’s a ‘Heartthrob’

It’s a new year, and people all around the world have celebrated 2013 with resolutions to reinvent themselves. Tegan and Sara, the duo comprised of the eponymous Canadian sisters Tegan and Sara Quinn, have celebrated 2013 with a divergence from their signature indie rock sound on their newest album “Heartthrob.” While the sisters gained popularity for their hyper-acoustic indie rock jams and relatable lyrics about frustration, love and angst, this album takes the pop approach and produces an album full of danceable pop tracks. While the new album presents a new side of the duo, it does not fail to impress. As a long-time Tegan and Sara fan, I can confidently say that it is one of their best albums. 

This album is overwhelmingly pop-oriented and does not boast a single acoustic track. While this was unexpected, to say the least, it is actually refreshing and fun to hear the sisters take on a new direction. The content of their songs is still independent and unique, which gives the familiar pop aesthetic a new edge. Songs like “Goodbye, Goodbye” and “I’m Not Your Hero” are sassy responses to past lovers that walk the fine line between breakup ballad and strong female anthem. “Goodbye Goodbye” actually contains elements similar to Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” with the line, “You never really knew me never ever, never ever saw me saw me like they did,” but without the twee cute factor of Swift’s mega-popular tune. The album as a whole actually sounds a lot like a mix of La Roux of “Bulletproof” fame and Canadian band Metric, with similarly powerful female vocals, messages of empowerment and synthetic pop melodies. 

While the album is predominantly pop-themed and is a new beginning for the sisters, some tracks contain hints of their past as an acoustic and piano duo. For example, “I Was a Fool” features a delicate piano melody over the pop beats and is reminiscent of their past acoustic albums. “Love They Say” also harkens back to their past albums, with the gentle guitar part that gradually transforms into synthetic beats. The blending of their new and old styles is interesting, and reminds us that Tegan and Sara are true to their musical roots. 

With the great messages from their empowering lyrics, the fantastic synthetic pop melodies and the beautiful duet of vocals from the sisters, Tegan and Sara’s newest album is sure to be a “Heartthhrob.”