Album Review: Tegan And Sara - Heartthrob

Tegan And Sara
Heartthrob
Rating: Grrrr

I will admit that I have never really listened much to Tegan and Sara's other albums. I think I had breezed through a couple of their last records and just never felt any connection to them or desire to listen to them again. It was mostly acoustic/indie folk rock that had some interesting lyrics, but was practically indistinguishable from most similar acts. With the release of their seventh studio album Heartthrob, I was not prepared in the least for their 180 degree change in direction. Enlisting producers Greg Kurstin (Santigold, Pink), Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Paramore, M83), and Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Eminem) the duo have crafted one of the most aggressively pop records of the year, polishing their sound within an inch of its life, eschewing their more traditional guitar based songs for glitzy synth based confections. The 80s are definitely the touchstone with Heartthrob, with a lot of the tracks borrowing from artists like Cyndi Lauper, Prince, & Heart at their most hook laden and catchy. I have a feeling this complete change in sound and direction will irk a lot of their fanbase, and I am sure more than a few people will claim they have sold out. I suppose those claims will be somewhat valid, but seeing as I was not a huge fan to begin with, this change in direction, for me, is a positive thing. Hearthrob is a glossy, well-produced record that is extremely catchy. It is exactly what it is needs to be, a pure pop experience.

You definitely know you are not in the same territory right off the bat with first track and single "Closer," with its bouncy synths and slick drums and what seems, on the surface at least, to be typical Top 40 ready lyrics which contain a subtle edge, with lines like "All you think of lately is getting underneath me/All I’m dreaming lately is how to get you underneath me."



From there, it is a speedy journey through a pop landscape that you are either going to fall head over heels for or run screaming from. It took me a couple of listens but finally I had to give into it. It's just so damn catchy. From the sugar rush of "Goodbye, Goodbye,"



clever update of Heart-like balladry on "I Was A Fool,"



to the shimmery guitar gloss of "I'm Not A Hero,"



Heartthrob is packed to the gills with enough hits to make most current pop acts seethe with jealousy. While most of the songs seem very tame lyrically, when they are examined a little closer there are many instances where things take a darker turn. "How Come You Don't Want Me" is a particularly desperate song from the point of view of a dumped lover,



"Now I'm All Messed Up" is a haunted breakup track with lyrics like "Stay/You'll leave me in the morning anyway/My heart/You'll cut it out, you never liked me anyway,"



and closing track, the amazingly strong "Shock To The System" is a plea for a friend to get out of their relationship funk.



But overall, there is an easy, fun vibe to the whole record, from the 80s synth blasts of "Drove Me Wild," bouncy keyboards and thumping drums of "I Couldn't Be Your Friend," and gorgeous harmonies of "Love They Say." Heartthrob is just a pleasant surprise for me. Yes, based on most of the music I tend to like, it is very odd that I should like a record like this, but honestly, as long as the track is catchy and well done, I can like it just as much as something more experimental. So, into the second month of 2013, I think I have found my pure pop album crush of the year so far. You other pop princesses better bring your A game.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.