Heartthrob, Tegan and Sara’s seventh album, was released in the U.S. on January 29, 2013. It debuted at # 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. Since its debut, the album has also topped the US Top Alternative Albums and US Top Rock Albums. The duo experiments with new, cleaner riffs heavy on the synth, glossy beats, and the turn from acoustic guitars to keyboards give the melodies a distinctly pop feel. The vocals have pulled away from their signature prominence and hang back in breathy verses and take charge in feverish choruses. And even with this complete new change, the album is instantly recognizable.
At first listen, the album sounds more like a workout playlist than the usual emotional laments that could come straight from the twins’ journals. Still, the lyrics still compel from behind veils of misleadingly cheerful beats. The overall sound can often come across as manic, and it drives the songs forward for fear of halting and facing the emotions head on. Throughout the songs, I felt as if I were being tricked into having fun in spite of myself.
Certain songs on the album could have been as original as So Jealous or The Con. The duo still uses the steady formula of poignant, sometimes repetitive lyrics that build to passionate revelations in the choruses. “Goodbye, Goodbye” bids a serious farewell, but much of these emotions are obscured in a heavy snare beat and synth melodies. Still, when the song slows down, the vocals shine through, still as full of the raw emotions Tegan and Sara fans can recognize. “How Come You Don’t Want Me” follows in the same vein. The song leaves a last imprint with the final questions: “How come you always leave me/You never take my call, hear me out” and then trails off into introspective silence. The album picks up again with another bubbly song bearing an accusatory title, “I Couldn’t Be Your Friend”, a trend that gives the songs all a predictable yet enjoyable rise and fall. There are exceptions to this, like the ultimate song “Shock To Your System”, which blends a plaintive message and thin harmonies over a heavy, spinning beat.
The bubbliness of the songs may turn off some listeners who don’t have such a sweet tooth for the sugary style. Those looking for their old, acoustic-indie style will be disappointed, but listeners searching for a new take on Tegan and Sara’s introspective style will find Heartthrob worthwhile. Overall, the album is a new exploration, and does not disappoint in energy and honesty characteristic of the duo’s work.
8/10
