For seven albums, Tegan and Sara have established themselves as indie darlings with acoustic tunes and a cult lesbian following.

“Heartthrob” is a combo breaker that brings in pop producers and synth beats to transform Tegan and Sara’s sound from mixtape for your feminist queer lit club to Robyn meets The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Some purists may consider “Heartthrob” a classic case of a popular indie act selling out to become mainstream, but Tegan and Sara have done the opposite of playing it safe with this makeover. The departure from their typical vibe is a definite risk, and it pays off.

Despite a few moments that feel a bit derivative (as so many synthpop efforts are prone to), their talent for writing poignant songs about relationship angst remains strong under all the gloss and glitz, and lead single “Closer” promises to stick in the listener’s head. “Heartthrob” is nervy, refreshing, catchy and even radio-friendly.