Tegan and Sara
Heartthrob
Reviewed by Christopher Panico
Tegan and Sara’s newest studio album Heartthrob is all about vibes. Right off the bat their single “Closer” delivers a synth-saturated upbeat tune that’s reminiscent of the eighties pop era. The record continues to a more laid back feel with “I Was A Fool”. Heavy with a beautiful piano sound, it’s probably one of the best tracks on the album, the chorus bringing one of the best hooks in the collection. Acoustic guitar is conspicuously light on Heartthrob, but it makes an appearance on “Love They Say”, and it drives the feel of the whole song.
Lyrically, Tegan and Sara left a bit to be desired with their new release. A few gems can be found, such as “Here comes the heat before meet” from “Closer” and “You carried romance in the palm of your hand” from “Drove Me Wild“. Most of the songs, however, are pretty typical. The lyrics in “I Couldn’t Be Your Friend” seem to be made up of every cliché that exists after a usual breakup.
Despite lyrical weakness, the melodies in Heartthrob are pretty solid. “I’m Not Your Hero“ has an infectious chorus, as do many of the songs. The duo made great use of space in the verses of “Goodbye, Goodbye“, choosing to let the silence between the words do the talking.
Heartthrob is definitely coated in the brand that is Tegan and Sara. With a solid lineup of tracks it’s definitely going to hold up in their collection while still being a departure from the times of Walking With A Ghost and Where Did The Good Go.
