It’s a shame if Tegan and Sara are known to some simply as the cute identical twin lesbian chicks from Canada, because they’ve been putting out solid pop albums for a decade now. And the band’s newest, “Sainthood,” combines elements of their past records — smart lyrics, jangly guitars, icy synthesizers — into a lush mix that should please listeners well beyond the indie-rock realm.
“Sainthood” is a fully realized pop-ish gem that bristles with energy and emotion as well as very current motifs, like chiming guitars and New Wave synths, but these aspects don’t amount to empty trend chasing. All of it goes to serve the songs, which are well-constructed, impeccably performed and catchy.
Tegan and Sara Quin may be genetic carbon copies of each other, but the differing nature of their vocals is apparent and important throughout the 13 tracks, all of which are deeply emotional and thematically connected. The album title comes from a Leonard Cohen song about failed attempts at being perfect to please someone else; “Martyrdom” would’ve been an equally apt title, because much of the songs deal with dedicating your life to a person only to be disappointed in the end.
Opener “Arrow” is heavy on the synths in the verses and softer and ethereal on the choruses, with Sara, whose singing voice is a bit more nasal than her sister’s, handling lead vocals. On “Don’t Rush,” they sing the verses in tandem and Tegan handles the choruses, and the remarkable “Hell,” a driving piece of guitar rock, could be compared to Death Cab’s more uptempo fare.
“On Directing” is one of many standouts, a moody tune that finds Sara singing, “Go steady with me/ I know it scares you when I get talking like a teen.” Others include “Northshore,” which is punky and crunchy, a sinister “Night Watch!”, a syrupy “Alligator” and “The Ocean,” which hews close to standard indie rock. The chorus is memorable, and Tegan deftly handles the wordy lyrics: “So it’s been so long since you said/ I know what I want/ And what I want is right here with you.”
Rating: W W W W
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