Canadian Duo tries for a different sound
New Tegan and Sara CD is less indie and more mainstream than previous albums
Posted on August 27, 2007
After the first listen, any diehard Tegan & Sara fan would find themselves wondering what has happened to the twins they used to listen to. With the debut of their latest record, the Canadian duo has replaced their raw, acoustic sound for a slightly over-produced electronic one. Co-produced by Death Cab For Cutie’s Chris Walla and joined by guest artists such as Jason McGerr from Death Cab on drums, Matt Sharp from Weezer on bass and Kaki King on guitar, The Con is more stylized than anything the twins have ever released. In fact, the new songs are even more radio-friendly than the chorus-driven songs that caused Tegan & Sara to go mainstream with their last album, So Jealous.
They haven’t shed their indie folk skin completely though. Instead The Con seems to have picked up where their last album left off. They make better use of synth-based hooks and electric guitar riffs to produce a more mature sound. Although the result is delightful, it’s a bit of a shock to anyone who has been keeping up with the twins since the beginning.
The musical style on this album may be different from their original sound, but the same sentiment is still there. Tegan and Sara’s voices overlap and blend together in a passionate frenzy of emotions while the lyrics add their usual melancholy touch. These thought provoking reflections are met by heart wrenching music that helps intensify the mood.
Although the music is stimulating, it seems a bit forced coming from one of this generation’s biggest indie/folk double acts. Their new approach comes off as a watered down version of their original style.
After giving it another try, fans may find The Con better than it seemed upon first listen. With fiery lyrics and catchy music, its impossible not to love Tegan and Sara– because no matter how mainstream they become, their eccentricities still shine through.