Tegan & Sara - "Heartthrob"

Six whole years ago, Tegan and Sara released their sixth studio effort "Sainthood". This album had an updated sound, compared to their previous records. There was slightly less guitar, the edges were softer ad there were more blips and bloops of electronic intervention. The course of their discography from "If it was you" to "Sainthood" is actually a good example of how over the past 5 or so years modern rock has embraced more experimentation, more electronic textures and has broken away from guitar-oriented rock purism. "Heartthrob" takes Tegan and Sara from rockers dabbling in electronics to electro-pop princesses dabbling in rock.  

The songs have a huge, fleshed-out, radio friendly sound to them. Like Canadian band STARS the songs have rock rhythms with dancefloor hooks and pumping synth tones. While technically, the riot grrrl angstiness (from their first 3 albums) is gone, the popification of their music has not cheapened the emotional content one bit. Even a quick glance at the track list reveals that, at least as far as titles go, "Heartthrob" looks like the most melancholy, vulnerable record they've done, to date. 

[for those of you who don't have the album in front of you or on your screen:]
1. Closer
2. Goodbye, Goodbye
3. I Was A Fool
4. I'm Not Your Hero
5. Drove Me Wild <(past tense there)
6. How Come You Don't Want Me
7. I Couldn't Be Your Friend
8. Love They Say
9. Now I'm All Messed Up
10.  Shock To Your System

"I Was A Fool" is the best song on this entire album, hands down. Runner up is "Drove Me Wild". This album succeeds despite going "pop", something fans normally resent. Even longtime fans should appreciate the songwriting, despite the lack of guitar action and the normal tough-girl aesthetic.