Originally published by the Saturday Star, 30 November 2007Tegan and Sara
The Con
4/5
It’s rare to have identical twins in a band, and even rarer when both are superbly talented musically. This is the Canadian duo of Tegan and Sara. Their retro folk indie-pop sound is welcome in this genre, as it manages to be both original and still incorporating excellent pop hooks that you’ll find yourself repeating. It’s not pop in a Madonna sense, but more in a 80s Cindi Lauper sense. And this is a sound that’s made a surprising comeback of late, one these sisters pull of perfectly. Their latest album is a polished effort. Chris Walla from Death Cab for Cutie co-produces it with the pair. Matt Sharp, formerly of Weezer, and now of The Rentals fame, lends his talents on the bass on some songs. Although this is their best produced album, the arrangements are simple, belying the depth of their lyricism. Many of the songs the 20-somethings muse upon are sullen laments of unrequited love. Tegan and Sara are not likely to find their way onto local radio stations, mostly because of their alternative sound. Certain songs could be hits on indie dancefloors, while most are more worthy of quiet introspection. What a good album this is though – one definitely worth exploring.
