“Hell”
from the album Sainthood
2009
iTunes
Tegan and Sara, a Canadian rock duo made up of twins Tegan and Sara Quin, just released their new album Sainthood. Encompassing love and all that comes with it, the album was apparently inspired by the Leonard Cohen song “Came So Far for Beauty.” The earnestness and raw emotion in his lyrics, “I practiced all my sainthood / I gave to one and all / But the rumors of my virtue / They moved her not at all,” certainly touched the sisters’ hearts. Regarding love, Tegan and Sara assert it is something they are “committed to seek and obsessively discuss […] until the end of time.” Indeed, their new album accomplishes just that.
Although the album’s first two songs, “Arrow” and “Don’t Rush,” have rather repetitive lyrics, both tracks have wonderful dance beats. Probably geared more toward pleasing current fans than gaining new listeners, these two songs are great for when you want something familiar to dance to.
“Hell,” the next track on the album, delivers much more in terms of both lyrics and melody. Its passionate, rapid-fire vocals offer the perfect outlet for the duo’s overflowing emotions. While the next song, “On Directing,” has much more mellow backing instrumentals, there is again more than meets the eye. Lyrics like “Go steady with me / I know it turns you off / When I get talking like a teen,” further develop Tegan and Sara’s ideas on relationships and love in general.
Likewise, the song “Red Belt” has remarkably insightful lyrics and a very catchy melody — when you get over the repetitive nature of both. “I wish you’d call, but I know that you’re out tonight / My ears fill with the sound of you kneeling […] Kneel to condition all the feelings that you feel” is both a comment on the pseudo-religious adoration that can stem from being in love, as well as the emotional differences between people sharing such a bond.
In “Night Watch,” the intriguing introductory instrumentals lead into the opening vocals “I’ve got grounds for divorce,” which set the proverbial stage for a darker, more introspective track. Another track with somber undertones, “Paperback Head,” is an apparent commentary on the vapidity of some females and offers advice via lyrics like “Rope up your mind / Keep the suitors in line / Must draw your own aid / Must shift your affairs.” With “Paperback Head,” the twins make a serious point that people need to think independently, an important message so many women seem to have forgotten.
“Alligator” and “The Ocean,” two songs about the problems with romance, have distinctly different tones. “Alligator” maintains a lighthearted mood throughout, but lyrics like “No hissy fits / Mind my manners / Won’t make a scene over you” expose a bitterness deep at the song’s core. On the other hand, “The Ocean” begins with a melancholy tone, which contrasts with the song’s fast-paced melody. When you listen closely to the lyrics, however, they are far more hopeful than depressed: “I know what I want / And what I want’s / Right here with you.”
Ending with the buoyant track “Someday,” which retains that feeling of hope for the future, “Might do something / I’ll be proud of someday / Mark my words / I might be something someday,” the album accomplishes its goal and leaves listeners with the warm, fuzzy feeling of being loved. Sainthood is a truly remarkable work of art and is a wonderful addition to Tegan and Sara’s repertoire.