As a dandruff shampoo commercial taught us in our youth, first
impressions are everything -- and the opening track to Tegan
& Sara's upcoming album, due on Oct. 27, is quite the
silver bullet, or is it more like a quivering arrow?
It's true that the Quin twins somewhat resemble the kind of
pixies who would shoot a feathery, magic-dusted dart, but
"Arrow" is no innocent, cute thing. On one side,
it's dark and abrupt, pleading and anxious. On the other,
there's a calm, cold certainty to a line like, "I take
my aim, do you feel me coming close?"
In an interview with the sisters earlier this year at the Sound
City Studios in Van Nuys, they explained the development of the
band that has occurred over six albums, including their 2004
breakthrough, "So Jealous."
"We're a straightforward pop band," Tegan said.
"but we have plenty of quirks. It's about making those
quirks not distracting."
On "Sainthood," which takes its title from a Leonard
Cohen song, "Came So Far For Beauty," the quirks make
for good texture. "Sainthood" takes on the nature of
devotion and self-presentation in relationships, and the gamut of
feelings are a real cathartic pleasure to behold. On one extreme,
you have "Hell," the first single that you can listen
to on their website; on the other, you have "Sentimental
Tune." Ah, sounds like love all right.