"I practiced on my sainthood/I gave to one and all/But the
rumours of my virtue/They moved her not at all"
The lyrics from Leonard Cohen's 1976 song, "Came So Far For
Beauty," work as the inspiration behind Sainthood, the sixth studio
album from twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin. For the last ten
years, the Canadian musicians have worn their hearts on their
sleeves with their music. Starting out as the little folk duo that
could, the sisters have matured into one of the finest indie rock
bands today. They've beautifully grown into their song writing and
Sainthood is a testament to that, as it is the finest work of their
career.
Yes, the theme of the album still revolves around relationships,
but Sainthood features the best lyrics the sisters have ever
written. Continuing the trend set on 2007's The Con, Tegan and
Sara's lyrics go deeper than the typical relationship drama. The
struggle, grief, and bitterness bleed and breathe throughout the
album. In one instance, Tegan wants to make a relationship work,
only to realize it's futile on the aptly titled, Cure-tinged "The
Cure." Immediately after, Tegan closes herself off to every one on
the punk-flavored "Northshore." The lyrics throughout Sainthood
convey many emotions. Frankly, the conversations here are just more
adult. Over the eerie, electronic vibe of "Night Watch," Sara
admits, "I need distance from your body / I deserve this
anguish on my house." You'd never hear a line like this even
five years ago from this band, displaying the lyrical strides Tegan
and Sara have made.
But let's not overlook the music now. Sainthood is Tegan and Sara
flexing their muscles. From the stuttering synth and bass patterns
on opener "Arrow" to the piano-pop groove of "Alligator," the
compositions from the Quin's have never been better. Each track
sounds confident. First single "Hell" is a guitar-driven rocker
right out of Alkaline Trio's playbook, while "Don't Rush" features
a gritty bass line from Death Cab For Cutie's (and album
producer) Chris Walla. A consistent highlight of Sainthood is the
prevalence of keys, whether they are in the form of synthesizer or
piano, as they really flesh out a good portion of the songs.
The Quin sisters have a knack for closing out their albums
strongly, and Sainthood is no different. "Sentimental Tune" is a
delicious pop number that is brought to climax with just the right
amount of strings, while the vibrant "Someday" displays that
internal struggle that the Quin sisters always seem to face. It
sums up the message of Sainthood quite nicely; themes of
self-assurance, fear, denial, and confidence all exude from the
final track, as well as throughout the album.
With Sainthood, Tegan and Sara have proven that they've perfected
the three-minute-and-under indie pop song while having the lyrical
depth to give each track substance. Sainthood delivers a wide
variety of moods, tempos, and vibes throughout its thirteen tracks,
and it excels in all four phases of the game - lyrics,
musicianship, vocals, and production - thus making it one of the
essential records to own in 2009. Tegan sings on "Someday" that she
"Might write something I might want to say to you someday, might do
something I'd be proud of someday. Mark my words, I might be
something someday." With Sainthood, that someday is now.