Tegan and Sara will release their eagerly awaited sixth studio album,
entitled Sainthood, on October 27th on Sire/Vapor Records. Sainthood
was produced by Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla (who also produced
2007's critically applauded The Con) and Howard Redekopp (who produced
2004's groundbreaking effort So Jealous) and mixed by Grammy Award
winner Dave Sardy (Oasis, Primal Scream, Marilyn Manson).
The follow-up to 2007's The Con, Sainthood addresses secular themes of
devotion, delusion, and exemplary behavior in the pursuit of love and
relationships. The songs, Tegan and Sara say, were "inspired by
emotional longing and the quiet actions we hope may be noticed by the
objects of our affection. Sainthood is about obsession with romantic
ideals. In the service of relationships we practice being perfect. We
practice our sainthood in the hope that we will be rewarded with
adoration. As we are driven to become anything for someone else, we
sometimes become martyrs for our cause.
Love, like faith, can never be held in an individual's hands. But the
story of a great love affair – especially one that is unrequited or
has ended too soon – can be woven like scripture or a bedtime story.
And so the themes of Sainthood are tied together by this simple title,
borrowed, with great respect, from the lyrics of the Leonard Cohen
song 'Came So Far For Beauty': 'I practiced all my sainthood / I gave
to one and all / But the rumors of my virtue / They moved her not at
all.'"
Tegan and Sara began recording Sainthood in May at the legendary Sound
City Studios in Van Nuys, CA, where Tom Petty, Nirvana, and Fleetwood
Mac have all recorded. They finished laying down tracks at Seattle's
Two Sticks Audio, owned by Death Cab drummer Jason McGerr.
Tegan and Sara have also recently completed their first ever set of
books, titled ON, IN, AT. The three-book set chronicles different time
periods in writing and photographs from the past year of Tegan and
Sara's lives: their 2008 US national tour, their 2009 Australian tour,
and a joint writing session in New Orleans for the new album. The
books are being released in conjunction with the Sainthood pre-sale.
To celebrate the release of Sainthood, Tegan and Sara will perform
four very special shows: October 25th and 26th at Los Angeles' Orpheum
Theater, and October 30th and 31st at New York City's Town Hall.
Tickets for all shows are on-sale now.
Also confirmed: Tegan and Sara will perform live on The Tonight Show
with Conan O'Brien on Nov 2. Check local listings for details. Plans
for a full U.S. tour in February 2010 in support of Sainthood will be
announced soon. Canadian tour dates have just been announced.
The track-listing for SAINTHOOD is as follows:
Arrow
Don't Rush
Hell
On Directing
Red Belt
The Cure
Northshore
Night Watch
Alligator
Paperback Head
The Ocean
Sentimental Tune
Someday