Tegan and Sara's new song, 'Northshore,' off of their hit 2009 album 'Sainthood,' is a perfect example of the Canadian duo's mind-bending versatility. Whether it's electro pop, swaying ballads, or, as in this case, pure, unadulterated rock, the pair of identical indie twins always seem to strike just the right note, at just the right time. Lyrically, 'Northshore' may sound somewhat morbid ("Something's so sick about this / My misery is so addictive"). But sonically, it's anything but. With a pulsating, frenetic guitar beat underpinning their vocals, the twins seem to unleash an unreal amount of aggression, proving once again that experiencing personal pain doesn't necessarily imply slow or mellow wallowing.
Although the duo's sixth studio album has been out for some time now, fans and critics alike continue to shower it with praise -- and with good reason. The album, whose title was reportedly inspired by a Leonard Cohen lyric, is remarkably introspective. As the group described it, 'Sainthood' "addresses secular themes of devotion, delusion, and exemplary behavior in the pursuit of love and relationships." More specifically, they the album, according to the two, "is about obsession with romantic ideals."
And that's certainly apparent on this single, which, although brief, seems to pack a lifetime's worth of angst and confusion into the span of a few minutes. The new single is also hitting airways as Tegan and Sara prepare for a lengthy U.S. summer tour, which kicks off on July 23 in Raleigh, NC, and winds up in Anaheim, CA on Sept. 19.
To listen to 'Northshore,' check out AOL Radio's New Indie First station.
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1. I couldn't agree with you more! Tegan and Sara are a ridiculously underrated talent. Chief among their arsenal is versatility, anyone can find something because it is all different. They will take over one song at a time.
Posted at 10:47PM on Jun 3rd 2010 by MsNJS