Album Review: Hearthrob by Tegan and Sara

Dorothy T. — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:00:48 +0000

The duo has been producing numbers of record for 13 years and this year they finally released their 7th album “Hearthrob” on January 29, so here’s a bit review of what I think about the album.

Who are they? This multitalented Canadian twins has been buzzing around in the music scene since they were in school in 1997, but it was in 1999 they released their first independent album “Under Feet Like Ours”, and in the following year they got signed to Young’s Vapor Record labels and released “This Business of Art” which made them touring around for quite some times. In 2002 the band released their 3rd album “If It Was You”, well they haven’t got much attention but it was in 2004 when they released their 4th album “So Jelous” they gain wider success, especially when their song “Walking with a Ghost” covered by The White Stripes. In 2007 to 2009 they collaborated with many producer and musicians, such as Chris Walla and Jason McGerr (DCFC), Matt Sharp (The Rentals), Weezer, Hunter Burgan (AFI), and Kaki King, and then released their 6th album “Sainthood”, and received high feedback from music medias such as Spin, for their honest lyrics and music. Their “Get Along” live footage was nominated for Best Long Form Music Video at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

How’s the latest album goes? They recorded Hearthrob album in february last year, and the first single “Closer” was released last Sepember. When I saw the video we can see that they still have the pop young influences of two teenager, and off course this single if I can say is like a better version of Carly Rae Jepsen, and I wonder why she was more famous than Tegan and Sara, I mean, this duo is much a better pop artist than any solo pop girl out there. Anyway back to the review, this album was so much mature then their previous albums. If we hear more of an upbeat, pop rock version of teenage girl bands, in this album you can hear more of an adult adolescenes kinda of music. The second of the album, “I Was A Fool” remind me of band Tatu mixed with M2M but less the disco and gay kinda sound, its a nice pop song you want to hear in the middle of the rain as your breakup song though. “Now I’m All Messed Up” is a very unique ballad and pretty much a catchy song to be use as love movie soundtrack. A little of electronic synth sound can be hear on the song “Shock To Your System”, another nice catchy tunes that I found interesting is “I’m Not Your Hero”, here you can hear more of the pop less indie but still it’s the kind of song you can’t compare with other teenage pop songs, but if you’re looking for an indie pop songs try to listen to “Feel It in My Bones” maybe it’s a little bit sounded like the up beat version of lo-fi songs of Lana Del Rey, a little bit of both. But in general I like this album because it was a good music for everyone in general, even if you don’t like or trying to listen to alternative pop songs.

Album Review: Beta Love by Ra Ra Riot

Dorothy T. — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 08:06:59 +0000

Have you heard about Ra Ra Riot latest album, Beta Love? Well if you haven’t, you really have to check it out as they share it from their channel only for this week.

Who are they? Are you sure, you named yourself music enthustiastic but haven’t heard about Ra Ra Riot before? This is the sample of what New York has turns an indie band into too-much-productive-and-having-a-good-time band. RRR was fromed in early 2006, and as a young musicians they gained lots of good feedback from their performances in such early age (ok I probably shouldn’t talk as if I was an lame old jerk writer), but anyway, after the ups and downs they released their EP on the following year through Rebel Group label, and signed with major label V2 Records and released A/B single on 7″ vinyl record “Dying is Fine” and “Each is Fine”, and later on 2008 they released their debut LP and their debut album “The Rhumb Line” through Barsud Records, which their music video “Can You Tel” won best music video in 2009 Finger Lakes Film Festival. In 2010, as they were based on the best indie bands could ever be, they collaborate with other Indie musicians such as Chris Walla (DCFC) and Rostam Batmaglij (Vampire Weekend) for their second album “The Orchard”. Their loveable pop rock music then became more famous as the songs were featured on many comercial and tv shows.

So how’s this latest album goes? The band’s third studio album “Beta Love” is set to be released on January 22, 2013, but it will aslo be the band’s first studio album since the departure of cellist Alexandra Lawn. Basically this album was so much fun, you want to use it in your summer party album. Even tough it was pretty much a new set of music style than their previous baroque pop sound, but it still have the magic to make you move. Their first song “Dance With Me” is so much fun you just want to repeat it over and over, the next song “Binary Mind” is the perfect song you want to use to forget your ex and just be happy for your life right now. Maybe “Beta Love” will be their single , and it does deserve to be a single, as it was the perfect combination of a urban city theme soundtrack but less hyper fun. Slower tunes can be found on “Is It Too Much”, ”When I Dream” and “For Once” which I can imagine it will be use when the band have to take a rest from their attractive act during their live performance, it’s a nice songs though. I also like “Angel Please” which it reminds me a little of Passion Pit but less high pitched vocal. “Wilderness” is a bit like Hurts kinda theme songs but less sad. “What Do I Do” and “I Shut Off” are another songs you can basically use for any situation. You know, listening to this album just reminds me of either it’s gonna be bad or good feedback they will receive next Tuesday, this album will remains as the perfect soundtrack for everyone who wants a happier day.

So, what are you waiting for? Stream “Beta Love” NOW before you have to pay for it :p (but if you love it, make sure you buy it!)

SVANAPAPER » Chris Walla

Album Review: Hearthrob by Tegan and Sara

Album Review: Beta Love by Ra Ra Riot