Tegan and Sara - The Con

[TachyonEvan]

Tegan and Sara - The Con
Record Label: Sire Records
Release Date: July 24, 2007

Sisters? Lesbians? CANADIANS?

It’s hard to get your facts straight about Tegan and Sara Quin. Everywhere you turn, you’re bombarded with some new rumor of dubious origin. To get things straight, they ARE lesbians. They’re also identical twins. However, despite their Canadian origins, they do not engage in twincest onstage – a rumor that greatly upset the duo when it was spread by a DJ last year. However, whatever you’re uncertain of about the two, know this – they’re capable of making some of the most original and entertaining alternative music this side of Beck.

Their most recent release, The Con, is their best yet. Yet? Yes, this is their fifth album. Commence kicking yourself now for not hearing of them sooner. Oh, yeah, even The White Stripes covered the song “Walking With A Ghost,” originally from 2004’s So Jealous. Feel guilty yet? The songwriting is notably split between the two girls, and Tegan’s songs (“The Con,” “Dark Come Soon,” “Nineteen”) sound very different from Sara’s songs (“Back in Your Head,” “Like O/Like H,” “Floorplan”), but both work on each other’s tracks. The album can’t seem to decide whether it’s more folky or electronica. For example, on the title track, the song proceeds to buildup emotionally and musically with acoustic guitars, but the prechorus hits and we are immersed in machine noises and heavy synths that even Trent Reznor would approve of. However, the album as a whole does tend to be quieter and calmer than fellow entries in the realm of indie-pop. Nowhere here do the girls go Patti Smith and rock out; they tend to stay their reserved selves, which is by no means a bad thing. While Sara tends to use less electric guitars than her sister, her songwriting style fits that choice – she is much more that of a storyteller than her sister, though Tegan’s songs tend to have better grooves and are more musically developed.

The vocals on the album are a very distinctive trait. Whether or not you can like The Con is quite reliant on whether or not you can handle the girls’ voices. They share vocal duties, and they tend to sing on their own songs, but there are quite a few times where they double up (most notably on “The Con” and “Burn Your Life Down”). This is used to great effect, that is, if you like that sort of thing. Their voices are very… different. They sing like they talk, and it’s quite beautiful, but it may not sit well with you. That’s my only warning about buying this album: if you don’t like their vocals, you naturally will not be able tolerate it. If you’re not already familiar with the group, then listen to either “The Con” or “Back in Your Head” before you even consider buying this album.

My only gripes are that there are parts where the songs do tend to get a little repetitive, and that the album is a bit too powerful. Lyrics like “I hold this pain in my heart forever/ All eyes are on me now/ I shouldn’t go but I can’t really help it/ When I feel this pressure” (from “Floorplan”) are delivered by the girls’ eerily sad vocals amidst very picturesque acoustic guitar. It’s a unique method of delivery and it works well to its own ends. Unfortunately, it may be lost on many listeners, especially the emotionally epic closers “Dark Come Soon” and “Call it Off” – together they form a denouement that makes you want to put the album right back in and listen to the whole thing again. And that’s what I suggest you do.

Meg and Dia; Death Cab For Cutie; Shiny Toy Guns; Sleater-Kinney; Rilo Kiley; Beck; The Decemberists; An Horse
myspace.com/teganandsara

[Slaur]

I love this band,and so does my six year old daughter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZJmhJqvzHg

[Undue Noise]

Love, love, love this album.

[TachyonEvan]

Great album.

And any constructive criticism you could offer would be much appreciated. :D

[TreyForest]

they are the only band i can get into with girl singers
this records fucking good ....

[HometownHero]

That RIYL section at the bottom of your review are terrible comparisons for the most part

[from debris]

great cd. it was not until this summer that i gave it a chance and i'm glad i did.

[Spenny]

Amazing CD. They're so good live, and hilarious on top of that.

[xBértox]

They sound NOTHING like Meg & Dia or Shiny Toy Guns.
But nice try.

[Spenny]

They sound NOTHING like Meg & Dia or Shiny Toy Guns.
But nice try.
BUT THEY AND MEG & DIA ARE BOTH BANDS CENTERED AROUND SISTERS!

*shot*

[I Shot Chicago]

very nice review.
and i agree with your ending. i have, in fact, ended this album and immediately began listening to it again.

[themostdeplete]

awful review. you're an all around awful poster. i've seen the lost thread.

[themostdeplete]

Great album.

And any constructive criticism you could offer would be much appreciated. :D
The vocals on the album are a very distinctive trait. Whether or not you can like The Con is quite reliant on whether or not you can handle the girls’ voices. They share vocal duties, and they tend to sing on their own songs, but there are quite a few times where they double up (most notably on “The Con” and “Burn Your Life Down”). This is used to great effect, that is, if you like that sort of thing. Their voices are very… different. They sing like they talk, and it’s quite beautiful, but it may not sit well with you. That’s my only warning about buying this album: if you don’t like their vocals, you naturally will not be able tolerate it. If you’re not already familiar with the group, then listen to either “The Con” or “Back in Your Head” before you even consider buying this album.

ok, here's some criticism: you could've written this gigantic repetitive clusterfuck paragraph in about 3 sentences. you could've also left the entire intro about them being lesbians off. i guessed your age after reading that, and i guessed 17. sure enough...

[Inaction]

Eh I have to disagree. "The Con" isn't their best record at all and I'd be hesitent to describe anything on it as epic. A band like Sigur Ros have epic sweeping tracks, Tegan And Sara have short intimate pop tracks.

The review itself could do without devoting entire paragraphs to their sexuality and vocal style. The former is irrelevant and the latter is easily summarized.

[phuckshietass]

love love love this cd

[GFritz]

Terrible review. The fact that they are sisters, lesbians, and Canadian is entirely irrelevant.

[Mangle]

The review may be a bit overblown, but it is a good record.

[lostintheair]

perfect album

[aprilrainx]

LOVE this album. Purely amazing.

[c_rob2700]

I would of left out the intro thing, kinda throws a level of immaturity upon the rest of the review

[ExplodingStereo]

That RIYL section at the bottom of your review are terrible comparisons for the most part
I'll say that the Meg and Dia comparison is kind of odd, even though there are sisters in the band. I laughed a little at the DCFC one because that was completely random. Good review overall though minus the intro. That part was a little unnecessary.

[HometownHero]

I'll say that the Meg and Dia comparison is kind of odd, even though there are sisters in the band. I laughed a little at the DCFC one because that was completely random. Good review overall though minus the intro. That part was a little unnecessary.
Nothing like either of those. Yes a very stupid immature review but still the album is amazing.

[mushroom]

Eh I have to disagree. "The Con" isn't their best record at all and I'd be hesitent to describe anything on it as epic. A band like Sigur Ros have epic sweeping tracks, Tegan And Sara have short intimate pop tracks.

The review itself could do without devoting entire paragraphs to their sexuality and vocal style. The former is irrelevant and the latter is easily summarized.

I'm interested you know what you think there best CD is.

[Inaction]

I'm interested you know what you think there best CD is.

As unoriginal and predictable as it is I'd have to say "So Jealous" is probably their strongest work for me so far. I know a lot of people froth over their earlier work but it's never really grabbed me in quite the same way (maybe I'm missing something), and I just found "The Con" to be lacking overall. It's a decent record but it apart from a few tracks it's nothing special.

[blinknow]

I really liked The Con a lot. I'd go as far as saying it's pretty incredible.

[ExplodingStereo]

I'm interested you know what you think there best CD is.
I personally really like So Jealous. Maybe it's just more straightforward, but I enjoy it.

[TachyonEvan]

The vocals on the album are a very distinctive trait. Whether or not you can like The Con is quite reliant on whether or not you can handle the girls’ voices. They share vocal duties, and they tend to sing on their own songs, but there are quite a few times where they double up (most notably on “The Con” and “Burn Your Life Down”). This is used to great effect, that is, if you like that sort of thing. Their voices are very… different. They sing like they talk, and it’s quite beautiful, but it may not sit well with you. That’s my only warning about buying this album: if you don’t like their vocals, you naturally will not be able tolerate it. If you’re not already familiar with the group, then listen to either “The Con” or “Back in Your Head” before you even consider buying this album.

ok, here's some criticism: you could've written this gigantic repetitive clusterfuck paragraph in about 3 sentences. you could've also left the entire intro about them being lesbians off. i guessed your age after reading that, and i guessed 17. sure enough...

Terrible review. The fact that they are sisters, lesbians, and Canadian is entirely irrelevant.

I would of left out the intro thing, kinda throws a level of immaturity upon the rest of the review

Nothing like either of those. Yes a very stupid immature review but still the album is amazing.

You all definitely totally missed the point.

[HometownHero]

You all definitely totally missed the point.
I understood you are a terrible writer.

[Inaction]

You all definitely totally missed the point.

Asking for constructive criticism and then becoming defensive when several people make the same point is exactly the sort of immaturity they were talking about.

[themostdeplete]

You all definitely totally missed the point.

you asked for criticism. my real advice is to stop writing. or wait till you've taken an AP class.

[mushroom]

As unoriginal and predictable as it is I'd have to say "So Jealous" is probably their strongest work for me so far. I know a lot of people froth over their earlier work but it's never really grabbed me in quite the same way (maybe I'm missing something), and I just found "The Con" to be lacking overall. It's a decent record but it apart from a few tracks it's nothing special.

I personally really like So Jealous. Maybe it's just more straightforward, but I enjoy it.

This is odd because is always seen tegan and sara as the sort of band that have continually grown and improved with each album, its certainly worth seeing them live to get a better perspective of the con as an album.

I genuinely believe the song "knife going in" is beautiful but in the most unconventional way.

[Inaction]

This is odd because is always seen tegan and sara as the sort of band that have continually grown and improved with each album, its certainly worth seeing them live to get a better perspective of the con as an album.

I genuinely believe the song "knife going in" is beautiful but in the most unconventional way.

Don't get me wrong, there is growth between the two records and even improvements ("Call It Off" is great) but maturity doesn't always mean a better record. I think my issue with "The Con" might sometimes lie in the lack of hooks, quite often it seems that there is nothing really to grab hold of with the tracks. That and I think "So Jealous" is a much more solid record, whereas "The Con" frequently dips in quality.

[mushroom]

Don't get me wrong, there is growth between the two records and even improvements ("Call It Off" is great) but maturity doesn't always mean a better record. I think my issue with "The Con" might sometimes lie in the lack of hooks, quite often it seems that there is nothing really to grab hold of with the tracks. That and I think "So Jealous" is a much more solid record, whereas "The Con" frequently dips in quality.

If i had only listened to the con for around a week i may have agreed with you but i feel it is the type of album that grows on you, having listened to it every day on my way to work since the day of its release its become one of my favourite albums. If anything the con lacks the deep sentiment that every song on so jealous carries so well.

By the way its nice to finally have an intelligent conversation with someone on this site without getiing any of the "zomgxxxthisxxxbandxxxarexxxnaff" bullshit.

[Inaction]

If i had only listened to the con for around a week i may have agreed with you but i feel it is the type of album that grows on you, having listened to it every day on my way to work since the day of its release its become one of my favourite albums. If anything the con lacks the deep sentiment that every song on so jealous carries so well.

By the way its nice to finally have an intelligent conversation with someone on this site without getiing any of the "zomgxxxthisxxxbandxxxarexxxnaff" bullshit.

It's funny because I think listening to both albums a lot is why I feel this way. I liked "The Con" a fair bit when I first heard it so I was surprised when it got some lackluster reviews and that. Then it started to wear down to that point that I started agreeing with a lot of the criticisms people had. The exact opposite happened with "So Jealous". Apart from "Walking With A Ghost" and "I Know I Know I Know" I wasn't fussed. Having said that, it'd be boring if everyone liked the same thing. If "The Con" was just a rehash of "So Jealous" or even their earlier stuff it would've been much more disappointing.

[TachyonEvan]

you asked for criticism. my real advice is to stop writing. or wait till you've taken an AP class.

I take 3 English classes and plan on being an English professor, which involves publishing. Just so you know.

FYC.

[themostdeplete]

I take 3 English classes and plan on being an English professor, which involves publishing. Just so you know.

FYC.
congrats. start writing album reviews AFTER that.

[HometownHero]

I take 3 English classes and plan on being an English professor, which involves publishing. Just so you know.

FYC.
Hahaha then you have just a serious lack of talent

[Matthew Tsai]

Terrible review. The fact that they are sisters, lesbians, and Canadian is entirely irrelevant.
Awful poster. You obviously don't even know what a "hook" is.

[TachyonEvan]

Awful poster. You obviously don't even know what a "hook" is.
I'm pretty sure you're the first person to understand this. Thank you.

I mean, this review is terrible, but thanks for recognizing my intention in that.

[Matthew Tsai]

I'm pretty sure you're the first person to understand this. Thank you.

I mean, this review is terrible, but thanks for recognizing my intention in that.
Yeah I mean it might be the most blatant hypocrisy I've ever seen.

[hokusman]

This album is so much better than Sainthood. Probably the best album of their career (although I do love Under Feet Like Ours).