Twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin have been releasing their own brand of indie-pop since the late 90s. They’ve always received a fair amount of recognition, but it wasn’t until Heartthrob, their 7th studio album, began to garner almost unanimous praise a few weeks ago that I took notice. The 36 minute album is a concise and expertly crafted artistic statement. In the world where indie is moving towards pop and pop is moving towards indie, Heartthrob shines as the perfect model. Hanging on to their indie roots with challenging lyrics and a more reserved production style (read: no dubstep drops), the sisters embrace poppy synths and classic pop songwriting. The effortlessness of this has something to do with producer Greg Kurstin, who is best known for his work with pop superstars like Kelly Clarkson, P!nk, and Ke$ha, but is also loved by the indie world as one half of the group The Bird and the Bee.

At 33, the sisters Quin are far removed from the teenage angst they seem to embody on Heartthrob, but the precision in which their lyrics encapsulate love and heartbreak in such a personal way makes it impossible to not relate to. Similar to Taylor Swift‘s lauded masterpiece Red, Heartthrob shows off a sophistication in crafting songs about immature or elementary themes. “How Come You Don’t Want Me” is as immature a title as “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together“, but both songs are expertly crafted, elevating the subject matter to higher level.

The most excellent lyrical achievement on the album is the lead single and opening track, Closer. The song embodies the moments in a relationship before physical intimacy. The point where “All you think of lately is getting underneath me/All I dream of lately is how to get you underneath me”. The bratty delivery of the vocals and the big synths recall Cyndi Lauper and early Madonna more than contemporary brats like Cher Lloyd or Nicki Minaj. It reinforces the naivety of the narrator(s) and gives the song a great balance between sexual desire and innocence.

With EPs from Sky Ferriera, Charli XCX, and Icona Pop leading the way, Heartthrob seems to be the best realization of the ‘new pop’, which can be embraced by radio fanatics as well as indie-music lovers.

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