Heartthrob - Tegan and Sara
Heartthrob Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 64 Ratings

  • Summary: With the help of producers Greg Kurstin, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Mike Elizondo, and Rob Cavallo, the Canadian twins display a more mainstream pop sound with their seventh release.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 31
  2. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. 91
    Beneath all that gloss, though, Heartthrob has an underlying toughness and a clear-eyed take on heartbreak. [8 Feb 2013, p.75]
  2. Feb 11, 2013
    80
    The tunes and recriminations seem to cut deeper than ever on their seventh album.
  3. They have now cracked out the synths, ramped up the drum machines, and found their calling in giddy, lovelorn electro-pop.
  4. Mar 4, 2013
    60
    This was an interesting direction to go in and it definitely has a lot of potential. But the duo will need to do a better job balancing the synths and the songs to succeed.

See all 31 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 23
  2. Negative: 6 out of 23
  1. This pays a lot of homage to 80s dance music, but it's still Tegan and Sara. They are masters of creating a pop sensibility without sacrificing authenticity. Like many alternative artists, they're transitioning to a more electro-pop sound, which isn't the inspired most choice. Heartthrob is sort of like if T&S took a stab at making a Robyn record with Hot Chip influence, but they did it really, really well. They take this very bubbly, buoyant style, but can make it emotive enough to be sincere. It's a bit of a grower, but it's probably the most accessible Tegan and Sara album to date. Highly recommended. Expand
  2. There's no question about it; this is a divisive album. But the Quin sisters put as much of a nail in they have all their albums. If you're willing to look past the gloss you'll find that this album is rife with honesty and no less of a work of art than any of their previous outings. Hooray for Canadiana! Expand
  3. I rushed to grab this album, and even though I expected more light-heartedness, I wasn't quite expecting this. You can really hear the 80's influence. I love 80's music, but they didn't really capture the raw emotion and excitement in 80's music. It's like...the bad side of 80's mixed with the bad side of today's light hearted feeling of pop. Something that could have been done right, but instead feels more like a money grab than anything. It will definitely get radio play, but as a fan of their older albums, this should have been a download rather than purchase. Expand
  4. As a long time fan, it pains me to say that this is the duo's worst album since 'This Business of Art.' That doesn't mean they've "sold out" or anything. They have been on a major label for years. It's just that they are such endearing songwriters, and this album glosses over everything that makes them charming. They sound lost. Expand

See all 23 User Reviews