Heartthrob - Tegan and Sara
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
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  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Feb 1, 2013
    91
    Beneath all that gloss, though, Heartthrob has an underlying toughness and a clear-eyed take on heartbreak. [8 Feb 2013, p.75]
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  2. Drowned In Sound
    Feb 6, 2013
    90
    They may have churned their sound into something new, but their heart and their character is still very much in the right place, and that’s what makes Heartthrob more than just a brilliant pop album, it’s unarguably a brilliant Tegan & Sara album and it’s very, very close to being perfect.
  3. PopMatters
    Jan 30, 2013
    90
    The girls can be proud that their efforts have produced the best record of their career, and quite possibly, one of the best records of the year.
  4. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Jan 22, 2013
    90
    The twin sisters have pushed themselves creatively and musically, creating something truly special.
  5. Billboard.com
    Jan 29, 2013
    89
    Even those who felt lukewarm to Tegan and Sara's past few efforts should fully embrace their dazzling pop rebirth on Heartthrob, one of the best LPs of this young year.
  6. The A.V. Club
    Jan 29, 2013
    83
    In the end, in spite of the fancier veneer, Tegan And Sara remain honest chroniclers of romantic minutiae.
  7. Paste Magazine
    Jan 29, 2013
    83
    The music is possibly the duo's best, though it's a little uniform compared to their competing peak The Con, which had shrewder tunelets and weirder sonics.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 64 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 23
  3. Negative: 6 out of 23
  1. teatime1990
    10
    I would actually rate this album around an 8.5, but I scored it 10 here because of the pretentious hipster jackasses who gave it a 0 and a 4. Come on, really? There's not liking something and then there's just trolling out of spite. Now to the actual review: Honestly, I enjoyed Heartthrob. After seeing Tegan and Sara put out tracks such as Alligator, Bodywork with Morgan Page, Feel It In My Bones with Tiesto, and other electro hits, this album really feels like a natural evolution of where they're at. It's synth pop at its best, but still retains some lyrical depth and Tegan and Sara soul. It will make you dance, but it can also make you cry. Highlights of the album include Now I'm All Messed Up, Shock To Your System, and I Run Empty. This album is definitely a Sara standout. That being said, this album does have its missteps. Love They Say is throwaway trope and is without a doubt the worst track on the album. I Couldn't Be Your Friend falls just short of being catchy. But still, this album is definitely one you should check out. Don't forget to purchase the Deluxe version because the two bonus songs included are both fantastic.… Full Review »
  2. krstnlndsy
    5
    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.… Full Review »
  3. Hesperite
    3
    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.… Full Review »
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