Having never listened to Tegan and Sara's music before, I approached this with a very open mind, although I had heard that it was a good pop album. Considering that they're an indie band, I wasn't expecting them to be so mainstream sounding with this, but maybe that was the point. The album is bright, breezy pop all about the intracacies of love. I was pleasantly surprised to find that their lyrics were not overly lesbian orientated. This is great, because it would be easy for them to become a niche act, but by keeping the lyrics vague, anyone of any sexual orientation can relate and they can gain more fans. The direction makes me think that the duo are intending to break into the mainstream and they certainly could if they play their cards right. The question is, is their new direction going to continue or will they revert back to their original indie selves?… Expand

After Sainthood, anyone could have seen this record coming. Since So Jealous, the duo have been gradually adding synthesizers and electronic elements to their sound, and they've gone all the way out with Heartthrob. T&S will probably gain a lot of fans with this record and lose a lot, too, but I'm staying along for the ride. The Con is one of my favorite records of all time and while Heartthrob doesn't come close, it's still a very good record, and in my mind an improvement on Sainthood, which felt like an awkward transitional stage and came across as a little soulless at times.
Make no mistake about it; Heartthrob is a pop album. If that's not your thing, then you probably won't like it. But in my mind, Heartthrob proves that there is such a thing as pop music done right. This is the same T&S of old, just in a more accessible, danceable package.… Expand

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

Before listening to Heartthrob, I'd never heard a Tegan and Sara song in my life so I came in with no long-term fan baggage, and I have no idea how this album fits into their larger discography. But let me say, on its own merits, this is a first rate pop album. Each song could be its own single, and the band has enough personality, charm and talent to prevent the whole thing from seeming too impersonal, slick, or banal. If you enjoy well constructed pop music even a little bit, buy this album. This is about as good as the genre gets.… Expand

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.

6.0 REASON Goodbye, Goodbye, Drove Me Wild and How Come You Don't Want Me Great songs and good production.

In every song you hear influences such as Closer Eurythmics, They Say Love Madonna

I'm Not Your Hero the weakest track on the album.

Such a mainstream record for a pair of pop-underdogs like Tegan and Sara! I'm not a big fan of ballads, but Greg Kurstin does an impeccable job in producing these tunes. "I Was A Fool" is a stand-out, and "I'm Not Your Hero" is amazing too.
If you were a Tegan and Sara fan, you'll be a little bit disappointed about their new approach, but if you haven't heard nothing from them, you'll become a fan right away. Love at first listen.… Expand

I could just copy and paste Critico's review. Heartthrob is disposable 80's dance pop. If you're into that kind of thing you'll probably enjoy it, but this isn't the Tegan & Sara I've liked for years. Everything that made them quirky and original is buried beneath synths and generic beats. I hope this is just a quick departure and not a road they continue down.

I feel like it

This is not your early Tegan and Sara. If you heard their first single, it tells you what they were aiming for. They jumped back into the synth pop of the 80s and if, like me, you embrace how Tegan and Sara aren't afraid to change things up while keeping true to their deep core, you will love this. But I have devout followers who can't stand this, and think its crap. Personally, I trust in what these girls do, and for the 7th time, I'm not disappointed in the least.… Expand

Uniformly awful.

I´ve been a fan since If It Was You. But being a fan of intelligent indie/folk/punk does not mean I will swallow an album of craptastic dance pop, just because I respect the artists who spawned it.

If the twins emulated Ani DeFranco on their first album, on this, their first disposable album, they're emulating Rhianna, Gaga and Bieber. And that's not exactly what I'd call an artistic evolution. This is their Rod Stewart Moment. When a great artist sells out for money, and in the process, throws away what was great about them in the first place.

So if T&S want to go this route, good luck. They will always have a special place in my heart for the amazing work they've done (and for being intelligent, and funny and cute as can be along the whole ride).

But being a fan of good, smart tunes, I simply have no interest in this, um, product.… Expand

I appreciate danceability and eighties revivals as much as the most hardcore nostalgics, however, this simply comes across as shallow and contrived. It makes me wonder how much input vs. how much creative control they delegated to the producer (whose credentials make me think he was steering the ship). If you're looking for airy, bombastic synth pop with no regard for variety, subtlety or dynamic arranging, look no further. There are many other bands doing this a lot better right now and not comprising nearly as much integrity. This was a very obvious commercial shout out and not the creative/artistic exploration these girls would hope you to think.… Expand

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.… Expand

I don't understand why people don't like it? It's not at all generic or mainstream at all because it sounds like nothing on radio right now. With Heartthrob, they put their own spin on groovy synthpop songs with catchy hooks and choruses. The lyrical content and writing style is the same, but the only difference from their previous material is that the album has pop production instead of indie rock production. From a pop music point of view, this album is perfect and deserves to be recognised as such. The fans who do not like this sudden leap into pop music may not like this, but, oh well, you win some, you lose some. Don't be so mad that it's different. Different is good.… Expand

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

what I find truly amazing is how these professional "critics" are actually justifying this record as good and refreshing. It makes me think the whole music industry is rigged. This record, as someone said earlier, is nothing but really bad 80's music. Why should we celebrate something that has been done over and over again? A clear example on how bad the music industry is getting. This is bad pop music..not good pop music so lets make that perfectly clear.… Expand

I dont get this either. This album is so weak for a pop album. There voices are annoying and whiny on this compared to some of there other work. And the songs sound more immature too. There is no great lyricism in this record. Do people actually like this crap?

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!

Absolutely Ridiculous!!! After listening to this a few times you are already sick of it. Its the kind of music they would play in a gay bathhouse. They have not done enough here at all. If they were not Tegan and Sara then anyone of these fans would not give it a favourable review. Just because they created good stuff in the past does not mean as artists they can hang on the coattails of their past glory. This filth is embarassing and whats even more embarassing are the empty heads that are praising this. For a 7th studio album, this is totally unacceptable. Pop or not Pop, it just sucks… Expand

I've been listening to them for over a decade and, even though their sound has changed a bit, am loving this album. I've been listening to it/dancing to it on repeat for the past week. It's a good one.

Though lyrically lacking in comparison to previous albums, Heartthrob is a cohesive and enjoyable record that still manages to strike chords of memories of young, unrequited love. Being of fan of the band since So Jealous, I, for one, was not upset with the change in direction. I felt Sainthood, although a great record, was lacking in many areas. As stated in many reviews, the album has an 80s sound to it, and despite upbeat synthesizers, the lyrics still manage to capture a sadness. Although the move from the sisters to make this record more of a pop sound has resulted in critics to call them sell-outs or less-than musicians, the album is meticulous and flows just as well as their previous records; there is in fact a brain to this creation. The Quin sisters best efforts come in the songs Closer, Drove Me Wild, How Come You Don't Want Me, and the last song: Shock to Your System, which is the best song on the entire album. After countless collaborations with prominent DJs in the music world, I feel that Heartthrob is a valuable and emotionally charged album.… Expand