Today's Music of the Day is Tegan & Sara's So Jealous. This album came to me by way of the public library, after having listened to If It Was You so many times that it wasn't even funny.
This album doesn't stray too far from the T&S sound - it's very straight-forward rock with a little bit of a folk edge. Unlike If..., this album doesn't seem to be as laid-back; it also doesn't use the banjo that had a nice if limited presence on If....
These songs are simple but powerful. I'm surprised that T&S haven't really had much of a radio presence, as some of their shorter songs would seem well suited for the format. Maybe they don't say 'love' enough. I especially appreciate the mood of this album (and T&S's sound in general), as it's a little bittersweet. There's enough spite and loathing here to go around, but it doesn't ever dominate the album or make it difficult to listen to.
I don't know if I have a favorite song on this album - "Walking With a Ghost" is pretty good, "Downtown" and the title track are also strong. I don't know if this is the album for everyone, and I don't know that I like is as much as If It Was You, but it's still pretty good. Hopefully I can get my hands on a copy of their latest album, The Con, sometime soon.
What do you think of If It Was You for an album title? It's grown on me a little bit.
In Other News:
I'm just barely holding it together this week. Where the hell is sleep hiding?
I love it when the moon is visible in the morning sky, especially a full moon. It's just a little reminder that the previous night actually happened, as though the cosmos is saying 'hey, I was there too, it was great'. I appreciate a reminder of something that would otherwise be lost in the rush to get to the next day of work or grocery run or whatever. Plus, I love the night sky and nature in general. Mostly, though, I like the morning moon because it is out of place, and it feels like a prize for getting up early, something that I might have missed were I preoccupied. I just love secrets like a morning moon.
Showing posts with label Tegan and Sara. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tegan and Sara. Show all posts
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
If It Was You
Today's Music That Is Pretty Great is If It Was You, by Tegan and Sara. This album, I think, was one that I just picked up at the library at random. And it worked out! Lucky me. I'm a little surprised that I haven't written about this album yet, as it's been with me for a few years but hasn't ever really fallen out of my favor.
Anyway, this is kind of a folk-pop album, mostly dominated by two guitars and the voices of Tegan and Sara. Sonically, this album isn't all that complicated; the voices are solid and have just enough of an edge to them to keep the music from being too sweet. While this album doesn't exactly change the way I think about music, it does change in style and tone enough to keep things interesting. The ballads are touching, the driving songs push the tempo pretty well.
The thing I like most about this album, though, is its sincerity. These are generally love songs, but they're not "Oh love is so great and so hard" bubblegum songs that the American Idol songwriting team is probably hard at work on right now. These are songs full of longing and stuck-out tongues, and they never seem forced or manufactured. The only song I don't care for is "City Girl", which is kind of bland in comparison to the rest of the album, and it meanders for too long without making any kind of a point. "Monday Monday Monday" was stuck in my head for a good week after I heard this album, and it remains one of my favorites. "Living Room" is a good tune, "You Went Away" has wonderful energy. The entire album is listenable, though.
This album is basically like a well-prepared made from scratch meal against a sea of processed, manufactured foods. It might look or even smell the same, but it's two completely different approaches to a concept; one works, and one can be sold to the masses. A few bites of either, though, and you'll know what you have.
In Other News:
Some things are falling apart but I remain hopeful. Also, I didn't have to throw out much food due to my power loss, but if someone wants to bring me some milk, that would be super.
Anyway, this is kind of a folk-pop album, mostly dominated by two guitars and the voices of Tegan and Sara. Sonically, this album isn't all that complicated; the voices are solid and have just enough of an edge to them to keep the music from being too sweet. While this album doesn't exactly change the way I think about music, it does change in style and tone enough to keep things interesting. The ballads are touching, the driving songs push the tempo pretty well.
The thing I like most about this album, though, is its sincerity. These are generally love songs, but they're not "Oh love is so great and so hard" bubblegum songs that the American Idol songwriting team is probably hard at work on right now. These are songs full of longing and stuck-out tongues, and they never seem forced or manufactured. The only song I don't care for is "City Girl", which is kind of bland in comparison to the rest of the album, and it meanders for too long without making any kind of a point. "Monday Monday Monday" was stuck in my head for a good week after I heard this album, and it remains one of my favorites. "Living Room" is a good tune, "You Went Away" has wonderful energy. The entire album is listenable, though.
This album is basically like a well-prepared made from scratch meal against a sea of processed, manufactured foods. It might look or even smell the same, but it's two completely different approaches to a concept; one works, and one can be sold to the masses. A few bites of either, though, and you'll know what you have.
In Other News:
Some things are falling apart but I remain hopeful. Also, I didn't have to throw out much food due to my power loss, but if someone wants to bring me some milk, that would be super.
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