Dig It

Tegan & Sara have been around for nearly a decade, but only recently have they really entered the limelight. Their album “The Con” (2007) was their first major success and was heralded by the addition of Chris Walla, guitarist for Death Cab for Cutie and part-time producer for similar groups. Coming on as producer and breathing new instrumental life into this musical sister duo, Walla has aided this group to finally come into their own.

Their new record “Sainthood” combines everything great about their previous albums and adds energy previously unknown in their music. Mixing modern rock with their unique vocal sound and standby use of synthesized instrumentation makes for a great blend that will capture new fans without abandoning old ones.

The album seems to have two distinct halves. Most everything up to “Northshore” has heavy guitar and driving drums. From “Night Watch” on, however, the exclusive Tegan & Sara sound is recognizable from earlier albums. And with all the heavy stuff stripped away, it is easy to appreciate both styles the group has brought to the table.

If you want to get an idea of what this album is about, just listen to the two singles they’ve selected. “Hell” is a good representation of the first half while “Alligator” just shouts out the band’s distinctive style that fans know and love. For those unconvinced, the whole album is streaming on the band’s MySpace site. The rest can pick up a copy in stores or as a digital download thanks to Vapor/Sire records.

For people who like: Metric, An Horse and Northern State