Imported from Calgary, Alberta, Canada in the late 1990s, indie pop-rock duo Tegan & Sara are far from music industry rookies. With their newest album Sainthood launching last fall , the sisters have been touring in support of the record for nearly a year, and have no plans of stopping in the near future.
For any true Tegan & Sara fan, the sound on their new albums poses many questions and concerns, while it is still receiving praise in a similar fashion. Sainthood’s sound is much more “poppy” when compared to what T+S listeners are used to, and also relies on an odd repetitive theme to help instill the message intended. Tracks like “Alligator”, a pop-dance explosion inspired by Miami culture in the 1980s is a great dance track, however it lacks the the deeper content which the sisters are known for in each of their songs. Another track which perpetuates the theme of repetition is called “Hell”. The first single off the new album, “Hell” made Tegan & Sara history for being their first single ever to receive national radio airplay. The track is a pop-rock dream; one filled with electric guitars and numerous keyboards alike. While this track is rather radio-friendly, it sounds nothing like the Tegan & Sara we’ve known and loved since 1998.
When looking to past albums like So Jealous and The Business of Art for answers, one only grows more confused as to the origin of the band’s new sound. Pop music sells, and we can assume the girls are ready to give in. After nearly a decade of writing acoustic-folk songs and wiccan-punk melodies, the sisters are clearly looking for something new and fresh.
As we look to the band’s past work for inspiration, we find the song “We Didn’t Do It”, a folk-rock song discussing the girls’ inability to “sell out” to the industry and their fans. In reality, the name of their new album should be, We Did It (For the Money). While there is nothing wrong with making a dollar in this industry, it is another thing to change your sound entirely! If you are a seasoned Tegan & Sara fan, you probably won’t take a liking to this otherwise great record. If you are looking for something fun, catchy, and different, this album may be for you!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Celine Dion - Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert
An album chronicling the 7th highest-grossing concert tour of all time, Celine Dion’s Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert certainly delivers in ways unheard of for the eccentric pop icon. Often noted for her cheesy, over-the-top performance style, this album captures Celine Dion in a light which would surprise even the most harsh of critics. If anything, the woman can sing! And that she does in this two hour recording; a show featuring her most-beloved classics, interspersed with several new tracks supporting her latest English-language album, Taking Chances.
The album kicks off with an upbeat cover of Cyndi Lauper’s I Drove All Night, on which Celine’s vocals are clearer than ever. Typically, Dion’s voice comes across rather strained, and physically uncomfortable; however, this recording is noticeably different. Having been nearly twenty years since she broke into America’s music scene, her voice has matured in many ways, particularly when it comes to the range in which the bulk of her notes are delivered. Once a tad forced, Celine now belts out even her most ambitious hits with both refinement and mastery. Her version of All By Myself features an extended high tone which throws the crowd into a frenzy. While clearly winded from the feat, Celine finishes the number with yet another extravagant extended note. As the next song begins, the remaining goosebumps on your arms act as a reminder of precisely the caliber of entertainer Celine Dion is.
Another great feature to this album is the number of new tracks being introduced by Dion. Mostly the product of trying to fit into an industry she no longer relates to, a majority of the new songs are modern day pop covers, many of which are styled like the music of Skakira and Delta Goodrem. While not the flashy love ballads we’ve all come to expect from Dion, the additions showcase her abilities as a working performer; one who will experiment in order to find herself a new audience.
The “Queen of Love” has really outdone herself with this now-essential collection of live performances. The quality and clarity of the album is truly a rare find for any arena-recorded live event. Celine Dion will surprise you with this installment of her career, and further prove to even the most dedicated Celine Dion critics that image cannot possibly speak to one’s true talent. This album is a must for any true fan of pop music, as well as anyone indifferent to Celine Dion!
The album kicks off with an upbeat cover of Cyndi Lauper’s I Drove All Night, on which Celine’s vocals are clearer than ever. Typically, Dion’s voice comes across rather strained, and physically uncomfortable; however, this recording is noticeably different. Having been nearly twenty years since she broke into America’s music scene, her voice has matured in many ways, particularly when it comes to the range in which the bulk of her notes are delivered. Once a tad forced, Celine now belts out even her most ambitious hits with both refinement and mastery. Her version of All By Myself features an extended high tone which throws the crowd into a frenzy. While clearly winded from the feat, Celine finishes the number with yet another extravagant extended note. As the next song begins, the remaining goosebumps on your arms act as a reminder of precisely the caliber of entertainer Celine Dion is.
Another great feature to this album is the number of new tracks being introduced by Dion. Mostly the product of trying to fit into an industry she no longer relates to, a majority of the new songs are modern day pop covers, many of which are styled like the music of Skakira and Delta Goodrem. While not the flashy love ballads we’ve all come to expect from Dion, the additions showcase her abilities as a working performer; one who will experiment in order to find herself a new audience.
The “Queen of Love” has really outdone herself with this now-essential collection of live performances. The quality and clarity of the album is truly a rare find for any arena-recorded live event. Celine Dion will surprise you with this installment of her career, and further prove to even the most dedicated Celine Dion critics that image cannot possibly speak to one’s true talent. This album is a must for any true fan of pop music, as well as anyone indifferent to Celine Dion!
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