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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

alley hector

by alley hector

Tegan and Sara's "Sainthood" gets artwork and a release date

Those pixie-like new haircuts do little to dispel that myth that indie-rock twin singer/songwriter duo Tegan and Sara are really nymphs in disguise. Add to it the title of their new album Sainthood, to be released in October, and you might think a heavenly aura surrounds the sweetly singing sisters.

To whet our appetites Tegan and Sara have released a few morsels from the upcoming opus, including front and back cover art and a complete track listing.

In an interesting Dada-like mish mash, the front features a fairly straight-up three quarter profile portrait of Sara with the head of Tegan poking through a black and white photocopy-like cutout. Both wear striped black and white shirts so the juxtaposition of real and imagined is apparent.

On the reverse, the color and life of flesh and body are almost wholly removed as the photocopy cutout stands headless and alone. The only hint of the physical is the subtley whimsical peek of pink fingers holding the copy. Once again, Tegan and Sara manage to meld style with cultural reference and a healthy degree of irreverence.

The tracklist is equally compelling and mysterious:

Arrow
Don’t Rush
Hell
On Directing
Red Belt
The Cure
Northshore
Night Watch
Alligator
Paperback Head
The Ocean
Sentimental Tune
Someday

Continuing their emotional and often forlorn tradition, these titles evoke a melancholy vision of what is and what can be. The image of “The Ocean,” constant, dangerous and thought-provoking, is right next to a blatantly honest “Sentimental Tune” while other songs are shrouded in uncertainty such as “Paperback Head” or “Alligator.” Certainly “Hell” is not a happy anthem, but is it really as bad as it seems?

Luckily, fans also have some concrete dates to look forward to hearing this new material live. The album releases Oct. 27, and Tegan and Sara will play Los Angeles on Oct. 25 and in New York on Oct. 30 and 31.

Are you psyched on Sainthood?

Pinkishmel's picture

Super Psyched

I am so psyched about Sainthood and I am making sure that I am there on Oct 25. Surprised that this hasn't been posted yet. =) Love the cover and psyched about the track listing.
laughagain's picture

I don't think it would

I don't think it would actually be healthy for a person to be MORE excited for Sainthood than I am. I. cannot. wait. 

& I too will be at the 25 October show, so hooray! 

s a r a h's picture

once again, brilliant

once again, brilliant artwork and a promising sounding track list. i am a tegan fan through and through, but damn sara is looking good in this shoot!

I am practically dancing in my chair at work because of this news :)

To every feminist action, there is an equal and opposite beauty reaction- Naomi Wolf

Banany's picture

I agree

It's unhealthy how excited I am too. AHH. I almost can't wait but I'm sure I can hold off for at least until the 25 oct show is posted on youtube.. then the songs will be memorized by the time I get the record on the 27th... I wish I could go to the LA show. When the hell are they coming back home to Canada to do some shows!?? TORONTO PLEASE! instore would be awesome... please..
mixtape218's picture

60 days i believe :)

60 days i believe :)
dollparts's picture

lol the track name red belt

 put me in the mind of when sara talks about her martial arts background and run ins with bullies cant wait for the album :D

 

 

"Hands upon my back again.
Survival is my only friend.
Terrified of what may come.
Remember I will always love you,
Even as I claw your fucking throat away.
But it will end no other way"

Psychopractor's picture

So Ridiculously Excited

I am so insanely excited that I might actually fly to NY to visit my family, just as an excuse to go see them.  I really really reallly really really (REALLY) hope they come to FL. Actually, I don't care where in the SE they come to, I'll drive there to go see them. THAT is how excited I am to see them. If I keep typing the word excited, people are going to think I'm a Psycho obsessed fan. O.o. Can't wait. =D

 

 

http://psychopractor.blogspot.com/

K's picture

Gah. Absolutely dying

Gah. Absolutely dying here.... Sara looks absolutely dreamy. Since when did Tegan get rid of her labret?

And i haaaaate that "Orpheum" is such a common venue name. So much disappointment that they're playing in Cali but not Vancouver.

Psynomi's picture

Can't bloody wait!

Oh goody! I seriously cannot wait... I guess I'll have to though...
Booger's picture

really though.

worst artwork ever. 

 

 

 

Janet: Everybody's talking about it.
Amy: About what?
Janet: How you met Lucy and lived to tell about it. They're calling you a hero, when really you're a slut.
Amy: You shut up
Janet: A gay slut.

Pinkishmel's picture

LOL

I saw this on oh no they didn't. So funny at the photoshop cover "artwork".

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/38547346.html

marny's picture

this ONTD raid brought to

this ONTD raid brought to you by /togon_n_soru
TheMute's picture

I agree

It's terrible.

But that Livejournal post is awesome!

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/38547346.html?page=5#comm...

marny's picture

u can thank /togon_n_soru

u can thank /togon_n_soru for that poast
Eeee's picture

by any chance on

by any chance on Togon_n_soru?
marny's picture

YESSSSSSSSSS

YESSSSSSSSSS
MsLaughALot's picture

Agreed.

I saw the artwork on their site and I raised my eyebrow and was like..riiight. I really hope the album is good. I mean, I love tegan and sara but the artwork for this album is just creepy. I think its the makeup...
tolastsif's picture

do you mean how tegan looks

do you mean how tegan looks like a dragqueen
marny's picture

  CREDIT FOR THAT MACRO

  CREDIT FOR THAT MACRO GOES TO TOGON N SORU. GURL, WE OWN THE INTERNET.

 

AT LEAST, THE GAY SIDE. 

tolastsif's picture

ITS TRUE, TOGON N SORU

ITS TRUE, TOGON N SORU HELPED ME COME OUT!
Anonymous's picture

It worked for Andy Warhol.

And Milton Bradley's "Twister" Game.

Renew-Reuse-Recycle.

hilda's picture

stripes

I'm excited--even though I still need to buy "The Con", so I feel like a neglectful fan!  And it looks like their love affair with stripes continues.
Eris_of_Myth's picture

Whaaaaat???

You don't have "The Con"? Oh, it's awesome...

------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry for the gravity...

QuirkyRigz's picture

Excited!

Ahhh I am so psyched for Sainthood! Cannot wait until October =D
Yvette's picture

Oh yeah

I'm so psyched that I literally have no words. I'm just gonna keep my mouth shut till the album is in my hands.
volk's picture

Storey rocks.

Emy did it again, the artwork it's great as always. I liked the review, your writing style is very poetic.

I love the trademark pose of Sara, on guard, protecting herself. I wonder if her pose has anything to do with the lyrics of the new songs. 

It blows that they chose LA to start touring. Anyway cant wait for the new record, the book and the concerts.

 

miss chatelaine's picture

Of course!

and my future wife - uh, I mean, Sara, is looking mighty fine. I've gotten so used to seeing them as quirky little musicians that it's surprising to be reminded how very feminine they can look.

I don't know how psyched I am about the new record - The Con is one of my absolute favourites, mostly because of the very strange eccentric tracks on them. Sainthood is supposed to be more rock, isn't it. But I absolutely loved Sara's strange weird tracks on The Con - Knife Going In, Like O Like H, I was Married, Tegan's wonderful Dark Come Soon and AYTYA. I like rock and all that, but I truly loved how quirky and DIFFERENT The Con was. I don't mind losing the acoustic sound, but I don't want Sara's wonderfully weird melodies to go away.

But I can't see it being a disappointment, even if it's a rock band album. And as I said, Sara isn't doing anything to let anyone overtake her position as my current future wife, and they've both got gorgeous haircuts that make me weep and clutch my own useless gravity-defying curls in despair.

Janay's picture

...and here you are!

 I just came here looking for you so we could have it out over Sara as usual!

How fine does she look in the goggles picture!!!

I LOVE the album art! They're so crazy when it comes to art the fact that some people don't quite "get it" might make them even more satisfied:-P  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

"I know how I was born and I know that I have no choice. I know it may not show on the color of my skin, but I know it’s in my heart and in my soul."-Sara Quin

miss chatelaine's picture

We kid, we kid

it's all in a bit of harmless fun! I'm starting to get worried that people are taking us seriously. ha.

Ari's picture

Counting down the days!

I seriously can't wait for the tracks to be released, i need me some new Tegan & Sara! I feel it in my bones is not "theirs" enough..and the list of the songs just sets my hopes for new great tunes even higher! And of course, i can't miss the chance to see them live so i am impatiently waiting for the European tour dates to come out. But, i cant help but notice how dreamy Sara is..aw, so gorgeous, love the smokey eye make up on her ^.^ Sanithood, since you can't come soon enough for me..i guess i'll wait ^^ 

Lakshmi is my homegirl <3

plaidface20's picture

Best Album of '09?

This is going to be so, so good. Based upon past performances and their steady progression as artists (plus that nymph thing), I think it's pretty safe to say this is going to be one of the best albums of the year. I hope they announce more tour dates soon.

plaidface20's picture

Also

Also, how do they keep getting hotter every year? 
speak_slow's picture

October 27th...you cant come soon enough for me ;)

so excited :D:D:D cant imagine the album being anything short of brilliant to be honest. 

 im also "patiently" waiting tour dates for the UK

Corinna's picture

OMFG

How gorgeous do they look here!!
Julia's picture

OMG!

JESUS! Sara looks A:M:A:Z:I:N:G !!! Her hair is just perfect! ....and I'm def. a Tegan person ;)

Both of them look more mature and grown up....

 

CANT WAIT FOR THE RECORD!!!!!!!! 

Julia's picture

OMG!

JESUS! Sara looks A:M:A:Z:I:N:G !!! Her hair is just perfect! ....and I'm def. a Tegan person ;)

Both of them look more mature and grown up....

 

CANT WAIT FOR THE RECORD!!!!!!!! 

MAliLAli's picture

def not uninteresting

I also had to think of Dada photomontage. and the artist Claude Cahun. but what is behind all this? I am waiting for the album and lyrics to see ...

 

Never stop exploring. 

KayVee's picture

yey!

i can't waaaaait! 

the end. 

Lucylex's picture

Sooooo Psyched

I am very psyched for Tegan and Sara's new album, October seems so far away...ugh     
Eeee's picture

the name is kinda lame...

the name is kinda lame... and the artwork is pretty clever, but it's difficult to work it out on first glance.

i'm a real big fan of all their old stuff, so i'm not really looking foreward to this 'cause they're just going to end up sounding more modern and electronicised than The Con.

ahh, I really hate it when a good band just ends up getting more modernised with each record.

Sam's picture

I really hope it's as good as

The Con or So Jealous.I love the band and I hope they don't branch to far off from the older stuff.

Auburn's picture

No.

I'm not excited at all.

YEAH RIGHT!!!!

It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.

Janay's picture

Angelic/Sweet...nah!

Haha yeah Sara has that beautiful angelic voice it makes me swoon on EVERY song, Tegan has a deeper voice and an all around edgier look. So for some reason I thought Sara would be this really nice sweet girl. It took all of 5 minutes on Youtube for her potty mouth/gutter mind to smash that theory, and I fell in love!

I love the album art and all the other pictures. The whole theme is a bit dark (even the make up in some pics) and more accurately represents their personality and the dark themes their music usually possesses than the usual captures of them on film.

(by "dark" personalities i don't mean depressing, i just mean real "almost 30" year old women with real problems who get sad and angry and occasionally manipulative lol) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

"I know how I was born and I know that I have no choice. I know it may not show on the color of my skin, but I know it’s in my heart and in my soul."-Sara Quin

Anonymous's picture

October,

where are you?!?

Stoookkkkeeeddd.

marny's picture

tegan's weird.   sara

tegan's weird.

 

sara forever. 

Brutal_Romance's picture

My stereo

and Ipod are screaming for me to stop playing The Con album, so this will be a nice change for both of them. Just 2 more months my sweeties till Sainthood would be played on a constant loop.
lojane518's picture

so welcomed!!

oh goodness this will be an amazing thing to lift my spirits while teaching in a country where i dont know the language!! i was jumping up and down when i found out about this. literally. dont question it. 
courtcourt's picture

!!!!!!

Honestly can't wait...will be brilliant!!!

And they look gorgeous!

Sentimental Tuna's picture

New artwork. I am

New artwork. I am disappoint, son. 
mutedheartbeats's picture

i like your picture! <33

i like your picture! <33