I was a fool for love. At least I was the last time I remember feeling love — which was so many moons ago, the Mayans were still inscribing stone tablets with inaccurate calendars. I partially kid.
Tegan and Sara have always been a band that brought out the inner romantic, forgotten child within me. I had my best love interests around the release of “I Know, I Know, I Know,” “Back in Your Head,” “Alligator (Toro Y Moi Remix)“ and “Feel It In My Bones.” They capture the most fragile moments of a roaring affection and refuse to leave that corner of their minds like a lovestruck psychopath.
Rejecting the tidal wave of emotion that causes one to be blinded by love’s power allows Tegan and Sara to dwell on fears re: connecting with someone — and sometimes their anxiety is their own worst enemy. That is such a unique dynamic that I’ve never found another band approach as well, especially done so consistently.
They’ve been such an integral part of my life, it’s to the point where it feels weird to be loveless during a new Tegan and Sara release. There will be no impetus to have their wistful vocals soundtrack my whiskey fueled torrid affairs and romantic conquistador-ing in 2013 at the release of Hearththrob. Still, maybe I should thank them for at least breaking me out of my stupor; because their recent track (despite desires to move more mainstream) contains that same Tegan and Sara magic that’s touched my little gremlin heart and turned it semi-human so many times.
On a stylistic note, though: Tegan and Sara’s move to electro shouldn’t be a surprise. Followers of their career will know they were so enamoured with Tiesto, they wanted to go on tour indefinitely with him. Not to mention their cover of Steel Train’s “Turnpike Ghost” was a total harbinger of things to come. Featuring a simple drive-line piano and tasteful synths, “I Was a Fool” perfectly captures that new artistic vision in one amazing love song.
If there is one indie band I wouldn’t worry about wanting to sell records, it’s surely Tegan and Sara. Give their new track/sound a listen, you’ll love it.