So Jealous

Tegan and Sara

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Prior to realizing mainstream pop success with their last few albums, Tegan and Sara were Canadian indie darlings. 2004's So Jealous seems so far removed from the glitzy and extravagant synth-pop the duo has been releasing over the last decade. By comparison, the production on So Jealous is quaint, clean, and intimate. It feels more like a singer-songwriter record as there doesn't seem to be much focus on experimenting with different sounds and instrumentation. The duo stringently sticks to acoustic/electric guitar, bass, drums, and some soft synth textures. It can be a bit of a double-edged sword. Should the songwriting happen to fall flat, the production isn't really there to carry the weight of the track. This does occur at some moments on the record but for the most part, this is a very solid album.

The album starts off very strong with You Wouldn't Like Me, a song that is instantly catchy thanks to the alternating power chords and dead strums on an acoustic guitar. The chorus on the following track Take Me Anywhere has some great backing vocal shouts from Sara that are tucked nicely in the background. I Bet It Stung rides on this one full guitar chord in a way that has this drone like quality. The vocals on this track are also unique as they are treated with a little bit of distortion or phaser. Whichever effect it may be, it makes the vocal performance stand out here since the vocals on the rest of the tracks are relatively dry in terms of the effects used.

After this point the record hits its first lull but it picks right back up in a big way starting with Walking With a Ghost. Some may find this track incredibly repetitive but this song is all hooks. The chord progression, the drum fills that transition from section to section, and of course Sara's lead vocals all work together to create an undeniably sticky pop song. The title track that follows is perhaps the most experimental track on the record. It features these alternating synth and acoustic passages that have a very stark contrast between them. The first phase is the calm before the storm; lead by a pulsing vocal synth pad. There is a sense of uncertainty and anxiety in this passage that gives way to a more cathartic passage that features these heavy piano bass notes. Speak Slow is another stylistic shift on the record as I hear the duo going into more of a pop-punk direction. It is the most lively in terms of tempo and drum beat and the vocal melody is so incredibly catchy. I also really like the driving sections with prominent distorted guitar and the shouted vocals.

The album unfortunately doesn't have the strongest finish; leaving the three weakest songs until the very end. However, up until this point the record ranges from generally enjoyable to indie-pop perfection. Despite this being their fourth record, I think some would say that So Jealous was where Tegan and Sara hit their stride. They would later go on to expand their sound and develop their songwriting; releasing two more critically acclaimed works before the end of the 2000s. For some reason though, the simplicity and the desire to keep things to the most essential elements was an aspect of this record I always appreciated.