TRACK SHOWCASE: TEGAN AND SARA'S "BACK IN YOUR HEAD"

"I know these habits hurt important parts of you..."


Tegan and Sara are one of Canada's best indie acts, a pair of identical twins with a knack for great lyrics and music both. They've been playing music for fifteen years - which, considering they are only 27, is no mean feat. Their newest album, The Con, includes this gem. I'm happy to showcase it in some depth, as it's been on my mind a lot this past week.

Tegan and Sara - Back in Your Head (Sendspace link)
Tegan and Sara - Back in Your Head (live on XPN at the World Cafe in Philadelphia) (Sendspace link) * (Originally downloaded from Uberdrivel)

This tune is a head bopper, one that gets you moving even when you realise its lyrics aren't exactly happy. It deals with disconnection, with change, with growing apart. This sadness is oddly expressed in an upbeat song, but after a couple listens you realise that no matter how good the beat is, it isn't upbeat at all, and it takes a bit of a melancholy feel.

Tegan and Sara - Back in Your Head (RAC Remix) (Sendspace link)
Tegan and Sara - Back in Your Head (Tiesto Remix Edit) (from I'll Take the Blame EP) (Sendspace link)
Tegan and Sara - Back in Your Head (Morgan Page Remix) (Sendspace link)
The Broken West - Back in Your Head (Tegan and Sara cover) (Sendspace link)

Here are a collection of new versions of The Con's best song. The RAC remix is one you've probably already encountered, as it's currently making its rounds on the blog circuit. It's a nice, poppy remix with a light touch. The Tiesto Remix Edit is from their newest EP, I'll Take the Blame EP, which includes two new tunes as well as this and the original "Back In Your Head". It takes a very interesting angle to the song, accentuating the darker aspects and working well in its own right, as well as alongside the original. The Morgan Page remix is a good dance remix, giving it a beat that makes it even more impossible not to dance to. And finally, a cover of the song by The Broken West, a band I don't usually listen to but like here.

If you love this song nearly as much as I do, seriously consider buying the album.