It’s unquestionable that the sort of people who would even buy a Tegan and Sara DVD are probably already convinced that it’s going to be the greatest DVD of all time. It could just be 3 hours of them shopping for shampoo or playing Scrabble and it would be devoured on Tumblr by endless screenshots and GIFs.
Since their humble beginnings in Calgary in the late 1990s, the Canadian twin sister duo of Tegan Quin and Sara Quin has developed one of the most devoted fan bases in all of indie-pop, thanks to their comedic on-stage banter, confessional lyrics, and catchy songs like “Nineteen,” “I Know I Know I Know” and “Call It Off.”
The innovative Quin twins have come a long way since Neil Young first signed them in 2000. They’ve since released albums like This Business of Art, If It Was You, So Jealous (which was named one of the Rolling Stones best 50 albums of 2004), 2006’s critically acclaimed The Con, and their most recent album of 2009, Sainthood. But it’s not only their faithful fans and Young who have taken notice; Tegan and Sara are also a favorite of TV music programmers. Their songs have regularly appeared on shows like Veronica Mars, Grey’s Anatomy, The Hills, Being Erica, 90210, Ghost Whisperer, One Tree Hill, and The Vampire Diaries. Aside from television, Tegan and Sara have a wide medley of collaborations they’ve done with some artists such as Against Me!, Margaret Cho, Fences, Theophilus London, Emm Gryner, The Reason, Dragonette, Kaki King, Jim Ward, Rachel Cantu, Morgan Page and Tiesto – which is arguably one of their most popular collaborations with their trance-ambient hit, “Feel It In My Bones.”
Now, these beloved Canadians are back with a very special DVD/CD package, entitled Get Along, which hit stores on November 15. Get Along is a collection of three films and a live album that offers fans a very rare and intimate look into the lives of widely renowned songwriters, performers and musicians Tegan and Sara Quin.
The first film, States, is a 30-minute documentary directed by Danny O’Malley. The film chronicles their most recent North American tour with stunning cinematography, joined by interviews with Tegan and Sara as they provide personal accounts of their early career and their unique connection with their fan base. States is arguably my favorite of the three films. Like any other Tegan and Sara fan that has stuck with them from the very get-go, the journey they take through this film really resonates and hits home. I won’t deny it, I wiped away a tear or two (three, four? I lost count).
The second film, India, is a 25-minute documentary shot by Elinor Svoboda during the duo’s first-ever tour of India. In this film, we get a closer look into the personal lives of Tegan and Sara as they interact with their family and friends. Tegan and Sara provide their diverse reflections on road life and recount their thoughts on experiencing a poverty-stricken side of India. Even their mother, Sonia Clement, makes several appearances throughout the film and shares a touching recollection of her early memories with Tegan and Sara as they grew up. It’s rather hard to pick a favorite, because India captivated me on so many levels as well, especially with the striking cinematography that portrays the harsh realities of a poverty-stricken India. I was ridden with goose bumps all over. Being the lovely and wonderful people that they are, Tegan and Sara were so kind as to give the IFC (Independent Film Channel) exclusive rights to stream India online for free! Watch it here.
The third film, For the Most Part, is a 70-minute stripped-down studio concert shot by Salazar. In late 2010, Tegan and Sara had announced on their website they would be filming a special concert in Vancouver for 75 lucky fans, and For the Most Part is the result of that. Admittedly, when I heard that they were releasing a live album as opposed to a new record with new material, I felt a bit hesitant about the idea. I could not have been more wrong. If there’s one thing I genuinely admire about Tegan and Sara, it’s their ability to revisit an old song and completely reinvent it from start to finish. Their undeniable capacity to elicit raw emotion within every word of every verse never ceases to enchant me. I’ve listened to this live record nearly 5 times a day since I first bought it 2 weeks ago, and I’m still left awe-struck every single time.
For any Tegan and Sara fans, or those who just appreciate good music and a charming pair of individuals, I strongly urge running to a local record store and picking up a copy of Get Along. Finding quality music that impacts and resonates with a vast audience is a novelty in this day and age; Tegan and Sara are among one of the most inventive, charismatic, respectable, raw talents that fit those demands.
