Love You to Death (album)

{{Infobox album

| name = Love You to Death

| type = studio

| artist = Tegan and Sara

| cover = Tegan and Sara - Love You to Death.png

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|2016|06|03}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = Synth-pop{{cite web|first= Matt |last= Mitchell |title= The 50 Greatest Synth-Pop Albums of All Time|website= Paste |date= July 21, 2023 |url= https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-albums/50-greatest-synth-pop-albums-of-all-time|accessdate= July 22, 2023}}

| length = 31:27

| label = {{hlist|Vapor|Warner Bros.}}

| producer = Greg Kurstin

| prev_title = Heartthrob

| prev_year = 2013

| next_title = Hey, I'm Just Like You

| next_year = 2019

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Love You to Death

| type = studio

| single1 = Boyfriend

| single1date = April 8, 2016

| single2 = Stop Desire

| single2date = August 25, 2016

}}

Love You to Death is the eighth studio album by Canadian indie pop duo Tegan and Sara, released on June 3, 2016, on Neil Young's label Vapor Records through Warner Bros. Records. Produced by Greg Kurstin, it is the follow-up to the duo's 2013 release Heartthrob, also produced in part by Kurstin.{{cite web|last=Snapes|first=Laura|title=How the Rest of the World Caught Up to Tegan and Sara|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/laurasnapes/how-the-rest-of-the-world-caught-up-to-tegan-and-sara|website=Buzzfeed|date=7 April 2016 |accessdate=April 24, 2016}} "Boyfriend" was released as the album's lead single on April 8, 2016. The same day, "U-Turn" was also released as a promotional single.

Background

It was revealed in November 2015 by Stereogum that Tegan and Sara had completed recording of the then untitled album.{{cite web|last=Breihan|first=Tom|title=Tegan And Sara Finish LP8|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1846463/tegan-and-sara-finish-lp8/news/|website=Stereogum|date=December 2015 |accessdate=April 10, 2016}} The band announced the name of the album on their official Facebook on March 10, 2016,{{cite web|title=Tegan and Sara – Love You to Death| website=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/TeganandSara/photos/a.389205624109.166758.29144989109/10153957875829110/?type=3&theater|accessdate=April 10, 2016}} with the official album art released the next day on their official Instagram account.{{cite web|title=Pre-order #LoveYoutoDeath NOW on @iTunes and get Boyfriend and U-turn instantly! #LY2D|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BD7OQ1RmFWH/|website=Tegan and Sara (@teganandsara)|publisher=Instagram|accessdate=April 10, 2016}}

Recording and production

At the Beats 1 premiere interview, Sara explained the concept behind the album's lead single "Boyfriend":{{cite magazine|last1=Blisten|first1=Jon|title=Hear Tegan and Sara Navigate Love Triangles on New Song 'Boyfriend'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-tegan-and-sara-navigate-love-triangles-on-new-song-boyfriend-20160407|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Beats 1|accessdate=April 10, 2016|archive-date=July 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701140315/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-tegan-and-sara-navigate-love-triangles-on-new-song-boyfriend-20160407|url-status=dead}}

As Quin explained to DJ Matt Wilkinson, the song details a love triangle she found herself in with a woman who not only hadn't dated another girl before, but was still seeing another man.

"I think that's pretty relatable. Obviously, being gay, there's sort of a bit of a gender twist in the song, and I get that that sometimes doesn't seem immediately relatable to everybody, whether they're straight or whatever. But this idea, you know, that we've all been in that situation where we really like someone and we want to make it official, and they're not ready, that's what the song is about."

Release

The album became available for pre-order on iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Play, and in retail stores and other music distribution platforms on April 8, 2016, and was released on June 3, 2016.

=Singles=

Since the album has become available for pre-order, one official single has been released from the album, titled "Boyfriend". The single first became available to listen to via Beats 1 on April 7, 2016,{{cite web|last1=Carley|first1=Brennan|title=Tegan and Sara Debut 'Boyfriend' on Beats 1, Earth Rejoices|url=http://www.spin.com/2016/04/tegan-and-sara-boyfriend-beats-1-zane-lowe-love-you-to-death-stream/|website=Spin|date=7 April 2016 |accessdate=April 10, 2016}} and was available to download the next day.

The twins announced via their Instagram account that "Stop Desire" would be released as the second single from the album. The track is also featured on the soundtrack and in the trailer of The Sims 4: City Living expansion pack.

=Promotional singles=

"U-turn" was released as a promotional single along with "Boyfriend" on April 8, 2016 for listeners who pre-ordered the album. "100x" was released as the second promotional single on May 6, 2016, and "Stop Desire" was released as the third and final promotional single on May 20, 2016.

Critical reception

{{Album ratings

| ADM = 7.6/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/8049/Tegan-and-Sara-Love-You-to-Death.aspx|title=Love You to Death by Tegan and Sara reviews|work=AnyDecentMusic?|accessdate=January 15, 2020}}

| MC = 78/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/love-you-to-death/tegan-and-sara|title=Reviews for Love You To Death by Tegan and Sara|work=Metacritic|accessdate=June 16, 2016}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/love-you-to-death-mw0002937641|title=Love You to Death – Tegan and Sara|work=AllMusic|last=Sendra|first=Tim|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2Score = B+{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/review/tegan-and-sara-are-hampered-curse-being-very-good-237536|title=Tegan And Sara are hampered by the curse of being very good|work=The A.V. Club|last=McCown|first=Alex|date=June 3, 2016|accessdate=June 5, 2016}}

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jun/02/tegan-and-sara-love-you-to-death-review-smart-confident-grown-up-pop|title=Tegan and Sara: Love You to Death review – smart, confident, grown-up pop|work=The Guardian|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|author-link=Alexis Petridis|date=June 2, 2016|accessdate=June 6, 2016}}

| rev4 = NME

| rev4Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/tegan-and-sara/16488|title=Tegan & Sara – 'Love You To Death' Review|work=NME|last=Bassett|first=Jordan|date=June 1, 2016|accessdate=June 5, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604084612/http://www.nme.com/reviews/tegan-and-sara/16488|archivedate=June 4, 2016}}

| rev5 = The Observer

| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jun/05/tegan-and-sara-love-you-to-death-review-polished-pop|title=Tegan and Sara: Love You to Death review – glossy pop with razor-sharp lyrics|work=The Observer|last=Cragg|first=Michael|date=June 5, 2016|accessdate=January 15, 2020}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6Score = 7.1/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21952-love-you-to-death/|title=Tegan and Sara: Love You to Death|work=Pitchfork|last=Cook|first=Cameron|date=June 8, 2016|accessdate=June 9, 2016}}

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/tegan-and-sara-love-you-to-death-20160603|title=Love You to Death|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Dolan|first=Jon|date=June 3, 2016|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}

| rev8 = Spin

| rev8Score = 8/10{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2016/05/review-tegan-and-sara-love-you-to-death/|title=Review: Tegan and Sara Write the Pop Album They've Earned on 'Love You to Death'|work=Spin|last=Brodsky|first=Rachel|date=May 25, 2016|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}

| rev9 = Uncut

| rev9Score = 9/10{{cite journal|title=Tegan and Sara: Love You to Death|journal=Uncut|last=Snapes|first=Laura|issue=230|date=July 2016|page=81}}

| rev10 = Vice (Expert Witness)

| rev10Score = A−{{cite web|url=http://noisey.vice.com/blog/robert-christgau-expert-witnes-9-2|title=It's Britney, Bitch: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau|work=Vice|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=September 2, 2016|accessdate=September 4, 2016}}

}}

Love You to Death received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 78 out of 100 based on 24 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Tim Sendra of AllMusic writes: "This is pop music that is all heart all the time, and for that, the sisters deserve every accolade that comes their way." Spin{{'}}s Rachel Brodsky claims: "All over their eighth album, the Quins continue to demonstrate what makes them such fine songwriters." Jordan Bassett of NME calls it a "perfectly formed record full of buoyant pop songs." Exclaim!{{'}}s Ryan McNutt gave the album a positive review, calling it "another solid soundtrack for summer romances and road-trips alike".{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/tegan_and_sara-love_you_to_death/|title=Review: Tegan and Sara – 'Love You to Death'|work=Exclaim!|last=McNutt|first=Ryan|date=June 1, 2016|accessdate=August 23, 2016}} "Every track is a three-minute formalist construct that captures a mood... every one is catchy," said Robert Christgau in his review for Vice.

=Accolades=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
Publication ! Accolade ! Rank ! class="unsortable"\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row" rowspan=2\|AllMusic \|Best of 2016 \|{{center\|*}} \|{{center\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.allmusic.com/year-in-review/2016/allmusic-best-of-2016\|title=Best of 2016\|work=AllMusic\|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}
Favorite Pop Albums \|{{center\|*}} \|{{center\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.allmusic.com/year-in-review/2016/allmusic-best-of-2016\|title=Favorite Pop Albums: AllMusic 2016 in Review\|publisher=AllMusic\|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}
scope="row"\| Consequence of Sound \| Top 50 Albums of 2016 \| {{center\|27}} \| {{center\|{{cite web\|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/11/top-50-albums-of-2016/3/\|title =Top 50 Albums of 2016 \|work= Consequence of Sound \|date=November 28, 2016 \|accessdate=November 28, 2016}}}}
scope="row"\| Cosmopolitan \| The 15 Best Albums of 2016 \| {{center\|15}} \| {{center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/a8480730/best-albums-of-2016/\|title=The 15 Best Albums of 2016\|work=Cosmopolitan\|last=Thompson\|first=Eliza\|date=December 9, 2016\|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}
scope="row"\|Diffuser \| Top 40 Albums of 2016 \| {{center\|19}} \| {{center\|{{cite web\|url=http://diffuser.fm/2016-best-albums/\|title=Top 40 Albums of 2016\|work=Diffuser\|last=Wawzenek\|first=Bryan\|date=December 8, 2016\|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}
scope="row"\|Digital Spy \| 20 Best Albums of 2016 \| {{center\|20}} \| {{center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/feature/a816398/best-albums-of-2016/\|title=20 best albums of 2016: who have we crowned No. 1?\|work=Digital Spy\|last=Corner\|first=Lewis\|date=December 29, 2016\|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}
scope="row"\| Entertainment Weekly \| Best Albums of 2016 \| {{center\|13}} \| {{center\|{{cite magazine\|url=https://ew.com/article/2016/12/09/ew-best-albums-2016/\|title=Best albums of 2016: EW picks the 50 greatest\|magazine=Entertainment Weekly\|date=December 9, 2016\|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}
scope="row"\|FasterLouder \|The 50 Best Albums of 2016 \|{{center\|38}} \|{{center\|{{cite web\|url=http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/50-best-albums-2016/869258\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209210049/http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/50-best-albums-2016/869258\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=December 9, 2016\|title=The 50 best albums of 2016\|work=FasterLouder\|date=December 8, 2016\|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}
scope="row"\| The Guardian \| The Best Albums of 2016 \| {{center\|35}} \| {{center\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/nov/30/the-best-albums-of-2016?CMP=fb_gu\|title =The Best Albums of 2016: 40–31 \|work= The Guardian \|date=November 30, 2016 \|accessdate=November 30, 2016}}}}
scope="row"\| NME \| NME's Albums of the Year 2016 \| {{center\|18}} \| {{center\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.nme.com/list/nme-best-albums-2016-1869261\|title=NME's Albums of the Year 2016 \|work=NME \|date=November 24, 2016 \|accessdate=November 24, 2016}}}}
scope="row"\| Paste \| The 50 Best Albums of 2016 \| {{center\|28}} \| {{center\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/11/the-50-best-albums-of-2016.html?p=3\|title=The 50 Best Albums of 2016 \|work=Paste \|date=November 30, 2016 \|accessdate=December 1, 2016}}}}
scope="row"\| Under the Radar \| Top 100 Albums of 2016 \| {{center\|98}} \| {{center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/lists/under_the_radars_top_100_albums_of_2016/\|title=Top 100 Albums of 2016\|work=Under the Radar\|date=December 16, 2016\|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

Publication

! Accolade

! Rank

! class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" rowspan=2|AllMusic

|Best of 2016

|{{center|*}}

|{{center|{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/year-in-review/2016/allmusic-best-of-2016|title=Best of 2016|work=AllMusic|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}

Favorite Pop Albums

|{{center|*}}

|{{center|{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/year-in-review/2016/allmusic-best-of-2016|title=Favorite Pop Albums: AllMusic 2016 in Review|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}

scope="row"| Consequence of Sound

| Top 50 Albums of 2016

| {{center|27}}

| {{center|{{cite web|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/11/top-50-albums-of-2016/3/|title =Top 50 Albums of 2016 |work= Consequence of Sound |date=November 28, 2016 |accessdate=November 28, 2016}}}}

scope="row"| Cosmopolitan

| The 15 Best Albums of 2016

| {{center|15}}

| {{center|{{cite web|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/a8480730/best-albums-of-2016/|title=The 15 Best Albums of 2016|work=Cosmopolitan|last=Thompson|first=Eliza|date=December 9, 2016|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}

scope="row"|Diffuser

| Top 40 Albums of 2016

| {{center|19}}

| {{center|{{cite web|url=http://diffuser.fm/2016-best-albums/|title=Top 40 Albums of 2016|work=Diffuser|last=Wawzenek|first=Bryan|date=December 8, 2016|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}

scope="row"|Digital Spy

| 20 Best Albums of 2016

| {{center|20}}

| {{center|{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/feature/a816398/best-albums-of-2016/|title=20 best albums of 2016: who have we crowned No. 1?|work=Digital Spy|last=Corner|first=Lewis|date=December 29, 2016|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}

scope="row"| Entertainment Weekly

| Best Albums of 2016

| {{center|13}}

| {{center|{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2016/12/09/ew-best-albums-2016/|title=Best albums of 2016: EW picks the 50 greatest|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=December 9, 2016|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}

scope="row"|FasterLouder

|The 50 Best Albums of 2016

|{{center|38}}

|{{center|{{cite web|url=http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/50-best-albums-2016/869258|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209210049/http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/50-best-albums-2016/869258|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 9, 2016|title=The 50 best albums of 2016|work=FasterLouder|date=December 8, 2016|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}

scope="row"| The Guardian

| The Best Albums of 2016

| {{center|35}}

| {{center|{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/nov/30/the-best-albums-of-2016?CMP=fb_gu|title =The Best Albums of 2016: 40–31 |work= The Guardian |date=November 30, 2016 |accessdate=November 30, 2016}}}}

scope="row"| NME

| NME's Albums of the Year 2016

| {{center|18}}

| {{center|{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/list/nme-best-albums-2016-1869261|title=NME's Albums of the Year 2016 |work=NME |date=November 24, 2016 |accessdate=November 24, 2016}}}}

scope="row"| Paste

| The 50 Best Albums of 2016

| {{center|28}}

| {{center|{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/11/the-50-best-albums-of-2016.html?p=3|title=The 50 Best Albums of 2016 |work=Paste |date=November 30, 2016 |accessdate=December 1, 2016}}}}

scope="row"| Under the Radar

| Top 100 Albums of 2016

| {{center|98}}

| {{center|{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/lists/under_the_radars_top_100_albums_of_2016/|title=Top 100 Albums of 2016|work=Under the Radar|date=December 16, 2016|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}}}

Commercial performance

Love You to Death entered the Billboard 200 at number 16. In its second week, the album fell to number 181.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2016-07-02|title=Top 200 Albums|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=August 23, 2017}} In the United Kingdom, Love You to Death reached number 30.{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20160610/7502/|title=Official Albums Chart Top 100|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=August 23, 2017}} In Canada, Love You to Death reached number three and spent three weeks on the chart.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/tegan-and-sara/chart-history/cna/|title=Tegan and Sara Chart History: Canadian Albums|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=June 23, 2018}}

Track listing

Credits adapted from the iTunes pre-order listing.{{cite web|title=Love You to Death (iTunes Pre-order Page)|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-you-to-death/1097169273|publisher=Apple|access-date=April 10, 2016}}

{{Track listing

| total_length = 31:27

| title1 = That Girl

| writer1 = {{Flat list|

}}

| length1 = 2:44

| title2 = Faint of Heart

| writer2 = {{Flat list|

T. Quin
S. Quin

}}

| length2 = 2:54

| title3 = Boyfriend

| writer3 = {{Flat list|

T. Quin
S. Quin
Greg Kurstin

}}

| length3 = 2:47

| title4 = Dying to Know

| writer4 = {{Flat list|

T. Quin
S. Quin
Kurstin
Jesse Shatkin

}}

| length4 = 3:37

| title5 = Stop Desire

| writer5 = {{Flat list|

T. Quin
S. Quin

}}

| length5 = 3:17

| title6 = White Knuckles

| writer6 = {{Flat list|

T. Quin
S. Quin

}}

| length6 = 3:18

| title7 = 100x

| writer7 = {{Flat list|

T. Quin
S. Quin
Shatkin

}}

| length7 = 3:02

| title8 = BWU

| writer8 = {{Flat list|

T. Quin
S. Quin
Kurstin

}}

| length8 = 3:21

| title9 = U-Turn

| writer9 = {{Flat list|

T. Quin
S. Quin
Kurstin

}}

| length9 = 2:58

| title10 = Hang On to the Night

| writer10 = {{Flat list|

T. Quin
S. Quin

}}

| length10 = 3:29

}}

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/love-you-to-death-mw0002937641/credits|title=Love You to Death – Tegan and Sara – Credits|work=AllMusic|accessdate=June 17, 2016}}

Musicians

Sara Quin – vocals
Tegan Quin – vocals
Greg Kurstin – keyboards (all tracks), bass (tracks 1–6, 9 and 10), drums (tracks 1–6, 8–10), guitar (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8), acoustic guitar (track 9), piano (tracks 4, 6 and 9)

Technical personnel

Chris Allgood – mastering assistance
Julian Burg – engineering
Chris Galland – assistance

Greg Kurstin – engineering, production
Emily Lazar – mastering
Pamela Littky – photography
Manny Marroquin – mixing
Alex Pasco – engineering
Ike Schultz – assistance
Jeff Sosnow – A&R
E.E. Storey – art direction, design

Charts

scope="col"\| Chart (2016) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{{album chart\|Australia\|13\|artist=Tegan and Sara\|album=Love You to Death\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=June 11, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Flanders\|61\|artist=Tegan and Sara\|album=Love You to Death\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=June 10, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Wallonia\|156\|artist=Tegan and Sara\|album=Love You to Death\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=June 10, 2016}}
{{album chart\|BillboardCanada\|3\|artist=Tegan and Sara\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=June 14, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Hungary\|18\|year=2016\|week=25\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 1, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Ireland\|29\|year=2016\|week=23\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=June 10, 2016}}
{{album chart\|UK2\|30\|date=20160610\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=June 11, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Billboard200\|16\|artist=Tegan and Sara\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=June 14, 2016}}

References

Category:Tegan and Sara albums

Category:Sire Records albums

Category:2016 albums

Category:Albums produced by Greg Kurstin

Category:Albums recorded at EastWest Studios

Category:Vapor Records albums