Tegan and Sara have indie roots dating back to 1995. A snapshot of their seventh album would suggest they’ve rolled up their sleeves and begun tugging on those roots with eyes focused on American pop charts. But these Canadian twins remain too pure for that. “Heartthrob” is an airtight collection of incredibly catchy, single-worthy statements of love and infatuation, longing and adoration. Handled with the right intentions, these sentiments are perfectly married to this shiny new poppy framework. So I say, let them go wild.

They do the irresistible hook thing incredibly well – their ear for melody could be the envy of more mainstream songwriters with some due thanks to producer Greg Kurstin (Pink, Kelly Clarkston, Kimbra). Simple, strong feelings dominate each song, but the occasional lyrical clichés get little elbow room – lines such as “I was a fool for love” become effective, even necessary, within Tegan and Sara’s atypical narratives.

One reason a poppier sound can incite swells of anger in devoted fans is that it often signifies a sacrifice of control, but “Heartthrob” is really an adventurous endeavor with familiar ingredients. Synthesizers and power chords are abundant like candy from a cracked-open dispenser, but how can you complain when they’re used to such satisfying effect? “I’m Not Your Hero,” like a few others on this album, may be a modest remix away from dance-floor fare. But Tegan and Sara have convinced me that that isn’t a bad thing.