Band:	Metric
Album:	Fantasies

Metric is one of those bands that I’ve always wanted to like. They’re Canadian , they’re quirky and they’ve got a very cool lead singer. On paper these guys should be a great band, throwing together indie, rock and electronic music. The problem is that I’ve never been able to sit down and enjoy a full album. Something about the way they crafted their songs never spoke to me, with a few exceptions like “Monster Hospital” off of “Live It Out”. I wanted them to be a more chill version of Death From Above 1979 or a much more excitable Broken Social Scene, and Metric just didn’t indulge my wants.

“Fantasies” is Metric’s latest album, and I’m glad to say that I can finally jump on the bandwagon. That disc features some genuinely good songs, like the album opener “Help, I’m Alive”, and shout out song “Gimme Sympathy” (featuring the wishful thinking line “who would you rather be, the Beatles or the Rolling Stones.”) Metric is able to check all their influences in and focus on “Fantasies”, something that was missing on “Live It Out”.

The tunes range from out-loud rockers to introspective, synthesizer driven tracks like “Collect Call” and “Twilight Galaxy”. The album slows down but never feels like it’s losing any of it’s edge; the band makes sure that there is always something interesting going on behind the scenes, be it an underlying guitar hook or some odd casio-inspired percussion.

The album is a truly Canadian one, with a collage of genres that work together, something that sounds a lot like a Stars album, without sounding like Stars. Diversity is the backbone of this record and Metric is now near and dear to my heart.

Metric Official Site
Metric on MySpace
Metric - “Fantasies” on Amazon

Release Date: April 14th, 2009

“Fantasies” - Tracklist
(* recommended tracks)

1. Help, I’m Alive*
2. Sick Muse
3. Satellite Mind
4. Twilight Galaxy
5. Gold Guns Girls*
6. Gimme Sympathy
7. Collect Call
8. Front Row
9. Blindness*
10. Stadium Love

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