Metric's third full-length album, Fantasies, is a glossy, slick, and so-clean-you-could-eat-off-it slice of modern rock that may scare off some of the band's early fans due to the unrepentant commercial nature of the album. Anyone who isn't repelled by the band's professionalism and ambition to sound perfect will find it to be quite good. You can't begrudge them taking a shot at the big time, especially when the result is as good as this. And it's not like they are doing anything radically different here; it just sounds freshly painted and shorn of any defects. In other words, it sounds just like an album by one of the bands that inspire them, finely tuned machines like the Cars, Garbage, Blondie, and Missing Persons. Or conversely, they sound sort of how you'd imagine the ideal Idol contestant's album would sound -- huge with an excess of glittering and hooks. Indeed, most of the songs on Fantasies wouldn't sound out of place on a Kelly Clarkson record; they are finely crafted, totally focused, and powerful pop songs that blend '80s new wave, '90s alt-rock, and timeless pop songcraft into compact pop nuggets. If "Sick Muse" were given a push on radio, it could easily be a big smash for the band. The hand-waving chorus, the pulverizing drumming, and the smooth-as-glass production are perfect for the airwaves. Quite a few others sound like they too should be blasting out of car radios on summer streets; the laser beam-tight "Gold Guns Girls," the shimmering "Front Row," and the propulsive "Gimme Sympathy" all fit this bill perfectly. The few ballads that dot the album like frozen teardrops betray none of the warm introspection that Emily Haines brought to her solo albums; her singer/songwriter demons sound like they've been exorcised once and for all here. Instead, they sound big enough to reach the back row of a stadium, as does the whole album. That Metric title a song "Stadium Love" gives you a clue to the ambition of the band. There's nothing small or careful about Fantasies -- it's a full-on bid for pop glory and it's a smashing success.
Canada has given us a lot of really sweet things: the Blackberry, Michael J. Fox, and IMAX, just to name a few. But the awesomeness doesn’t stop there. Toronto-based Metric is another great accomplishment for the Canucks; combining brassy, buzzing guitar hooks (“Help I’m alive/my heart keeps beating like a [...]
More >
Metric have surprised many in the past few years and whilst they've never truly came through with one entire astounding record, there's plenty of individual songs that are truly remarkable and stand out from their discography. With this notion in mind and with a questionable sense of apprehension, we delve into the bands fourth studio album; Fantasies.
More >
I have never really been a fan of the music that Metric have released in the past – Monster Hospital was all a bit weird to me – but I believe that this time the Canadian band have significantly upped the ante.Their latest offering, Fantasies, is an impressive collection of catchy pop songs tinged with a hint of psychedelia and elements of rock. 'Girls With Guns' is immediately striking; the
More >
Metric left us fighting the war, the war that wouldn’t stop for the love of God.It has been 4 years since their 2005 release Live It Out which left the world reeling.The past few months have been good to us with the full album of Metric’s new album Fantasies in our hands with the beautiful [...]
More >
Today is the official release date of Metric's fourth album "Fantasies", an excellent work that takes the dynamic rock direction of previous album "Live It Out" to the next level. While the album is not lacking in more mellow ("Twilight Galaxy", "Collect Call") or pure pop ("Gimme Sympathy") moments, for the most part it boasts a big, explosive sound dominated by James Shaw's fierce guitar
More >
Sounds Like: The makings for an electro-pop sing-a-longRIYL: Tegan and Sara, Stars, Feist, Tilly and the WallA Few Words: First albums, I'm told, are easy. Sure, you'll be compared to your peers, but that's natural. Subsequent releases, however, are trickier because you're being judged against yourself. When an artist releases a new album, fans have certain expectations. The problem seems to be...
More >
Let me preface this review by saying that I’ve been obsessed with Metric/Emily Haines since high school. I once saw them three times in the span of 8 months. All my flickr photos of her have some sort of love-professing comment. I don’t care about the almost unanimous internet agreement on Emily being an uber-bitch. [...]No related posts. Sorry.
More >
One of my most Trusted MOGgers (Hi, poeby!) followed a link to an older post and marveled at the provocative nature of the subject matter and the thoughtful give-and-take in the thread. Then she asked, "Whatever happened to this kind of post at MOG?" So I floated a couple of theories.Maybe the core group of MOGgers - the initial wave - covered so many bases in our first couple of years at MOG t...
More >
Metric left us fighting the war, the war that wouldn’t stop for the love of God.It has been 4 years since their 2005 release Live It Out which left the world reeling.The past few months have been good to us with the full album of Metric’s new album Fantasies in our hands with the beautiful [...]
More >
Metric's Fantasies is one my favorite albums from 2009, so far. Emily Haines is just fantastic -- and in this slow burner asks the musical question "Who would you rather be . . . the Beatles or the Rolling Stones?"
More >
Metric's new fantasy tourWith lots of hype about their 2009 album, Fantasies, Metric is about to hit the road for another round of support dates for their newest album.November 16, 2009 Buffalo, NY Town BallroomNovember 17, 2009 Portland, ME Portland City Music HallNovember 18, 2009 Hartford, CT WebsterNovember 19, 2009 Providence, RI Lupo'sNovember 20, 2009 Boston, MA House of BluesNovember 21...
More >
It's been a while since I last posted some music-inspired art on here. I've completed quite a few pieces in the month of January alone. It's like I've been turbocharged or something. Anyway, here they are, accompanied by my "soundtrack" at the time. Enjoy!Emily Haines, the Lady of the Lake.Metric - Live It Out (on repeat), Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, "Help, I'm Alive"She, or ...
More >
the fires popped up one by one, as partygoers tried to fend of the chill of yesterday's very un-spring-like temperatures. unlike last year, where it was sunny and warm with a slight breeze, this year was blustery and cold. people huddled in their tents most of the day, or under blankets, sitting on top of blankets on the blanket of thick grass. you only saw hands when they were clapping and the...
More >
(taken by me at the Metric acoustic show in Philly 02.09)if you're in London, or anywhere near it, you should be at the Electric Ballroom in Camden right now. Metric is there. so you should be there. I wish i was. but i will be back in London soon enough. confirmed a gig today for 5th July at the Masons Arms in Battersea. if you're around there at that time, i'd love to see you. things are movi...
More >
Here's the latest video from Metric's album Fantasies! This album is really turning out to be their most solid release to date. Enjoy!
More >
Let me preface this review by saying that I’ve been obsessed with Metric/Emily Haines since high school. I once saw them three times in the span of 8 months. All my flickr photos of her have some sort of love-professing comment. I don’t care about the almost unanimous internet agreement on Emily being an uber-bitch. [...]No related posts. Sorry.
More >
Metric is coming out with a nwe album called fantasies soon, here's a sample for ya.. easy on the eyes as well :) Track listing is as follows:1. Help I'm Alive2. Sick Muse3. Satellite Mind4. Twilight Galaxy5. Gold Guns Girls6. Gimme Sympathy7. Collect Call8. Front Row9. Blindness10. Stadium LoveVisit Metric at the band's official site.
More >
Photo by ko.ttur You need to listen to this!"Help I'm Alive (acoustic)"P.S. a reader gave the heads up that Metric is selling the single on a black picture 7″ featuring the image of a butterfly HERE! Metric | Myspace | Tour Dates | Buy
More >
I posted Help, I'm Alive, back before Christmas. It's been on heavy rotation since, justifying my excited anticipation of the release of Metric's fourth studio album, Fantasies (due 14/04/09). Bridging the gap between then and now, The Band have kindly distributed an acoustic version of Help, I'm Alive via their website. Thanks guys. Dare I say I prefer this to the 'plugged' version: MP3: Metri...
More >
Canadian Indie Rockers Metric recently announced some new U.S. tour dates in support of their hit album Fantasies, and yippee, Maryland’s on the list! (Sadly, and surprisingly, NYC is not. Then again, it is Metric, who don’t work traditionally. Label? Yeah, right.) If you’re in D.C. you know Baltimore’s not that far, and Emily Haines [...]
More >
Canada has given us a lot of really sweet things: the Blackberry, Michael J. Fox, and IMAX, just to name a few. But the awesomeness doesn’t stop there. Toronto-based Metric is another great accomplishment for the Canucks; combining brassy, buzzing guitar hooks (“Help I’m alive/my heart keeps beating like a [...]
More >
We love nothing more than being able to bring our readers free music! That's why we're especially excited to tell you that thanks to the super cool people at Sneak Attack Media, we're able to give away three copies of Metric's Fantasies. If you haven't had a chance to check ...
More >
| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
|
Click to purchase…
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
 "Fantasies")
