ARTIST: Metric
TITLE: Live It Out
YEAR RELEASED: 2005
CHART ACTION: #37 Heatseekers, #44 Independent
SINGLES: Poster of a Girl, Monster Hospital (#55 UK), Empty
OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: Not here
LINEUP: Emily Haines, James Shaw, Joshua Winstead, Joules Scott-Key
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Straddling new wave, indie rock, and alternative rock, the Canadian band’s second release utilizes the strengths of vocalist Emily Haines and producer / guitarist James Shaw.
SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: Around this time, there was a movement of bands emulating some of the post-punk bands from the UK, and it may be tempting to throw Metric on that pile, but their mix has more to do with the US new wave crossed with grungy guitars than anything else.
Shaw and Haines, also part of Broken Social Scene, move Metric into a unique direction here, with the sound building on their earlier work with more synth work and colorful production. Haines vocals belie her sound. Even though she sings in a high range and can sound delicate, her vocals are powerful and carry a lot of the songs messages through.
This release got them notice outside of Canada, and grew their touring base past Ontario. It’s well worth multiple spins – it holds up.
NOTES & MINUTIAE: Haines was born in India, but she grew up in Ontario.
IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: Japan, Germany, and France.
GRADE: A-: Not really revivalism, but a mix of 80’s and 90’s sounds into something unique.