Metric’s long-awaited fourth studio album Fantasies is another beautiful and diverting effort from the Toronto-based indie rockers. It has been four years since their last full-length record, Live It Out, but it was well worth the wait for such a complete and satisfying album.
The opening track, “Help, I’m Alive,” is undoubtedly the best song on Fantasies, and it is filled with Metric’s signature clever lyrics. It is the perfect continuation of the band’s former sound, but with enough progress to give the audience something new.
Yet, the sound remains very familiar to fans and captures the essence of who Metric is as a band - poignant, soulful, and catchy, all at the same time. The group haven't transformed themselves completely in Fantasies, they have just proven that they can grow as a band and continue to make great records.
Haines Impresses Again
Vocalist Emily Haines has such a pleasing voice that she could sing anything and still make it sound enchanting. Fortunately for listeners, the rest of the band is phenomenal as well, with the whole group bringing something extra to the record. The guitar and drums on “Front Row” transforms the track into an appealing, poignant song that just somehow fits perfectly.
“Gimmie Sympathy” is a fun track to dance to, but don’t miss the plaintive lyrics. The subsequent track, “Collect Call,” will likely became a favorite for those depressed listeners who need a good cry. It’s almost as if each song is meant to inspire a different emotion in the audience, and it gives listeners a deliciously full experience.
It is also almost impossible not to sing along and dance to the final song, “Stadium Love.” Haines shines throughout the album, but there is something about the final track that ties the entire record together in the most satisfying way.
Metric’s Unique Sound
The music is catchy, the lyrics equal parts gloom and levity, and it is all in classic Metric form. The fact that they even have a recognizable style is a testament to the quartet. Metric has truly carved out their own little space in a sprawling sea of cookie-cutter indie rock bands.
Metric can be compared to Stars and Rilo Kiley, and for good reason, but they give listeners such a range of emotions that it is hard to compare them to anyone at all. Prepare to dance, to sing sorrow-filled lyrics, and put the album on repeat until it’s worn out it’s welcome, which may take awhile.
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