#25: Fantasies

Fantasies

Metric

2009

Last Gang Records (Canada)

Released independently in the US and Europe

Peak position on the charts:

#164 - UK Albums Chart

#76 - US Billboard 200

#6 - Canadian Albums Chart

Originally formed in Toronto in 2001, neither founding member of the band are native Canadians; Emily Haines (lead vocals, synth) was born in India, while Jimmy Shaw (guitar) is a native of the United Kingdom. The two met in Toronto and began dating and recording music together shortly afterwards.

As a quick note, both are members of the band Broken Social Scene as well, a band that will be featured later on this list.

Also, the two shared apartment suites in the Williamsburg region of Brooklyn with future members of the bands Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, and Liars.

Fantasies is Metric's fourth studio album, and has a darker sound (in my opinion) than any of their previous works. The album is pretty minimalistic, with Haines' low-for-a-girl vocals humming over a simple synthesiser, easy rhythm guitar lines, and drum beats. Idealogically, the structure of the songs on the album are modelled after 60s pop bands: a basic, easy-to-listen-to backdrop with steady beats and catchy lyrics. In fact, references to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones are directly made in the song "Gimme Sympathy" (title ring a bell?):

"I can feel it in my bones.

Give me sympathy

after all of this is gone.

Who'd you rather be,

the Beatles or the Rolling Stones?"

Hmm. Tough choice.

But hey, if you're looking for a musical style to draw ideas from, who better to mimc than two of the most prolific pop bands of all time? Only make it darker. And electronicker. Awesome.

Seriously, though, what Metric have put together on Fantasies is a set of consistently strong songs that as catchy as they are musically interesting. Despite their use of just a synthesiser and a guitar/bass combo (oh, how cliché...), the album manages to sound genuinely innovative, as if they were the first band ever to use such an instrument set. Maybe it's just Haines' mesmerising vocals that keep me listening. But I doubt it, though I can't understate how attracted I am to her voice. I don't really know why. Her voice just seems to fit over top a rhythmic synth line.

But no, the way each component of the band comes together is seamless, and each song is very well put together, composition-wise. A well-produced album that is fun to listen to.

Ironic that in one of my few representatives from Canada, neither member is a native canuck (and I mean that in the respectful sense).

A link to the song "Twilight Galaxy" is below, and this was actually the hardest time I had picking a single song to link to. There were three separate tracks I wanted to share, but I won't. Just look them up yourself.

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Recommended Tracks:

Help I'm Alive (4.46)

Sick Muse (4.17)

Satellite Mind (3.43)

Twilight Galaxy (4.54)

Gold Guns Girls (4.05)