Metric, 'Fantasies'

Release date: April 14, 2009
Record label: MMI
Official Web site: http://www.ilovemetric.com/

The buzz: For the past decade, Metric have co-starred with Broken Social Scene, Stars and the New Pornographers as the leading lights of Canada’s close-knit indie scene. While the band’s earlier work veered toward club sonics in efforts like "Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?" and "Grow Up and Blow Away," their 2005 release "Live It Out" was a refreshing blast of unhinged rock. A couple years off have mellowed the band some, as has frontwoman Emily Haines' piano-based 2006 solo effort "Knives Don't Have Your Back," but the result is one hell of a confident stomp.

The verdict: The good thing about a peaking Metric is you always find what you are looking for. Want a dose of the brutal "Live It Out" riffage? Check out this effort's finest rocker, "Satellite Mind," or the boom-and-pound of "Stadium Love" and the grind of "Front Row." Downtempo head-trips? Mellow out to "Twilight Galaxy" or the poignant "Collect Call." Straight-ahead dance-pop? Move to "Help I'm Alive" and "Sick Muse," or the clever Stones-Beatles homage "Gimme Sympathy." There's something for everyone here, which is another way of saying that Metric are still at the top of their game. 

Did you know? "Front Row" appeared on an episode of "Grey's Anatomy," and the whole band showed up in the 2004 film "Clean."

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