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Metric vocalist highlights tracks on fifth studio album 'Synthetica'
The Advocate
Releasing their fi fth studio album next week, Canadian indie rock band Metric is again delighting fans with their dark, moody sound in "Synthetica."
The band gave fans a taste of their new album when the single "Youth Without Youth" was released in May.
The band members consist of vocalist Emily Haines, guitarist James Shaw, bassist John Winstead and drummer Joules Scott-Key. The album's fi rst track, "Artifi cial Nocturne," starts
with "I'm just as F*cked up as they say." These lyrics are definitely an attention grabber. Both "Artifi cial Nocturne" and the album's single, "Youth without youth," are accompanied by a depressing tone and sung with perfection by Haines' flawless voice.
"Speed the collapse" has a more upbeat sound, although the lyrics are thoughtful; the music lends a brighter tone to the album, as does "Breathing Underwater." These tracks are probably among the best on the album. The fi rst two tracks were relatively lackluster, but the remainder of the album is given hope because of these tracks.
Although "Speed the collapse" has a more upbeat sound, the tone and lyrics of the song are dark and slightly angry. Even with Haines bright sing-song voice, this song is worth listening to over and over again. It will be the song on the track to leave listeners thinking long afterwards about the dark lyrics. "Dreams so Real" offers a futuristic sound not heard on any of the other tracks; the lyrics are accompanied by the heavy use of a synthesizer.
This album is surprising as each song has an entirely different sound. Some are dark and slow, depressing even while others are more upbeat with a hint of dark and depressing, some with synthesizer and offering a totally different sound. In "Lost kitten," Haines' voice is distorted into sounding like a 15-year-old pop star.
It is not one of the more inspiring of the tracks. "The Void" has a techno vibe and is rather upbeat although the lyrics don't seem to have much meaning. The song repeats the phrase "all night" over and over and over again, until it becomes so redundant that one is probably thinking
"All right we get it, you can 'stay up all night', so stop repeating yourself." Despite the annoying lyrics, the song isn't half bad as a whole. It has a great beat that will undoubtedly cause head bobbing.
The title track "Synthetica" talks about not needing drugs and having the ability to think for oneself. The track "Clone" has a mellower vibe than most of the other tracks. The lyrics talk about regrets making one stronger and the aftermaths of never doing anything the safe way. "The Wanderlust" is probably the most out-of place track on the album.
The bridge of the song featurescollaboration with Lou Reed of The Velvet Underground. The first and second verses have an echoing effect on each of the lines Haines sings; she echoes herself in lower pitch. This was meant to add an interesting effect to the song but it was a complete flop. The song felt as if one was at camp singing an echoing song. But instead of the usually upbeat tone of echoing music, it is a rather depressing song.
The final track, "Nothing but time," has a techno, fastpaced sound that does not match the slower lyrics. Surprisingly though, the finished product isn't terrible Metric has a number of hits and misses in this album. The hits include "Speed the Collapse," "Breathing underwater" and "The Void." Some of its misses are "Artifi cial Nocturne," "Lost kitten," and "The Wanderlust."
One thing is for certain after listening to this album—Haines' voice is fl awless and blends perfectly with the haunting lyrics and sad melodies that Metric produces.
This album has some great tracks and I would definitely recommend this album for current fans of Metric and new listeners. This isn't a get up a dance type of album but it's nice for an easy listen in the car.
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