Josh Reisner

Austra is a band from Toronto that owes much to Siouxsie and the Banshees. I think you will like it.

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Well so I’m coming around on Fantasies. Maybe this isn’t the album I had expected given the detailed artistic progression I had mapped onto them, but there’s a lot to like here. Go give Gimme Sympathy a listen on their website (second track in the player) and tell me what you think. I still stand by my feelings about this song in my earlier WTF post (great, but could rock more), but like I said I’ve pretty much changed w/r/t the album as a whole.

Sorry this is turning into The Metric Blog. Should be back to normal by November!

This song, on Grow Up and Blow Away was originally recorded and released DIY in 2001, but only officially released via label in 2007. I think I need to re-orient this album in my mind as having actually been in 2007, since Fantasies seems to expand on it more than on 2005′s Live It Out.

Metric – Soft Rock Star (Jimmy vs Joe mix)

Well, this is hard to post since Metric is clearly my favorite band of the last few years, but their new album Fantasies leaked onto the internets yesterday and it doesn’t sound great.

I wish I could say why, exactly. In their own words, according to Prefix Magazine,

Vocalist Emily Haines has stated that she set out to write “genuine” and “simple” lyrics, while Metric’s guitarist Jimmy Shaw describes the sound on Fantasies as “very big,” and “very dreamy.”

It just sounds empty to me (not in the same way as the great opening song Empty on their last album) and the production seems flat and ordinary, like they were overthinking everything and making bad decisions. For example, I cannot fathom not including the amazing Waves that’s available with their limited deluxe edition. Maybe it was finished too late for the album?

I’m holding out some hope that this was a demo that leaked, because I think a lot of this could be fixed with a remaster. The basic songs are good. Gimme Sympathy, for example, is fantastic. But it sounds like they weren’t having any fun at all recording it. It sounds rushed! Maybe this was the “especially intense experience for us making this record” Emily refers to in her post from 11/5.

But this song in particular is highly fixable. They might need to re-record the drums and the guitars, but just bring them up a lot. And then bring them up some more. Slow down the tempo a bit. Do it with about half as much keyboard, and no backup vocals.

Thank the lord this blog is not popular enough for them ever to see this post. I bet it’d be the most irritating thing ever! Particularly if this *was* a demo that leaked.

Anyway, I’m still looking forward to getting it when it’s released at the end of the month. I’m definitely still glad I paid for it; I think it’s clear judging from my last.fm that I owe them some money!

New Metric album Fantasies is available for preorder. Way better than iTunes.

I think it’s ok to post this mp3 because it’s been available for free for some time from their site. Right?

Metric – Help I’m Alive

I would be an irresponsible #1 Metric fan not to note that a new album seems imminent. The evidence:

• Their website has changed to color bars
• They’ve been performing new material
• May 1, 2007: Metric Begin Work on New Album
• Sep 10, 2007: Metric’s New Album “75% Complete”

The suspense is totally fine, really. I’m fine with it!

This is the demo mix of their soon-to-be-formerly biggest single. I don’t know what makes it better than the OWU version, but it is. I’ve seen them play in NY four or five times, and it’s notable that they never really nail this song. I think maybe it annoys them that they always get the biggest response on this early, comparatively simple song. You can hear an example of this on Metric Live at Metropolis. Compare that to how they always nail Wet Blanket (probably my favorite song) or Dead Disco. Of course, they usually play this song at the end, right before the encore. So maybe they’re just tired.

Metric – Combat Baby [Demo]