Fantasies

I love Metric and this is one of my favorite albums! Definitely top 10 of user-submitted albums to the list!

At last. A brilliant album instead of the shite that's been here for the last few weeks. Never heard of Metric before but definitely looking out for them now.

That first song brought me back 15 years. I remember Help I’m Alive being played all the time on 89X which like this album has just come back. The reminder of the album is good but not nearly as impressive as that first song. Still it’s pretty solid and a good 00s alternative album. 6.5/10

A record I really enjoy. It’s in my semi regular rotation.

Great to see some Metric here, even if I would’ve gone for ‘Synthetica’ over this one – this band was an early fav of mine, and they’ve carved a definitive sound of their own that I haven’t heard another band approach. There’s a marked simplicity in Metric’s approach to composing a track, but every piece is executed so well that even a straightforward guitar line feels larger than life. Add in Emily Haines’ no-nonsense vocals and a strong focus on melody + a good hook and you have a winning formula. This output does verge on corniness sometimes (not every set of lyrics is a winner), but for the most part you get some memorable, genuine indie tracks out on the other side.

This is a very solid album from a group that I thought was good but maybe not a whole album good. A lot of catchy uptempo tunes that get a lot of radio airplay in Canada, which I don't mind at all - Help I'm Alive, Sick Muse, Satellite Mind, Gold Guns Girls, Stadium Love. Gimme Sympathy is a more mixed tempo song that rightly so still gets a lot of airplay. I didn't really know Front Row (uptempo) or Collect Call (a little slower) before, but they're sneaky good. Not a song I dislike on this album. Doesn't feel like a masterpiece but very solid.

I distinctly remember listening to this record back in 2009 and *almost* buying it. To this day, I wasn't sure what it was that made me keep my money to myself instead. The first half of opener "Help I'm Alive" sure was an epic slap in the face. But somehow, I found that the track ran for too long after its relatively underwhelming "landfill indie" bridge. And to be honest, I sort of felt the same dynamic overall for the whole album. There's a lot of catchy melodies. Like, A LOT, which somehow raised a very rare question in my mind: "can there be *too many melodies* in an LP?" -- in the sense that they somehow stifle more adventurous or unexpected moments you also want to find at some point in an indie-rock record. I know, I know, this sounds like someone asking if there can be too much of a good thing served on a silver platter. But my point is that the instant catchiness exemplified throughout *Fantasies* somehow gives you the feeling there's not enough "substance" in it, just as pop rock bangers pile up one after another without ever challenging your expectations. I almost never feel this for that sort of generally propulsive pop rock band... Is it because of Emily Haines' sugary-sweet vocals? Is it because of the production values, maybe too rooted in the late noughts era they came from -- streamlined to a fault, and therefore potentially lacking some dynamics? Is it because of the chord sequences that are a little too *by the book" sometimes? Many songs remind me of The Cardigans without the constant harmonic modulations, (admittedly annoying to a degree), as if there was a sort of readymade "formula" behind the compositions preventing Metric to take some risks. It's very pleasant music overall. But in their wish to please at all cost, the Canadian rock band might also have diluted something that would give a more distinct extra "identity" to those tunes... So listening to this thing fifteen years later, I'm still a little on the fence about it, even though I WANT to love it so bad -- to the point that I might even buy a cheap copy of it online to see of the record finally convinces me on my hi-fi. Rarely have I felt so... undecided, either for the original list or the one curated by the user... Still giving this one the benefit of the doubt, though, and so including it in my 4/5 gallery. I hope the record as whole -- beyond its obvious highlights such as "Gold Guns Girls" or "Gimme Sympathy" -- grows on me somehow. I haven't given up on it yet. But it might take a while. .. To the user who submitted this album: thanks for the suggestion, and thanks for many of your fun reviews. Contrary to me, you know how to make them relatively short and to the point, and yet you also know how to express takes that are both personal and often quite convincing. So more power to you for flying your idiosyncratic flag high. That's the spirit for me. That said, ONE of your reviews angered me a little, the one about that Rita Ora album (to which I personally gave a 1/5 mark). In it you say: "No surprise that the other reviewers didn't like it. God forbid something stray from male-oriented rock every now and again." Jeeze Louise, the bad faith is astounding here. How can you get it so wrong, at least about *me* as listener, for instance? Yeah, I love many strands of rock and punk music, and yet you can also find Charli XCX's *Brat* in my highest-rated users gallery, as well as Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, Lady Gaga and Magdalena Bay in my 4/5 selection (to which I could add Dua Lipa, Jesse Ware, Rosalía, or even Madonna one day). It's not because I find Rita Ora's songs inert and unmemorable that I have instant prejudice against female pop singers. It's just that I have my own set of requirements for good pop music writing -- so forgive me if I fly my own freak flag high myself. If there's one thing that three years of using this app has told me, it's that not a single person's music tastes look like the ones of another. So categorizing users like that is certainly not painting the most reliable picture of what makes people fall in love with music in the first place, often beyond their own "favorite" genres... With that in mind, your selection still has my blessing. I might have my own (provisory?) reservations about Metric's *Fantasies* as a whole, I can still recognize good songwriting in it. And yeah, as "subjective" as the adjective "good" is here, you can't so easily file other subjectivities as if they were *all* examples of misogyny or bad faith takes themselves. It's actually NOT helping people taking Rita Ora's music seriously on paper, for instance -- no matter what it is that a user like me thinks about said music. Explain further why it's good for *you* instead, why it ticks your boxes. You'll be doing her the favor you think she deserves. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3.5) ---- Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 67 Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 86 (including this one) Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 163 ---- Emile... Je viens de lire ta dernière réponse. Je vais essayer de trouver le temps de rédiger la mienne bientôt. D'ici-là, ben bonne année!

Meh meh meh

pretty forgettable electro pop.

As it turns out, if you mix generic indie rock with generic 2000s pop vocals, you somehow create something that's not generic. Cool listen. Had a good time with it.

Nameless indie. 2/5.

I'm so freaking drunk guys let's rock out to METRIC and chill maybe... Yoo guys take it to the fucking dance floor guys what the FUCK! I don't fucking care guys we are young and wild and free lets take it easy and enjoy the journey enjoy the fucking journey guys... Why that album cover kinda be looking like the top part of a mokorotlo doe?

It started off ok- catchy pop rock but after a bit it grates. There are a million bands like this from the 80's and 90s with pretty lead singers.

Generic sounding indie pop/rock album with a singer with childish sounding vocal delivery. After a few songs it got on my nerves. It has a formulaic 1990s sound. Music and lyrics are mediocre.

Another fourth studio album. Give it a rest already... except this is an extraordinary album. I could listen to this over and over again. Gimme symphathy might be the best on the album.

Never listens to metric before, but enjoyed this, the sort of indie rock I listen to, so will be getting added to my frequent rotation.

Fast speeds, fun pop

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Help I’m alive, Sick muse, Gold guns girls, Gimme sympathy, Front row, Blindness

Didn’t realize I’d like it as much as I did. Love her voice.

Not heard of this band before, consistently enjoyed the album all the way through

Above average indie!

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. It's a mix of Veruca Salt, Tracy Bonham, and a DIY feel. Really dug it. I like how "Satellite Mind" had vocals that kinda felt all over the place, giving the idea of a satellite bouncing around. And "Gimme Sympathy," a song about choosing Stones or Beatles? I'm there. In fact it made me look at other works by the band, which is always a plus in rating. Top tracks: "Help I'm Alive," "Satellite Mind," "Twilight Galaxy," "Gold Guns Girls," "Gimme Sympathy"

I thought I only knew the opening track. But it seems that I heard more Metric in the past Cool album

I really liked this. Very much in my wheelhouse.

I have heard of Metric, but don’t recall ever listening to them. I had friends who liked them and somewhere intended to check them out sometime, so thanks for the suggestion and opportunity. Really terrific listen - solid!

I liked this actually, pretty fun. It started off really strong, seems to plateau too early. Still, I enjoyed it. Really liked "Satellite Mind", reminded me of a Mega Drive or SNES 16-bit game. Some good vocals throughout.

I've loved Metric for like 15 years but have never before today actually sat down and listened to an album in full. Hey, it sounds like Metric! Gets a bit samey by the end but if you dig the sound then you're in for a good time.

I liked this a lot. Made me think of something that would be in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Probably because they have a song in the movie. I wish they were more popular. They have a great energy and songwriting. The lyrics are solid, instrumentation matches, and the vocals are unique and recognizable. Not much to note against them, except that there could have been more range. Very nice stuff. Appreciate the submission. 4/5

Not 1st listen (hell yeh) HL: “GIMME SYMPATHY “Help I’m Alive”, “Collect Call”, “Twilight Galaxy”, “Gold Guns Girls”

Canadian millennial indie royalty alongside the likes of Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene. Back when Torontonians would crowd around the windows at 299 Queen Street West to get a glimpse of the hottest new bands and music artists across Canada, Metric was riding the post-punk revival wave launched by their American contemporaries over in New York City. While they could barely make an impact across the border, Metric found plenty of love in their home country as they gained steam with each new album release (shades of the Tragically Hip). Following a first showing at Coachella and a Juno nomination (but no award!), Metric came back hard in 2009 with their fourth album Fantasies. Huge hit for the band. Refined indie rock sound, great songs throughout, and well-charted singles to boot. Their efforts were rewarded with a couple of Junos--Group of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year--making this perhaps the band's landmark record. With how consistently good Fantasies is, it makes sense to me that it was so well-received. Dare I say, Metric deserved better? This was a band that was remarkable in all the right ways, they just happened to be overshadowed by whatever else was more popular at the time. Drake, probably? CONTENDER FOR THE LIST: Honestly, I can think of a few other Canadian albums more deserving on a spot before Metric. Namely Broken Social Scene, but we gotta be mindful of which Canadians get a spot!

Album is solid - fullstop. Could have used a touch more variety in sound, e.g. track 7 "Collect Call" is a great curveball starting with that haunting keyboard+guitar interplay - might have been better moving up in the lineup a little bit? I feel like I hear them a few times a week on the radio and I always enjoy what I hear....but over a longer haul if there's anything that gets tiring the sound/songs get a little "samey" after a while - both the swirling synths and even the vocals after a while. Emily's voice isn't bad at all - in fact not even annoying - but there's a sameness to her lack of emotion which I think I like more in small doses than over a 40 minute span? Not me complaining about vocals again but for vocals I actually kind of like, idk, ok stop nitpicking this is pretty good. Definitely know "Gimme Sympathy" (I could probably spend the morning flipping around the radio and find it playing today) and the lead track "Help I'm Alive" Anyways it's quite a good album - not necessarily spectacular, but has made a serious impact and definitely could have been a worthy book entry. 7/10 4 stars. IMO: Belonged in the book? Yes.

Indie rock, new wave. Ni fu ni fa.

Solid indie

I really like the lead singer's voice and the opening track, Help I'm Alive, is just a banger. I was hoping there was something else that really stood out, but the rest was a fine vehicle but nothing too memorable. There seems like a lot of potential with their sound.

Knew Gold Guns Girls, and it's still pretty great.

This was pretty good. Doesn't really bring anything new to the table, but this is catchy, well-made Indie rock. Fave Songs: Sick Muse, Help I'm Alive, Satellite Mind

Pretty solid alt rock, with some interesting shades of like 80s New Wave? Didn't get much out of the lyrics and the sound a little low on variety, but I liked it.

that one catchy song (gimmie sympathy). still, a band i'd listen to again.

All filler, no killer; like the songs between the good songs on an indie radio station. Not terrible, not memorable, but a pleasant enough way to pass the time.

A keeper

Metric has been and remains to me “pretty okay” indie / alt

A solid 3/5 some good songs here

Alright I guess

Pretty, simple. Not really up my vibe but I understand why people like it and listen.