AWmusic

Let me preface this review by saying that I’ve been obsessed with Metric/Emily Haines since high school. I once saw them three times in the span of 8 months. All my flickr photos of her have some sort of love-professing comment. I don’t care about the almost unanimous internet agreement on Emily being an uber-bitch. In short, I’m biased.

But don’t discount me yet. As a hardcore Metric fan, my inner fangirl is balanced out by high expectations of a band that’s kept me enamored for so long (yes, I consider it a long time, I’m fickle). I’ve been itching to hear something new – it’s been four years since Live It Out. Metric has officially been active for over a decade! They’re definitely not newcomers in the indie rock scene anymore and it seems appropriate for Fantasies to be self-released (in the States anyway, good ol’ Last Gang Records for us canucks).

I have mixed feelings about the opening track “Help I’m Alive”. I like the instrumentals overall including Emily’s voice but the lyrics leave much to be desired. Metric has always gone the simple-but-profound route but this one’s lacking the profound aspect. This deficit is made up for in “Sick Muse”. Great song, great lyrics. I quite like “Satellite Mind”. It’s a very emotional, sexually-charged piece. Unfortunately, it seems like Metric used up all their energy there so the next track “Twilight Galaxy” falls short.

“Gold Guns Girls” seems like it’s been done before. Crowd-pleaser? I like “Gimme Sympathy” save for the spelling of “give me”. It reminds me of Britney Spears and while there’s nothing wrong with crazy Britney, I like to keep my pop and indie pop separate. “Gimme Sympathy” is wonderfully sincere.

“Collect Call” starts off a bit bland but picks up. “Front Row” doesn’t sound like a Metric song to me. “Blindness” is another weak track. “Stadium Love” weirds me out. The distortion doesn’t seem to fit with the song.

Fantasies gets a 3.5/5 from me. I don’t know if the album will grow on me over time but it definitely doesn’t beat out any of Metric’s prior albums or Emily Haine’s Knives Don’t Have Your Back. There are definitely a few gems on there but on the whole, it’s a good thing this is their fourth album and not their first. I will totally go see them when they’re here though (oh god, Edgefest).

The album release date has been moved up to April 7th so keep your eyes peeled!

Metric – Sick Muse
Metric – Satellite Mind
Metric – Gimme Sympathy

With so much happening in my life recently, my search for interesting and exciting news has kind of taken a back seat. I apologize. With school, work (with lots of overtime) and writing for one food and two music websites, I hardly have even enough time for myself; but alas the light at the end of this tunnel is almost in my reach. OK, enough of my bitching, let’s get our news on.

Winter sucks… Cold and miserable weather gives you a desire to do nothing more than hibernate for those long months, praying to have a glimpse of warmth to defrost your fingers and toes. Fear not my little ones, spring is quickly approaching and here in Vancouver we are already getting a nice taste of it. The development of new life associated with this time of year doesn’t only apply to plants and animals, spring also spawns fantastic music.

Here’s a list of albums to look forward to and hopefully put a smile on your ice chiseled face.

March 10
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz! (originally due to be released April 14 but bumped due to a leak. You can also stream it from their myspace page starting today)

March 17
Les Claypool – Of Fungi and Foe
MSTRKRFT – Fist of God (the much anticipated sophomore release)

March 24
The Decemberists – Hazards of Love
Pet Shop Boys – Yes (for all you synthpop revivalists)
Röyksopp – Junior (there will also be a follow-up album titled ‘Senior’ due later in the year.)

March 31
Leonard Cohen – Live in London (just before he’s live at Coachella)
Peter, Bjorn & John – Living Things

April 14
Metric – Fantasies (from the teasers I’ve heard, this is going to be another classic Metric album)

May 12
Art Brut – Art Brut vs. Satan (If this title is any indication, this album will kick ass)

April 21
Jane’s Addiction – A Cabinet of Curiosities box set (I’m so waiting for this one)
Tortoise – “Title still TBA”

May 5
Conor Oberst – Outer South
Peaches – I Feel Cream (everything about this girl is raunchy and it doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon, thankfully)

May 19
Iron & Wine – Around the Well (this band owns… go buy this album)

June 9
Sonic Youth – The Eternal (another album I’m really looking forward to)

Also, some time in May Green Day will be releasing their eighth studio album titled ‘21st Century Breakdown’ and it’ll be broken into three “acts”, “Heroes and Cons,” “Charlatans and Saints,” and “Horseshoes and Hand grenades”. Check greenday.com for updates.

Röyksopp – Happy Up Here

Happy Up Here from Röyksopp on Vimeo.

Metric’s “Help I’m Alive” (Official Acoustic Version)

It got rave reviews but otherwise a lot of people weren’t too excited to see it. I went to see it as my friend leaves town for university (boo school is starting already). Anyway the movie itself isn’t what you expect it, at least the concept is given away with the trailers adding an increased level of hilarity.

The movie does have stupid humor but it pulls it off well though it is very offensive. I heard quite a lot about CNN saying something about the racial matter of this movie which there is none. However it is quite offensive towards the mental challenged or “retards – such as Ben Stiller’s character Tugg Speedman in the fake film “Simple Jack”. Now I must say I laughed but it crossed the line… if there is one downside to the film, it’s that.

Tom Cruise’s role in the film is downright hilarious. I hadn’t known he was in the film as he didn’t do any of the promotion and my friend didn’t even notice him in the film. He pulls off the fat, balding movie executive. You don’t really know it’s him unless you notice his eyes even then I still had my doubts until the final credits were rolling.

Pineapple Express was admittedly not as good as this film by a big margin as this movie actually had you laughing out loud, whether or not you tried to hold it in during those offensive moments. That’s the real importance of it, it makes you laugh hysterically without being too ridiculous. The concept of the movie saves it from being just your average comedy.

Rating: 4.25/5

As for the soundtrack, it was a very mainstream soundtrack and I guess it wasn’t too bad, the use of Flo Rida’s Low was hilarious but I’m too lazy to download that track. Click for the soundtrack here.

The playlist is after the jump (I’m evil)
(more…)

1. Wolf Parade – We Built Another World
2. Arcade Fire – Cars and Telephones
3. Avril Lavigne – Girlfriend (you didn’t think I was serious?)
3. Feist – Lonely Lonely
4. Lovesuit by Hilotrons
5. Milkshake by Holy Fuck
6. Metric – Soft Rock Star
7. New Pornographers – Bones of An Idol
8. Broken Social Scene – Stars and Sons
9. Cadence Weapon – Do I Miss My Friends
10. Black Mountain – Stay Free

1.Perfect Disguise by Modest Mouse
2.Mistaken For Strangers by The National
3.Is There A Ghost? by Band of Horses
4.The Ghost of You Lingers by Spoon
5.Werewolf by Cat Power
6.What Wolves Would Do by Les Savy Fav
7.They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!!They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhhh! by Sufjan Stevens
8.It’s a Curse by Wolf Parade
9.Crooked Teeth by Death Cab For Cutie
10.The Old Hag Is Sleeping by The Fiery Furnaces
11.Monster Hospital by Metric
12.The Chills by Peter Bjorn and John