The attention gained by The Arcade Fire last year has been a blessing and a curse for Canadian indie music. In one respect the scene has been put in the spotlight by the mass media, which have discovered what many insiders have known for years: Canada produces some of the best music in the genre. Unfortunately the amount of hype now generated around these canuks rivals that of Celine Dion, Keanu Reeves, and maple syrup combined. This hype has led me to take any review of a Canadian independent with a grain of salt.
Emily Hanes and Jimmy Shaw, the writing talent of the band Metric, have been making music long before Montreal became the next Seattle, or Canada produced any of its more recent pop abominations. Looking to be completely devoid of any outside influences, the band set up a recording studio in a downtown Toronto loft, locking themselves away for months at a time writing and recording. No outside producers were brought in. Nearly a year after beginning the project, Live It Out, the follow up to 2003's mildly successful Old World Underground was finished.
Successfully combining a hi-fi sound with lo-fi aesthetics, Live It Out produces songs that are pretentious but likeable. The songs include elements of synths into vaguely eighty's bass and guitar lines, all orchestrated by the whales of vocalist/keyboardist Hanes. Make no mistake however, Metric is not a Killers-esque, pseudo, new wave band. Though influences from bands such as The Cure and Sonic Youth can be noted, there is no mistaking the release for a regurgitation of what's been done.
The introductory track 'Empty' hints at levels of melancholy with the line ' there's no way out, the only way out is to give in.' before breaking into a power chord induced fit and a highly danceable chorus. Danceable tracks are a theme through out the album, but are most notable on the tracks 'Patriarch on a Vespa' and the single 'Monster Hospital.' Lyrically there is a tone of sarcasm, sung with a bizarre conviction and repetitive lines, which at times seems almost patronizing. The albums charm is retained however in catchy keyboard rifts and strange guitar noises.
Live It Out is not an album that is universally likeable. It's made for elitists by elitists. The pop fan can find some refuge in the more upbeat tracks, which given the right press, may find their way on to your local radio station. Ironically half of Metric's fanbase may stop listening if they do.
