Review of Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (Metric)

Originally written for the music review contest at Music Emissions. Check out the site!

"Old world underground, where are you now?" are the first words Emily Haines belts out on this record, and the energy hardly drops for forty minutes. Backed by her synthesizer and James Shaw (Guitar, Vocals), Josh Winstead (Bass), and Joules Scott-Key (Drums), the first release from Canadian indie band Metric is solid all the way through.

There's so much to be said for this album. If you'd have asked me hours ago, I'd have told you that the synth-supported indie wasn't really my thing. The synthesizer is used very judiciously, almost cleverly. It's almost always there, but it adds to the sound, rather than trying to be the sound. The musicians are quite proficient, and beyond that, they know how to play as a group, which is rare for a first release. I'm personally extremely enamoured with the skills of Joules Scott-Key. Drumming is often the difference between mediocre and good music, and the simple yet appropriate drums on this album do not disappoint me. Call me converted, I guess.

Personally, I prefer the more energetic songs, like I.O.U., Succexy, and Dead Disco. Some of the more mellow songs, like Hustle Rose, drag just a little, which is something that I hope the band has dealt with in its next release. You can be sure I'll be checking that out! I'm quite impressed with vocalist Emily Haines, I should add. Her style is edgy without being obnoxious, and it really adds to the music. Having listened to her other sometimes-act Broken Social Scene, I can tell you without hesitation that she ought to focus on Metric and forget the broken Broken Social Scene.

This is quite possibly the most gushing review I've ever written. The album is by no means perfect, but the little nagging things that bother me are hard to pinpoint and name, so I'll leave them as an open-ended statement. All told, this album has been my most pleasant surprise lately. Support Canadian music, and encourage bands like this to keep making music. Brilliant album, so listen to it already!