Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? by Metric

Metric - Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003)

The first song I heard by Metric was actually 'Black Sheep' from the Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World OST. Well, I liked the song in the movie enough to check it out after watching it. Anyway.

Metric can be generally considered an indie band, but I found their debut to be a little more like electronic rock. There's the occasional electronic-only track like 'Calculation Theme', but overall I think Old World Underground is a very accessible album that inducts you into the wonderful world of Metric. Combining guitar feedback and dreamy synth, they create a sound of their own that does have indie inclinations. Their lyrics are sometimes alliterative and very fun to song along to as they just roll off your tongue. Unfortunately, I cannot sing like Emily Haines, so I will keep my warbling to myself.

A track I've found myself listening to more often than the rest is 'Hustle Rose'.



I like how Haines' voice is somewhat mercurial. She can sing lower notes like in the opening track 'IOU', but in this song her dulcet tones kick in. Backed by the accompanying keyboards, this is one of the songs I sing along too, causing widespread second-hand embarrassment to everyone in the world.

7.3/10

Feel Good Lost by Broken Social Scene

Broken Social Scene - Feel Good Lost (2001)

The debut of the indie rock/shoegaze/baroque pop/whatever-the-hell-you-want-to-call-it band is an instrumental piece that is occasionally punctuated by vocals. It showcases the band's abilities - the segueing of instruments, how everything just comes together and meshes really well. It's equal parts dreamy, eerie, as well as calming, actually. I would say it's like The Radio Dept. with its dreams shattered and built up again even stronger and reinforced with knives and gunpowder (and sometimes horns).



Here's "Love and Mathematics", one of the tracks I find myself listening to more often compared to the other songs from the album. It mixes into the next song, "Passport Radio", but I'll leave it to you, dear reader, to search that out for yourself. This song here stuck out to me because it's one of the tracks that are darker, more languid. It kind of lulls you into a torpor, but in a good way. They lower you into a bath of cold water to numb you, but during the whole experience they've still got their arms around you, to pull you out at the last possible moment. Also, I rather like the title.

If you're a fan of dream pop with a darker side to it, try out Broken Social Scene. If you're not, then just give them a chance. Their sound is versatile enough to cover most genres. With the numerous musicians collaborating to form the band, you'll be sure to find at least one track you enjoy.

8.0/10

Verses of Comfort, Assurance & Salvation by Au Revoir Simone

Au Revoir Simone - Verses of Comfort, Assurance & Salvation (2006)


Let me preface this review with a confession: I started listening to Au Revoir Simone's second album instead of their debut when I first heard about them back in 2007. Hence, my impression of them has already been formed, and it's based on their second release. That said, I still still try to review this album as objectively as I can. (I hope this paragraph has made at least a small amount of sense.)

This debut is a solid introduction to the creative forces that make up Au Revoir Simone. Simple melodies that are made up of layers of synth and keyboards, and backed by a drum machine. The vocals are earnest and the lyrics are of the subtle, imagery-inducing variety. All in all, it's a rather good first album from three girls who originally jammed together for fun, before they decided to set their dreams in concrete.

It's a good launching pad for their careers, and they've established themselves as the electronic equivalent of a warm, fluffy blanket on a cold rainy night. There's a bittersweet tinge to their music, although the warm golden sunshine will eventually filter through the thin film of darkness.

Here is "Back In Time". I didn't choose my favorite, "Stay Golden", because I think this song is a better example of the layers of keyboards over a drum machine. It's like a little capsule of happiness with a dash of melancholy.

7/10

Fences by Fences

Fences - Fences (2010)

Listening to the whole album on repeat evokes a sense of a lost youth, a longing for that wonderful feeling you can't describe in words. Lying in bed and staring at the ceiling like most do in their idle times, letting the music seep into every crevice in your body. This album is immaculate. Each song is crafted carefully, with the synth blending seamlessly into the plucks of the guitar. It's soft and earnest, the lyrics simple. That does not mean that the lyrics are meaningless; in fact, its simplicity is what catches you off-guard.

Take, for example, "Girls With Accents".



Unfulfilled love, missing out on chances, and the ennui of relationships. Through simple verses, the band manages to capture the longing, regret, and unhappiness that riddle through relationships. Coincidentally, this is one of my favorite songs off the album.

I started listening to this album on a whim, actually. It was one of the 'oh, what the hell' decisions that I'd made, and it turned out to be a pleasant one. I've recently tried to start listening to more indie folk bands, and this album seems to epitomize the ideal I have for the genre.

7.9/10