3.5/5
Above all else, Fantasies is a tribute to Emily Haines’ larynx. Pure and clear, rising to a crescendo without faltering ‘mdash; effortlessly seductive and transcendent in one great breath ‘mdash; her spot-on vocals elevate Metric’s fourth installment from mellow-rock mediocrity to perfectly chiseled indie pop.
Haines wrings every last drop of emotion out of simple sentiments that, under the wing of an inferior songstress, might have languished as meaningless. Seemingly trite on the album jacket, lyrics like ‘I tremble, they’re gonna eat me alive/ If I stumble, they’re gonna eat me alive/ Can you hear my heart beating like a hammer?’ break through the electronic haze with sheer, primal power.
Present only to save her from herself,’ Haines’ cracking beats recall ’80s new wave and polished, airwave-prepped production akin to Garbage or the Talking Heads. On ‘Satellite Mind,’ drums and guitars fade ignominiously into the background, drowning amid the synth waves that escalate Haine’s crystalline high notes.
‘ Thankfully, Metric avoids near over-saturation on ‘Gold Guns Girls’ and ‘Stadium Love.’ Crashing drums and slick guitar riffs flesh out the Canadian rockers’ sparkly clean melodies, rocking the party a la 2007’s Grow Up and Blow Away. But everything on Fantasies swings full circle to its heart: Haine’s voice, which ‘mdash; even when wavering delicately ‘mdash; rises to a fist-pumping chorus big enough to stuff an amphitheater.
Metric will perform live in San Diego on June 7 at Independence Jam.