Metric

Metric is a Canadian indie-rock group assembled in the United States. Originally it was a project designed by the keyboardist and vocalist Emily Haines along with guitarist James Shaw. The musicians met each other in Montreal and soon became friends. After they relocated to Brooklyn in 1998, it was decided to start Metric. The duet rehearsed and recorded their songs at their common rented apartment. The next move was sealing a contract with an English sound recording company, which prompted the group to move to London. There, the musician used the drum machine to manufacture some electro-pop oriented compositions building up the foundation for their debut album Grow Up And Blow Away.

In 2000, Metric came back to Brooklyn. In a short while, the band recruited the living drummer, Joules Scott-Key, and signed up an agreement with Restless Records, an L.A.-based indie label. The appearance of a new member modified the group’s sounding significantly. The musicians acquired more liberty with electronic experimentations, improved their arrangements and gave their gigs a regular basis. Indeed, on the stage did they spend the largest part of 2001 due to the uncertain position of the label that belated the release of the first Metric album. Unsatisfied with the situation, the musicians eventually left New York for Toronto in winter 2001. In Canada, the outfit showcased what they were made of at the Canadian Music Week festival in March 2002.By that time, the issues of the album release had finally become settled; and Metric returned to the USA. Nevertheless, the group decided to put off the old songs and started recording the new material for another CD.

To strengthen the rhythm section, Metric found a regular bassist. That was Shaw’s old friend, Josh Winsted. Early in 2003, the group took the shortest time to record an album under the title Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? This very studio work became the group’s first official release. It featured a combination of disco rhythms, light and sweet electronic melodies supporting Haines’s emotional and slightly depressed vocals. By the end of 2005, this CD reached the gold status in Canada. That became possible with the great help of the smashing single Combat baby. In 2005, the young outfit issued another full length album, Live It Out. The given effort appeared as strong as the previous one. The new album received an excellent promotion after Metric shared the stage with Rolling Stones in New York. In 2006, Haines released her solo album, Knives Don’t Have Your Back.

The Metric earliest studio material, Grow Up And Blow Away, was finally released in 2007. The track-listing went through the minimum changes compared to the original version. In February 2008, the band touched the market with their debut DVD featuring their concert in Montreal and three videos. This was followed by a row of tours to various countries. During the intermissions between them, Metric went to the studio to prepare the songs for their fourth long player. It was released in spring 2009 under the title Fantasies. It did not reveal any considerable differences from the predecessors. The group worked out its own recognizable style and followed the once chosen course. Besides, Haines and Shaw got the opportunity to work outside this project. Both musicians have long been cooperating fruitfully with their old buddies Broken Social Scene. At the present moment there are multitudes of indie-rock groups. Metric are not likely to become a new revelation there, but they definitely recommended themselves as a top quality band playing top quality music.