Metric’s new album Fantasies comes out 4/14. You can listen to the album at MBV. You can download a track as well. I saw Metric at Double Door a couple of years ago, back when the hot lead singer was a brunette. I dug the show but lost track of them afterward. I smiled when I saw the stream. Let’s get at it. ‘Help I’m Alive’ is the free mp3. I give them credit that they progress through different sounding sections, but the whole does very little for me. They are going for a Breeders’ sound without the Breeders’ brains. Veruca Salt, anyone? ‘Sick Muse’ continues the game. Oh, wait. They’re reaching for their inner ABBA/Cardigans. And they grabbed it! Now, they’re onto something. ‘Sick Muse’ is a sick, slick pop song- nothing else you can say. ‘Satellite Mind’ rocks! So far, I really like this album. Bust of a first track, but the rest is solid. What I love about it is how it sets its own mood. Metric knows what they are- and that’s huge for band. ‘Twilight Galaxy’ doesn’t do anything. ‘Gold Guns Girls’ is what I’m talking about. If Metric wants to do a sexed-up Cardigans, I’m all in. ‘Gimme Sympathy’ sucks. This band is wildly inconsistent. ‘Collect Call’ sucks as well. I don’t want drippy tween beat, people! Give me some meat. ‘Front Row’ comes out swinging. I can’t help but be reminded of the hair-band albums of my youth. A few smokers wrapped in a brick of Velveeta cheese. ‘Blindness’ sucks. Metric gets an A- for misplaced earnestness. I dig ‘Stadium Love’. Metric needs to go big or go home. Leave the melodrama for Pink. Maybe brunettes have more fun, after all. Fantasies is a burn.