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Album Details

• Artist: Metric
• Album: Live It Out
• Label: Last Gang
• Year of Release: 2005
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: christopherdrew on 2007-01-24

I'll say it right off the bat: I'm a little disappointed in Metric's sophomore album, 'Live It Out'; their debut, 'Old World Underground, Where Are You Now' was such a killer combination of new wave-influenced pop and contemporary indie rock that had melodic hooks coming out of its ass, as well as a metropolitan chic that even the most jaded hipster would be hard-pressed not to acknowledge. It's hard for any band to try and top that sort of successful entrance, the attempts of which usually result in said artist becoming the next subject of a VH1 'Where Are They Now' special.
The good news is this: despite it's shortcomings, 'Live it Out' is a good album.
It's a mixed bag; the band's either trying too hard or not hard enough. In some cases, compositions seem to be made up of two (maybe more) different songs where only one is needed, as in the case of 'Glass Ceiling', which, despite it's snarling guitars, ends up wandering into forgettable territory - or else there's very little going on, like 'Too Little Too Late', a lilting meander of a song that really goes nowhere. It does work, for the most part, as testified by songs like 'Hand$hake$', 'Patriarch On A Vespa' and 'The Police and The Private', the latter showcasing one of the band's hidden strengths: Emily Haines' lyrical strength, as she creates a modern Dickensian vignette over swirling synth melodies.
In fact, the band is most successful when it manages to utilize both the singer's intelligence AND sex appeal, which, combined with Metric's penchant for catchy melodic rock, makes for near-perfect power pop, especially in the cases of the opening track 'Empty' (possibly the most underrated song of 2005) and the album's first single, the roaring, riff-heavy 'Monster Hospital'; both songs show that when Metric want to, they can produce some of the catchiest songs around.
'Live It Out' is really the sound of a band going through growing pains. The strange thing is, even the songs that don't work have some appeal, as you'll find something in each one to grab onto; so while I might not consider this album as instantly gratifying as their debut, it's still worthy of a place in your stereo.

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