Music Monday - Who else is nutty over Metric's "Synthetica?"

There's absolutely no way to properly introduce this post, I just have to state the facts.

Guys. Metric's new album, Synthetica is everything I ever wanted and more.

To those of you unfamiliar with Canadian indie rock icons Metric, you have some serious catching up to do. Synthetica comes on the heels of two perfect in every way albums: Fantasies, their 2009 release, and Grow Up and Blow Away, a re-release of the band's very first recording. Suffice to say, Synthetica had extremely big shoes to fill.

And it delivers.

As tends to be the case with Metric albums, the first few tracks are my absolute favourites. Emily Haines' vocals are spot on, as usual, and the rest of the band performs expertly on drums, guitars, and synth. There are also a few horns at one point, in the climax of the title track.

But you really shouldn't be listening to what I have to say. Metric has been kind enough to upload the entire album to Soundcloud, where you can stream each and every song for free. I would highly suggest nabbing yourself a hard copy, though, as the cover booklet is an innovative piece of artwork in itself. I won't spoil any surprises, you'll have to find out for yourself!

a Picture Challenge: 9 - they Got me Through

the preamble. I've had a less than stellar month, to be completely honest. Luckily, I have an expansive collection of music and an iPod that has a strange capacity to know exactly what I need to hear. The result? Intense music therapy. All day, every day. Here are the five musicians that have and continue to carry me through.

Sia, an eccentric singer/songwriter from Australia. She's not well known, but she's all over the place. She co-wrote three of the songs for Christina Aguilera's Bionic, and one of the songs for the film Burlesque (which was amazing, beeteedubs). Specifically, I've been all over the song I'm in Here.

My favourite band of the moment, Metric. The lead singer, Emily Haines, deserves an international award just for being Emily Haines. Seriously. I've been listening to Collect Call nightly for a while now. The song seems to take a new meaning for me every day, and I sometimes feel it was written just for me.

Janelle Monae is a rising R&B star, nominated for two Grammy awards. Gorgeous voice, jaw-dropping dance moves, and good looking to boot. She's a true artist, as shown in her video for Cold War. I have so much respect for her.

I fell in love with Jamie Cullum the moment I heard one of his songs play at the Gap, but last month I took the time to actually search out his entire discography. Completely worthwhile. On repeat for days was the 7 minute Music is Through, the live version of which I'll share.

Florence + the Machine is another up and coming musician, nominated for a single Grammy award this year. Also similar to Janelle Monae, she's got serious pipes, inspiring choreography (of the contemporary variety), and all wrapped in a face and figure you can't ignore. Her entire album is my life's soundtrack, but Dog Days are Over is what has helped me most.

photos from all over the place.

a Picture Challenge: 6 - in Different Shoes

 

No, I don't want to be the lead singer of Metric. Or the drummer in the background. Or the guitarist you can't see on the right. No, I'd like to swap lives with the bass guitarist on the left, who you can sort of make out.

Why?

Because then I'd get to spend the day with Emily Haines.

Whose shoes would you like to test out for a day?

photo by me.

on Repeat

This weekend I discovered a musician by the name of Jamie Cullum, and I've had his most recent album, The Pursuit, on repeat since, oh, Friday. It's that good.

But I need a little variety in my life. Not too much at this time, but a little, just to keep me interested. Jamie has one song called Mixtape, in which he sings, "I'll make you a mixtape that's a blueprint of my soul... It details everything that's running 'round my head."

So here's my "mixtape," courtesy of Grooveshark, and the playlist I've had on repeat the last two days. Note that it ends with Jamie, though.

my Influence Map

Have you ever taken a step back and asked why you are who you are? It's not really something you think about too often. It's not something I think about too often. But now is not often; I just pondered those thoughts.

The result? This:

please click for full size view

Pretty nifty, eh? It took some work to put together, and even more work to actually think about. I tried very hard to use only photos that I have taken, but that started to limit the representation of my influences. Here's a bit of an explanation for each one, frame by frame.

Spirituality: I was raised in the Seventh Day Adventist church and attended Christian elementary and high school, so religion played a big part in my development. But not just Christianity, or just religion: I've taken bits and pieces of other philosophies, too, probably like the majority of people out there. (photo by me)

Chris Corner: He's a musician, the front man of IAMX and co-founder of the disbanded group Sneaker Pimps. As with the other artists on this map, it's his way with words that has influenced me most, as well as the messages in his lyrics. (photo by Vera Hofmann)

Sia Furler: Another musician, Sia embodies the childlike, carefree, but mature and political adult. She is outspoken in both her art and in her public life. (promotional photo, no listed creator)

Metric: A Canadian band, with singer Emily Haines at the front. Really, I think it is Emily who influences me the most, but I have to give the rest of the band credit, too. I could listen to their latest album Fantasies all day, and frequently do. (photo by me)

Star Wars: Do I really have to explain this one? The films, the books, the entire mythos behind it all. I was raised on Lucas Arts, and continue to be influenced by the franchise today. (photo by We Made This Ltd.)

t.A.T.u.: I always get lots of flak for enjoying the group t.A.T.u. Most people recognize the girls from their two (English) hits in North America, few know that they lasted as a group for ten years. Once their presence completely faded away in North America I knew I'd never be able to see them perform live. I beat that impossibility, though, by seeing them in Italy while backpacking. (photo by me)

Greek Myth: Besides being a Star Wars nut when I was a kid, I had a major soft spot for Greek mythology. I adored the stuff. I read Homer's Odyssey for fun, only to read it again in AP Literature and then bang my head against my desk in second year English because no-one knew what it was about. (photo by me)

UBC Okanagan: Where do I even start with this one? Moving away from Vic has probably been the single most impacting thing I have ever done in my 21 years of life. It completely changed the direction of my education, earned me a tonne of new friends that I know I can count on for almost anything, taught me so much about myself through living with (completely rad) room mates each year, and given me so many opportunities to experience things I never would have tried if I had stayed in Vic. That about sums it up. (photo by UBC)

Mirrors: I should probably also add windows. I have a strange fascination with them, and both often show up as motifs in my writing. (photo by me)

Island Living: Whenever I need an excuse and don't have anything valid, I usually just retort with, "It's 'cause I'm an island boy." (photo by me)

Home: What do I need to say about this one? My family has had a significant impact on me, and will continue to. I have amazing parents who are determined to present me with every available opportunity that approaches, and a sister who is pretty much my best friend. That, and my family (including me) is rather cooking-oriented, so I'm never starved for baked goods. Ever. (photo by me)

Now, what has influenced or impacted you? Feel free to answer in the comments, or write your own post about it. You can find a blank template for the Influence Map here.