Metric: The Shade EP

By Kendra Sells
Music Reviewer

Artist: Metric
Album: The Shade EP
Label: Metric Music International
Projected Release Date: September, 2015 (full album release)
Website: ilovemetric.com

For being a Metric fan as long as I could really appreciate music, it would be impossible to not realize the band’s shift into a more synth-heavy sound. Over the course of their last three albums there had been criticisms of them becoming “too electronic” and “selling out,”. In reality Metric just continues to develop their sound which is always something to congratulate in my book. The Shade EP represents the most dance-pop Metric yet, but ultimately it represents their musicianship, attention and love for their craft. As front woman Emily Haines wrote on behalf of the band, they are “too far in to cash out, and too far out to cash in.”

“The Shade” was the first glimpse into Metric’s new journey. At first listen I was a little put off by the abrasive synthesizer which opens the track, but Haines comes in immediately with gorgeous vocals and lyrics. The song is an ode to her life-long investment in music and experiencing all that she’s out to get. Other tracks of the EP feel more familiar to their first released album Live it Out than to their most recent works, yet still maintaining a progressive effort. Catchy refrains and bounce-worthy guitar is the name of the game in “Too Bad So Sad.”

“Office Towers Escalate” may be Metric’s first full instrumental piece (as far as I know) and it only magnifies the band’s talent and reiterates their overall sound. It feels like being in a dance club, or at a party, while at the same time deep in thought- ultimately what Metric is about.

Metric has been on tour this Summer, and will continue to tour in the Fall once their album is released in September. I’m so excited to see what else they have in store.
Hear Cascades! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuPRFDC3wCQ