Looking for more bands like Metric
June 21, 2019 2:24 PM Subscribe
I love the band Metric. Who else sounds like them?
Here are some of my favorite songs of theirs:
Speed the Collapse
Sick Muse
Dark Saturday
Help I'm Alive
Gimme Sympathy
Holding Out
Collect Call
Too Bad So Sad
What I like about the band: Emily Haines' voice, plus their combination of sexy/swaggery rock songs and "prettier" songs.
I've listened to Metric Radio on Spotify, but that didn't give me what I want, really -- most of the bands I already knew of and like (The Shins, Ra Ra Riot, Death Cab, Matt and Kim, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, St. Vincent, Jenny Lewis, Rilo Kiley) and the others I'd heard of but am not hugely into (Broken Bells, Mother Mother, of Montreal, etc.).
Here are some of my favorite songs of theirs:
Speed the Collapse
Sick Muse
Dark Saturday
Help I'm Alive
Gimme Sympathy
Holding Out
Collect Call
Too Bad So Sad
What I like about the band: Emily Haines' voice, plus their combination of sexy/swaggery rock songs and "prettier" songs.
I've listened to Metric Radio on Spotify, but that didn't give me what I want, really -- most of the bands I already knew of and like (The Shins, Ra Ra Riot, Death Cab, Matt and Kim, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, St. Vincent, Jenny Lewis, Rilo Kiley) and the others I'd heard of but am not hugely into (Broken Bells, Mother Mother, of Montreal, etc.).
I don't know anybody else who has quite the same sound, excepting maybe some of Emily Haines' solo work. But I got into metric a couple of years ago and was simultaneously also getting into Now, Now. The whole album, Threads, that that song is from, is IMO a masterpiece. And it's kind of a similar aesthetic.
I just recently heard some Westkust on the radio, and they're kind of in a similar vein, and I'm thinking I'll probably end up liking them pretty well too.
posted by dbx at 2:53 PM on June 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
I just recently heard some Westkust on the radio, and they're kind of in a similar vein, and I'm thinking I'll probably end up liking them pretty well too.
posted by dbx at 2:53 PM on June 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
There’s a way in which Metric’s darkness and energy reminds me powerfully of Magnapop, one of those criminally overlooked bands from the 90s.
If you like Emily’s voice (both the sound and the persona) on the quieter songs, I’d also suggest looking into Barbara Manning’s sizable back catalog.
Manning’s early work, with a band called 28th Day, also has the depth and energy of Metric — if they had come up in the early 80s and made their records in an echoey basement after listening to the Velvet Underground on repeat. Great stuff.
posted by sesquipedalia at 3:03 PM on June 21, 2019
If you like Emily’s voice (both the sound and the persona) on the quieter songs, I’d also suggest looking into Barbara Manning’s sizable back catalog.
Manning’s early work, with a band called 28th Day, also has the depth and energy of Metric — if they had come up in the early 80s and made their records in an echoey basement after listening to the Velvet Underground on repeat. Great stuff.
posted by sesquipedalia at 3:03 PM on June 21, 2019
I came here to recommend Now, Now so I'll just second dbx's recommendation!
posted by wuzandfuzz at 3:21 PM on June 21, 2019
posted by wuzandfuzz at 3:21 PM on June 21, 2019
Silversun pickups I enjoyed at the same time "fantasies" was released. Check out the album swoon, it felt very similar to me at the time.
posted by TheAdamist at 3:30 PM on June 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by TheAdamist at 3:30 PM on June 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
My wife and I are Metric fans. I can't think of another band like them but here are some other artists we like that might scratch some of the same itches: Feist, Lorde, Regina Spektor, and Broken Social Scene (specifically the songs featuring a female vocalist like Almost Crimes or Lover's Spit).
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 3:34 PM on June 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 3:34 PM on June 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
Bat for Lashes. Jenny Lewis's recent solo work.
posted by Rush-That-Speaks at 4:09 PM on June 21, 2019
posted by Rush-That-Speaks at 4:09 PM on June 21, 2019
On the less pretty side, the band X is great female-fronted and guitar-driven punk. Check out the song/album Los Angeles (from 1980!)
posted by moogs at 4:21 PM on June 21, 2019
posted by moogs at 4:21 PM on June 21, 2019
I might be totally off base, but this is what comes to mind:
Dark Dark Dark
Austra
The Joy Formidable
Phantogram
posted by baseballpajamas at 5:22 PM on June 21, 2019
Dark Dark Dark
Austra
The Joy Formidable
Phantogram
posted by baseballpajamas at 5:22 PM on June 21, 2019
Mr. Little Jeans!
posted by something something at 6:17 PM on June 21, 2019
posted by something something at 6:17 PM on June 21, 2019
Yes, I am also an enthusiast of this flavor of dark pop.
Ideas:
Santigold L.E.S. Artistes, You'll Find a Way, GO (w/ Karen O)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Soft Shock, Hysteric
Now Now SGL
Ladyhawke Love Song, Dangerous
posted by oxisos at 6:49 PM on June 21, 2019
Ideas:
Santigold L.E.S. Artistes, You'll Find a Way, GO (w/ Karen O)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Soft Shock, Hysteric
Now Now SGL
Ladyhawke Love Song, Dangerous
posted by oxisos at 6:49 PM on June 21, 2019
Arcade Fire has some similarities in vibe: Reflektor
Wild Strawberries' lead singer, Roberta Carter-Harrison, has a somewhat similar voice to Emily Haines: I Don't Wanna Think About It
Beirut's Nantes
posted by pseudostrabismus at 7:44 PM on June 21, 2019
Wild Strawberries' lead singer, Roberta Carter-Harrison, has a somewhat similar voice to Emily Haines: I Don't Wanna Think About It
Beirut's Nantes
posted by pseudostrabismus at 7:44 PM on June 21, 2019
The Joy Formidable, Morcheeba, Sleater-Kinney, Sylvan Esso, CHVRCHES, Waxahatchee.
Seconding Phantogram, The Thermals, Mitski.
posted by axiom at 9:00 PM on June 21, 2019
Seconding Phantogram, The Thermals, Mitski.
posted by axiom at 9:00 PM on June 21, 2019
Boy oh boy, have I got you covered. As someone who was obsessed with Metric from Live it Out through Fantasies, let me share with you three woman-fronted punk/power-pop/rock bands I've been obsessed with since:
1. Sorry. Highlights include Showgirl, 2 Down 2 Dance, and Wished.
2. Cherry Glazerr. Highlights include Had Ten Dollaz, Told You I'd Be With The Guys, and Wasted Nun.
3. Leggy. Highlights include Prosper, Kick the Habit, Chardonnay Summer, and Eden.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, which is basically the maximum level of enjoyment!
posted by ejs at 11:59 PM on June 21, 2019
1. Sorry. Highlights include Showgirl, 2 Down 2 Dance, and Wished.
2. Cherry Glazerr. Highlights include Had Ten Dollaz, Told You I'd Be With The Guys, and Wasted Nun.
3. Leggy. Highlights include Prosper, Kick the Habit, Chardonnay Summer, and Eden.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, which is basically the maximum level of enjoyment!
posted by ejs at 11:59 PM on June 21, 2019
How about...
Bad Moves, e.g. Cool Generator and Spirit FM
Remember Sports (previously just Sports), e.g. Reality TV and Get Bummed Out
Fightmilk, e.g. How You Move On and Your Girlfriend
posted by fabius at 10:01 AM on June 22, 2019
Bad Moves, e.g. Cool Generator and Spirit FM
Remember Sports (previously just Sports), e.g. Reality TV and Get Bummed Out
Fightmilk, e.g. How You Move On and Your Girlfriend
posted by fabius at 10:01 AM on June 22, 2019
Hop Along and Laura Stevenson are both a little quirkier vocally than Metric, but they scratch they same itch for me.
Broken Social Scene (specifically the songs featuring a female vocalist like Almost Crimes or Lover's Spit)
Emily Haines IS one of the female vocalists in Broken Social Scene! Which maybe everyone here already knew, but nobody said it, so.
posted by mudpuppie at 10:22 AM on June 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
Broken Social Scene (specifically the songs featuring a female vocalist like Almost Crimes or Lover's Spit)
Emily Haines IS one of the female vocalists in Broken Social Scene! Which maybe everyone here already knew, but nobody said it, so.
posted by mudpuppie at 10:22 AM on June 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
Check out Daughter, songs 'Landfill' and 'Run'
posted by signsofrain at 2:32 PM on June 22, 2019
posted by signsofrain at 2:32 PM on June 22, 2019
Haley Bonar's album Last War might fit the bill.
Some songs from it:
Last War
Heaven's Made for Two
Eat for Free
posted by bananana at 8:37 PM on June 22, 2019
Some songs from it:
Last War
Heaven's Made for Two
Eat for Free
posted by bananana at 8:37 PM on June 22, 2019
Response by poster: Oh, wow, this is awesome, thanks so much! Soooo much to listen to, and I've never heard of at least 75% of these bands.
posted by trillian at 9:14 AM on June 23, 2019
posted by trillian at 9:14 AM on June 23, 2019
Coming in late to this question to wholeheartedly recommend The Jezabels:
Endless Summer
Pleasure Drive
posted by castlebravo at 9:37 AM on June 24, 2019
Endless Summer
Pleasure Drive
posted by castlebravo at 9:37 AM on June 24, 2019
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posted by Johnny Assay at 2:44 PM on June 21, 2019 [2 favorites]