Album Review: Metric – iTunes Session

What makes an iTunes session worth purchasing? If you have already dished out money to purchase the album and own all the songs (at least once), why would you pay for them again? Sometimes bands go and record an iTunes session and it is like eating cold mashed potatoes from last night’s dinner. What makes one of these sessions worth listening to is when they have a fresh new take on old songs. This could be acoustic versions of songs, extended versions, stringed up versions, a cover by a Canadian icon, or all of the above. Metric’s session starts off with an extended version of “Twilight Galaxy” that is more representative of the live version that opened up many of their live shows on their Fantasies tour. And yes, this blogger may or may not have pulled a muscle in his neck from rocking out to this song. If “Help I’m Alive” was overdone on the radio, the iTunes session version has the potential to renew your interest in the song as it features string arrangements that help the song come across as being more intimate and sincere. “Gimme Sympathy” is similar to Help I’m Alive in the way the song is revived with prominent strings. The band also do a spectacular cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “Expecting To Fly” where Emily Haines voice combined with the strings makes for an emotional and heartfelt cover. If anybody has been to a Metric show, they know that “Hustle Rose” and “Empty” are two highlights of the shows. The iTunes versions are able to capture some of that magic that is experienced by witnessing these songs live. Both include extended face melting guitar work by Jimmy Shaw such as in “Hustle Rose” or Emily’s right to party snipped in the middle of Empty. If you are already a Metric fan this collection of songs has enough variety to satisfy. For a new fan of Metric, this could be an exciting session as it shows the versatility and different sides of the band.