Synthetica
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Synthetica
| type = studio
| artist = Metric
| cover = Metric-synthetica.jpg
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = 12 June 2012
| recorded = Giant Studios
(Toronto, Ontario)
Electric Lady Studios
(New York City, New York)
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Indie rock, new wave
| length = 43:11
| label = Metric Music International, Mom + Pop Music
| producer = Gavin Brown, John O'Mahony, Liam O'Neil, Jimmy Shaw
| prev_title = Plug In, Plug Out
| prev_year = 2009
| next_title = Pagans in Vegas
| next_year = 2015
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Metric
| type = studio
| single1 = Youth Without Youth
| single1date = 1 May 2012
| single2 = Breathing Underwater
| single2date = 29 May 2012
| single3 = Synthetica
| single3date = 2013
| single4 = Lost Kitten
| single4date = 2013
}}
}}
Synthetica is the fifth studio album by Canadian indie rock band Metric, released on 12 June 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/04/metric-offer-peek-creative-process-behind-synthetica/ |title=Metric Offer Peek into Creative Process Behind Synthetica |work=Spin |publisher=Buzz Media |date=17 April 2012 |accessdate=2 May 2012}} The first single, "Youth Without Youth", was released on 1 May 2012. "Speed the Collapse" was released as a sneak preview on 23 May 2012.
On 30 May 2012 the entire album was available for streaming by playing "Synthetica Hide + Seek"; this was done through an interactive word hunting game on the band's website. A deluxe version, with five additional tracks, was released on 20 November 2012.[http://open.spotify.com/album/5PAHWaApFKovbtEgU2YrXL Synthetica Deluxe].
The song "Speed the Collapse" is featured on the soundtrack for the video game by EA Sports, FIFA 13{{cite web|title=FIFA 13 Soundtrack|url=http://www.fifplay.com/fifa13-soundtrack/|publisher=FIFPlay.com|access-date=10 October 2013|date=17 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829100918/http://www.fifplay.com/fifa13-soundtrack/|archive-date=29 August 2012}} and in the 2013 Grey's Anatomy episode "Things We Said Today" (season 9, episode 10).{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1900479/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108123617/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1900479/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 November 2010 |title=Metric. Soundtrack. 'Speed the Collapse' |website=IMDb |access-date=9 August 2013}} The song "Breathing Underwater" is featured in the 2013 The Vampire Diaries episode "Original Sin" (season 5, episode 3).{{Cite web|url = http://www.tvfanatic.com/music/shows/the-vampire-diaries/episodes/original-sin.html|title = The Vampire Diaries. Season 5, Episode: 3 "Original Sin" Music|work = TV Fanatic | date=27 September 2013 | accessdate = 19 October 2013}}
The band also put out a companion app of the same name, which allowed fans to remix the songs off of the album.{{cite web|last1=Bedian|first1=Knar|title=APP OF THE MONTH: The Synthetica app rebuilds Metric's songs|url=http://www.aux.tv/2013/12/app-of-the-month-the-synthetica-app-rebuilds-metrics-songs/|website=AUX Magazine|access-date=23 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817162345/http://www.aux.tv/2013/12/app-of-the-month-the-synthetica-app-rebuilds-metrics-songs/|archive-date=17 August 2014|url-status=dead}}
History
According to Metric's frontwoman Emily Haines, Synthetica is "about forcing yourself to confront what you see in the mirror when you finally stand still long enough to catch a reflection. Synthetica is about being able to identify the original in a long line of reproductions. It's about what is real vs what is artificial". The band collaborated with Lou Reed for the recording of the song "The Wanderlust", which would ultimately be his very last appearance on an original recording during his lifetime.{{cite news|title=Metric on Recording Lou Reed Duet 'The Wanderlust'|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/28/metric-lou-reed-wanderlust_n_4170594.html|accessdate=12 December 2013|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=28 October 2013|author=Joshua Ostroff}} A unique feature of the album is that all of the lyrics in the booklet are printed backwards. Included in the CD case is a reflective piece of foil so the words can be read correctly.
Following the album's release, Haines responded to a question about the changing meaning of songs over time and stated in relation to a lyric from the title song "Synthetica": "Like, 'Hey, I'm not synthetica'—sometimes it feels like a totally victorious statement and sometimes it feels kind of beaten down … but it's just rock 'n' roll, you know. I'm not meaning to be pretentious about it at all."{{cite web|title=Metric's Emily Haines Makes Style Poetic|url=http://www.refinery29.com/emily-haines#slide-3|publisher=refinery29|accessdate=29 August 2013|date=August 2013}}
Mobile app
The band released a mobile app created specifically for the Synthetica album. An interview with lead singer Emily Haines revealed that the app gave the band the opportunity to revisit an artwork: "The whole point of it is that it’s an experience between us and the listener and people can be more involved. I’m really excited that we can just constantly upgrade it". The songs in the app are paired with artworks from Italian architecture group Superstudio, on which Haines commented: "I’m always looking for art, looking for things to be inspired by and connect with", says Haines about what prompted the decision to include the images in the app. "I just found myself drawn into this world of those drawings that are abstractions of future realities, but in this case they took the conventional model of those kinds of conceptual drawings and really made a movement".
Reception
=Critical response=
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Sendra |first=Tim |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/synthetica-mw0002354324 |title=Synthetica – Metric |work=AllMusic |publisher=All Media Network |accessdate=29 August 2013}}
| rev2 = The A.V. Club
| rev2Score = B{{cite web |last=Mincher |first=Chris |url=https://www.avclub.com/review/metric-emsyntheticaem-80959/ |title=Metric: Synthetica |work=The A.V. Club |date=12 June 2012 |accessdate=13 September 2013}}
| rev3 = The Daily Telegraph
| rev3Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite news |last=McCormick |first=Neil |author-link=Neil McCormick |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopreviews/9347418/Metric-Synthetica-CD-review.html |title=Metric, Synthetica, CD review |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=22 June 2012 |accessdate=3 October 2017}}
| rev4 = The Guardian
| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news |last=Costa |first=Maddy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jun/21/metric-synthetica-review |title=Metric: Synthetica – review |work=The Guardian |date=21 June 2012 |accessdate=13 September 2013}}
| rev5 = The Independent
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news |last=Gill |first=Andy |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-metric-synthetica-metric-music-international-7896802.html |title=Album: Metric, Synthetica |work=The Independent |date=30 June 2012 |access-date=13 September 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130913105153/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-metric-synthetica-metric-music-international-7896802.html |archive-date=13 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}
| rev6 = Los Angeles Times
| rev6Score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last=Martens |first=Todd |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/06/album-review-metrics-synthetica.html |title=Album review: Metric's 'Synthetica' |work=Los Angeles Times |date=11 June 2012 |accessdate=3 October 2017}}
| rev7 = NME
| rev7Score = 7/10{{cite web |last=Avron |first=Hayley |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/metric/13325 |title=Metric – 'Synthetica' |work=NME |date=22 June 2012 |accessdate=13 September 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930205735/http://www.nme.com/reviews/metric/13325 |archivedate=30 September 2015}}
| rev8 = Pitchfork
| rev8Score = 7.0/10{{cite web |last=Perpetua |first=Matthew |url=https://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16712-synthetica/ |title=Metric: Synthetica |work=Pitchfork |date=11 June 2012 |accessdate=11 June 2012}}
| rev9 = Rolling Stone
| rev9Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Johnston |first=Maura |author-link=Maura Johnston |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/synthetica-20120612 |title=Synthetica |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=12 June 2012 | accessdate=18 May 2013}}
| rev10 = Spin
| rev10Score = 8/10{{cite web |last=Modell |first=Josh |url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/metric-synthetica-mom-pop |title=Metric, 'Synthetica' (Mom + Pop) |work=Spin |date=14 June 2012 |accessdate=18 May 2013}}
}}
Synthetica received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 71, based on 29 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/synthetica/metric |title=Synthetica by Metric |publisher=Metacritic. CBS Interactive |accessdate=15 June 2012}}
Synthetica ranked at number 13 on Spinner's The 50 Best Albums of 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/07/best-albums-2012/#photo-38 |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2012 - Spinner |access-date=15 December 2012 |archive-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208213152/http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/07/best-albums-2012/#photo-38 |url-status=dead }} The album also featured on Spin's Top 50 Albums of 2012 at the number 47.{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/12/best-albums-2012/121130-47-metric/ | title=SPIN's 50 Best Albums of 2012 - SPIN - Year-End Lists - Best Albums}}
On 13 June 2013 the album was named a longlisted nominee for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.[http://exclaim.ca/News/polaris_music_prize_unveils_2013_long_list "Polaris Music Prize Unveils 2013 Long List"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618090238/http://exclaim.ca/News/polaris_music_prize_unveils_2013_long_list |date=18 June 2013 }}. Exclaim!, 13 June 2012.
=Commercial performance=
Synthetica debuted at number two on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 16,000 copies.{{cite web |last=Dowling |first=Marianne |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/R/Rush/2012/06/20/19899826.html |title=Rush's 'Angels' flies up the charts |publisher=Jam! Canoe.ca |date=20 June 2012 |access-date=20 June 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208131513/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/R/Rush/2012/06/20/19899826.html |archive-date=8 December 2012 }} In the United States, the album debuted at number twelve on the Billboard 200, selling 27,000 copies in its first week.{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1687847/usher-billboard-looking-4-myself.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621215137/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1687847/usher-billboard-looking-4-myself.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 June 2012 |title=Usher Tops Billboard Chart With Looking 4 Myself |publisher=MTV News. MTV Networks |date=20 June 2012 |accessdate=22 June 2012}} As of August 2015, it has sold 135,000 copies in the United States.{{cite web|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150825183753/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |archivedate=25 August 2015 |url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |title=Upcoming Releases |website=Hits Daily Double |publisher=HITS Digital Ventures }}
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Metric.{{Discogs master|444901}}.
{{Track listing
| title1 = Artificial Nocturne
| length1 = 5:42
| title2 = Youth Without Youth
| length2 = 4:17
| title3 = Speed the Collapse
| length3 = 3:42
| title4 = Breathing Underwater
| length4 = 3:56
| title5 = Dreams So Real
| length5 = 2:40
| title6 = Lost Kitten
| length6 = 3:16
| title7 = The Void
| length7 = 3:17
| title8 = Synthetica
| length8 = 3:54
| title9 = Clone
| length9 = 5:13
| title10 = The Wanderlust
| note10 = featuring Lou Reed
| length10 = 3:10
| title11 = Nothing But Time
| length11 = 4:04
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = iTunes pre-order bonus tracks
| title12 = Reflection #1
| length12 = 1:36
| title13 = Reflection #4
| length13 = 2:54
| title14 = Reflection #6
| length14 = 1:56
| title15 = Reflection #9
| length15 = 1:28
| title16 = Reflection #11
| length16 = 5:30
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Deluxe version additional tracks
| title12 = Youth Without Youth
| note12 = acoustic
| length12 = 3:55
| title13 = Breathing Underwater
| note13 = acoustic
| length13 = 4:37
| title14 = Synthetica
| note14 = acoustic
| length14 = 2:57
| title15 = Gimme Sympathy
| note15 = acoustic
| length15 = 3:09
| title16 = Strange Weather
| note16 = acoustic) (written by Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan, originally recorded by Marianne Faithfull
| length16 = 3:16
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from Synthetica album liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Synthetica |others=Metric |year=2012 |type=CD liner notes |publisher=Metric Music International |id=MET80112}}
;Metric
- Emily Haines – vocals, synthesizer, guitar
- Joules Scott-Key – drums
- James Shaw – guitar, producer
- Josh Winstead – bass
;Additional personnel
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- Justin Broadbent – design, photography
- Gavin Brown – co-producer
- Greg Calbi – mastering
- Evan Cranley – additional horns (3, 8)
- Bryant Latourette – mountain photography
{{col-2}}
- John O'Mahony – co-producer, mixing
- Liam O'Neil – co-producer, engineer
- Lou Reed – vocals (10)
- Lenny de Rose – engineer
- Chris Seligman – additional horns (3, 8)
{{col-end}}
Charts
=Certifications=
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|artist=Metric|title=Synthetica|award=Platinum|certyear=2018|relyear=2012}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true | noshipments=true | streaming=true}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://soundcloud.com/metric-band/sets/synthetica-1 Synthetica] on SoundCloud
- [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE4CEB2AC461F4AAA Synthetica Mini-Documentary] (Making-of) on YouTube
{{Metric}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums recorded at Electric Lady Studios
Category:Mom + Pop Music albums
Category:Albums produced by Gavin Brown (musician)
Category:Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year albums