"I'm just as f&$# up as they say," Emily Haines sings at the start of Metric's new album, Synthetica (due out on June 12). Maybe, but elegantly so, to judge by the Canadian new-wave rockers' full 11-track effort, the follow-up to 2009's Fantasies. We've already heard the pounding generational complaint "Youth Without Youth" and atmospherically brooding "Speed the Collapse"; now, stream the whole LP below. (Speaking of elegant fucked-upness, it's worth listening all the way to penultimate track "The Wanderlust" for a guest vocal by Lou Reed!)
What's more, Metric have unveiled a set of three fans-only shows for the days after Synthetica hits shelves. Information on how to get tickets is set to appear later this week on ilovemetric.com, and they will not be sold to the public. The shows will take place June 13 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in New York, June 19 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, and June 20 at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles.
Metric will make only a couple of other U.S. appearances prior to the band's fall tour, otherwise spending the summer playing abroad. On June 21, Haines and Co. will make a televised appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live's outdoor stage. Their only other U.S. date prior to the full tour kickoff will be August 3 at Lollapalooza in Chicago. Each ticket for the fall tour (available here) comes with an instant download of "Youth Without Youth," plus five bonus Synthetica