Metric
“Fantasies”
4 out of 5 stars

Metric, named for their metered method to musically structuring their songs, is a Canadian band that’s been rocking since 1998 and has had songs from previous albums (“Monster Hospital” “Police and the

Private” and “Front Row” from this album) on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “CSI: Miami.”

After putting out three other albums on various labels, they’re self-releasing their latest around the world.

As opposed to most indie bands releasing their own records, “Fantasies” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers charts when it came out.

Their singer Emily Haines, former member of also Canadian band Stars and the daughter of a poet, has a natural talent for songwriting and isn’t too bad at singing either. She has a sweet voice that really completes Metric’s sound and transforms their synth-powered music into solid pop songs.

Their slick hooks and catchy choruses will have you humming along in no time If you give it a chance, I think you’ll find it fits in nicely next to someone like Kelly Clarkson in your music library.

Key Tracks: “Sick Muse,” “Stadium Love,” “Gimme Sympathy.”

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Silversun Pickups
“Swoon”
4 out of 5 stars

With the Smashing Pumpkins down to one original member and bordering on irrelevance more than ever, it’s good to know their most distinguished not-so-secret admirers are better than ever.

Dangerbird Records has delivered Silversun Pickups’ long-awaited follow-up to 2006′s “Carnavas,” a 10-song collection titled “Swoon” with the potential to thrust the L.A. four-piece further into the public’s eye than most imagined. It seems the Pickups have come down with a case of ”bigger and better” syndrome, a condition that has made some bands and killed others. Everything that worked on their auspicious debut has been cranked up, like the sludgy guitars, the grumbling bass line and of course, the choruses delivered with singer Brian Aubert’s usual gravelly sneer.

The good news is that all of the above works. “Swoon’s” only drawback is the production, which is often too elegant for a mucky ’90s alt-rock revival of such proportions. But those proportions are great enough to vault this record into my Top Five of 2009 so far.

Key tracks: “Panic Switch,” “It’s Nice To Know You Work Alone,” “There’s No Secrets This Year.”