Well, it’s about time: Emily Haines, the frontwoman for Toronto’s indie-dance rock band Metric, part-time member of Broken Social Scene, and guest singer for such bands as The Stills and Stars has finally released her first solo record; and the sound is far more haunting and lyrical then anything pumped out of her fierce and mighty lungs as the Metric’s songstress. Haines has produced an album that will shock her fans and garner new admirers.

Contrary to the dance beats and pronounced percussion of Metric, Knives Don’t Have Your Back is enveloped in piano, horn, and soft string arrangements giving the entire album a sense of wanderlust which is most appropriate. The album was recorded in Los Angeles, New York, Montreal, and Toronto. And who is “The Soft Skeleton”? They are the collection of talented musicians/friends she recruited to help her bring this album to fruition: Scott Minor from Sparklehorse (who included “various mysterious noises from North Carolina” into the album), Broken Social Scene’s Justin Peroff, Stars’ Evan Cranley, and Metric’s Jimmy Shaw. Producer John O’Mahony (Metric, System of a Down, The Strokes) added the final finishing touches to this ethereal record.

Writing music and mingling with the piano has been a life long obsession. Family legend has it the first song she ever wrote was a love song to a cranberry tree. The sentiment rings true for most of this album. They are unlikely ballads that traverse Metric’s rocky beginning to make ends meet, the death of her father poet Paul Haines, and the new perspectives her current success has awarded.

In the words of Art Brut “I hope this song finds you fame, I want school kids on busses singing your name.” Oh, Miss Emily Haines!

Michelle Malonzo
November 29, 2006