When Emily Haines and James Shaw named their band in 1999, legend has it they decided to call themselves Metric [ tickets ] based on the label of a synthesizer beat, and also--perhaps primarily--as a nod to the pair's exacting standards of musicianship.

Ten years later, the Canadian alt-rock band is beginning to see some measured success in the US. Their latest album, "Fantasies," debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart, and peaked at No. 76 on The Billboard 200. The set is the group's 4th release, and was produced by their friend John O'Mahony, who just happens to be a Grammy-nominated collaborator with the like of Coldplay [ tickets ] and The Strokes [ tickets ], among others.

Last week marked the end of Metric's current stateside tour, and today (6/26) will find them performing in Hyde Park, London, for the "Hard Rock Calling" festival. On Wednesday (6/17), LiveDaily photographer Christopher Owyoung caught Metric in New York City, and here are some of his best shots.