Reviews

Feist

The Reminder

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Review Date: 2007-05-01

Broken Social Scene has become the eponymous talent generator for the Canadian Indie music scene. Yet as well-loved and talented as they are, the highest compliment for one of their many stars is when they can say 'goodbye' to BSS forever and strike out on their own -- to accolades from all.

That's exactly what Leslie Feist has done with her second full-length album, The Reminder. Feist established herself as an indie tour-de-force with Let it Die (2004). I can still hear "Mushaboom" in my head as I write. The album was good, but it was clear that Feist was still polishing her own brand of jazzy, soulful rock music.

The Reminder sees the culmination of that effort -- it's a well-rounded album that sees Feist come, truly, into her own as a star in the Canadian music scene.

At times sorrowful and heartrending, joyful and exuberant, Feist covers the gamut of love and heartbreak. But she goes one step further and bears her soul for all to see. That, coupled with some of the best-sounding music of the year, makes The Reminder a cut above.

Leslie Feist's strongest asset, I feel, is her voice. It can carry you away to another place, break your heart or make you fall in love -- all in the same song. That's the kind of music I wish I could hear all the time.

Take for example "So Sorry," the album's opening tune. It's a wonderfully bittersweet song, filled with remorse, regret and an undeniable gentleness. The ache in her voice as it strains and cracks is brilliant. Methinks we're seeing a soul-beared for all to see here. But this is all a tease, as Feist jumps into "I Feel it All," a jaunty piano-acoustic guitar tune that's the polar opposite of "So Sorry."

We don't have to wait long either before Feist blows us away with her two strongest songs.

Piano and drum combination accompanied by some of the album's sweetest lyrics come courtesy of "My Moon My Man," while "1 2 3 4," radiates the word "HIT" in bold letters. Starting out with slow banjo strums, this lovely love song gradually builds to a crescendo complete with trumpets, handclaps and foot-stomping goodness. The song is a triumph for Feist and stands out as the albums best track.

As an aside, it also happens to be one of my favourite songs of the year -- to this point. "1 2 3 4," also marks a different sort of crescendo: the point at which things begin to head south. By this point, aside from the aforementioned tracks,we've already heard the perennial favourite "Sealion Woman," -- I challenge you not to be overwhelmed by an urge to dance, or rock along with the music. Same goes for "Past and Present," another strong dancy- acoustic tune with handclaps.

But past this we have some contrivance -- for instance, a song named after a drink - "Brandy Alexander." This took me aback -- why a song about a drink, after all that goodness we've seen up until this point?

It marks the beginning of a precipitous decline. The latter four tunes reach none of the grandeur found earlier and yet, for the most part, they manage not to offend ("Brandy Alexander") aside).

I'm not going to hold this against Leslie Feist because, quite frankly, The Reminder is a noteworthy achievement for her.

Even if we, the listener, reap most of the benefits.

Songs to Check out: "1 2 3 4," and "So Sorry."
Songs to Avoid: "Brandy Alexander" is too contrived to be enjoyable

Score: 8.6

- Kyle Rea