As a newbie when it comes to the (apparently) wide world of Canadian indie-pop superstars, Feist would probably be at the top of my list (if I was to have one) of people to study in depth in my research of the music of the Great White North. After hearing about the release and success of Ms. Leslie's newest album more than a few times on several NPR podcasts, I decided it was time to start my Feist-ian homework.
...and I was not disappointed. This album, "The Reminder," is quite frankly, one of the best overall albums I've come across in recent history. Where it lacks in consistency, it makes up for in quality and sheer depth of sound. With the longest track on the album clocking in at around 4:30, it's hard to believe the palette of colors Feist manages to utilize in each of these cuts. Most of the numbers float along at Leslie Feist's usual lilting manner, but a couple of the tracks reach out and smack you around a bit, letting you know (if you didn't know already) that this woman is a force to be reckoned with.
The standout track is undoubtedly the pseudo-spiritual rendition of the Nina Simone classic, "Sea Lion Woman." Opening with frantic handclaps, gospel backing and noodly synth sounds, this recording truly jumps out and dances around a bit as compared to the quiet, ultra-downtempo-groove feel of the previous track, "The Water." The sonic quality of most of this album gives the impression that Ms. Feist is sitting at a piano in a big church sanctuary somewhere in snow-bound Canada, singing into an old 8-track recorder. (One does wish that the vocals would have a little variation in the tonal quality sometimes, but the sound is at least very consistent on this album and anything but unpleasant.) The distorted guitar and bombastic drums on the track give it even more of a homemade sensation that tends to make me clap along every time it pops up on ye olde iTunes randomizer.
"The Park" and "I Feel it All" also stand out, each giving something that is both completely unexpected and yet perfectly cohesive with the rest of the album. "The Park" contains some truly amazing lyrics that carry powerful weight despite the simplicity of the metaphors. Again, the song benefits from excellent track placement, sliding in sidewise, feet first, into "The Water." "I Feel it All" has a great coasting-with-the-windows-down drive that lays a nice bed for some neat melodic tidbits (check out the line "I'll be the one who'll break my heart, I'll be the one to hold the gun, I love you more..." It's been stuck in my head for weeks). Track 9, "1234," wanders into Sufjan Stevens territory with its banjos and jaunty horn sections, but still manages to pull off some characteristic Canadian word play. (Or is it number play?)
The only thing that didn't quite meet the bar this album set for itself was that some of the later tracks become a little tedious for the close listener. As chillout music, this album is great, but around track 11, ("Intuition"), I started skipping ahead a lot. The remixes featured on the iTunes download were a little disappointing as well, but most listeners will be happy just to have that little bit more from this great album.
After such a great introduction to Feist with "The Reminder," I can't wait to explore her work further and find more gems like the ones I discovered on this great album.
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