CD Review

Artist: Feist

Title: The Reminder

Label: EMI

Website: www.listentofeist.com

Released: May 2007 

4 ½ Stars 

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey 

With so much anticipation building towards this album, the hype must have been a terrifying thought for Feist. A nation of music-debutants flayding accusations that you will bring something new to the table, would have debilitated many a new songstress. Good thing Feist was made of some stronger substance than metal.

For those who aren’t North-American-centric in all tastes, Feist is a Canadian inspiration, who wasn’t so much noticed for her music as she was noticed for her smokey nostalgic voice that would have anyone feeling both melancholy and upbeat. Too many artists sound the same in present day music, so Feist set the stage alight with an illuminating ‘other’ quality with pipes of an original attitude. Now she has managed to commandeer control over the music, allowing her to be an ‘all-rounder’ of unique divination. Simply put, Feist's newest album The Reminder brings something new and exciting to the table. 

As soon as you open the music box to a Feist song you are struck by the morphing of folksy and seventies retro. Believe it for not, that combination results in an intriguing blend of new pop. Layering the elements of synthesizers, strings, horns, guitar and a tickle of the ivories here and there, topped with a haunting, flowing and yet rich in texture vocals, each song seems different then the last but infused with signature Feist. 

With upbeat pop bounce to it, songs like her two biggest hits ‘My Moon My Man’ and ‘1234’ are like fresh cotton candy from the fairground…not that stale packaged cotton candy...but the one that melts as soon as it hits your palette. Whereas ballads like ‘How My Heart Behaves’ and the inspiring ‘The Limit To Your Love’ are more of the rich dark chocolate sweetness variety – a little bitter at first, but more enjoyable and preferred then any other variety. Overall, the massive influence of the 1970s music scene, whether it be the upbeat tracks or the ballads, seems to bring a positively delightful flavour to the present music scene that we have hungered for.

My parents were always preaching to me to be 'an individual' when I was growing up as popculture was taking its stronghold on my youthful and impressionable mind; and now my teen frustrations at that comment has afforded me less of a trend-victim and more of an individualist in my thoughts. Feist seems to have had the same parental advice. She appears to be the girl whose parents told her to go against the grain of what's popular, and now the world of music can appreciate a unique individual with a new brand of sound.            

So Sorry

I Feel It All

My Moon My Man

The Park

The Water

Sea Lion Woman

Past In Present

The Limit To Your Love

1234

Brandy Alexander

Honey Honey

How My Heart Behaves