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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Feist is the solo project of Canada's Leslie Feist, a prolific artist who has also played in one capacity or another with Broken Social Scene, Kings of Convenience and half a dozen other bands. The Reminder, her third release, comes from the same well of quiet, appealing songwriting, and delicate vocalizations that made 2004's Let It Die such a sweet treat. This one is a bit more hushed and ballad heavy, closer to Cat Power than Peaches (with whom Feist has also worked with in the past) but maintains an indie-minded blend of confessional pop, jazzy folk, and lo-fi torch songs. The comparatively upbeat single "My Moon My Man" splits her voice off into unexpected harmonies, just dissonant enough to stick in your head. It's hard to predict where her melodies are going to end up; "Brandy Alexander" starts with a simple snap-pulse, and gradually unfolds into a cathartic chorus of sweeping vocal overlays. Throughout, the record profits from a simple, unfussy aesthetic that keeps the production minimal and the emphasis squarely on Feist's cracking, wistful vibrato. Everything sounds deliberate, but not obsessed over, like an e-mailed wedding invitation. It's a low-pressure vibe, welcoming and content to linger. And linger you will. --Matthew Cooke
Product Description
2007 album which was written and conceptualised during 33 months of touring and was recorded in just 2 weeks in a 200 year old manor house on the outskirts of Paris with players including Gonzales, Jamie Lidell, Mocky and Erik Glambek Boe [Kings Of Convenience], and includes 'My Moon My Man', with it's sucker-punch melody tumbling over hard-soul piano chords and live favourite 'Sea Lion Woman'. Universal. 2007.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
58 of 68 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The new album "The Reminder" by Canadian gal Leslie Feist is receiving mixed critical reviews, but some are calling it the best pop music album so far this year. I ordered it, and my take on it is also mixed, in this sense: Feist is a great songwriter, and this album is exhibit one. Not all of the songs are great, but many of them achieve greatness. Feist's previous album also contained great songs (and some less compelling material), but only about half of them were Feist originals. Here, almost everything is Feist-penned.
Remember the "1234" Busby Berkely-inspired video of Feist from Youtube, that people seemed to enjoy so much? If you haven't seen it, check it out -- it is pure joy wrapped in a 3 minute package. That song is also a minor musical masterpiece, with guitar, banjo, a chorus of voices, quiet bits, loud joyful bits -- put together in a way that things are always changing enough to keep the ear from being bored at any time.
When I think of the Beatles work, or XTC, or James Taylor, Sting, Paul Simon, I think of music that is put together in a very entertaining and craftsmanlike way. A primitive like Bob Dylan (don't get me wrong, I love a lot of what Bob has done, but it is musically primitive) will take a simple three chord verse, then repeat it over and over with different lyrics. The greatest songwriters make music that builds, crescendos, then rolls back, with themes and variations, and little musical bridges (or "middle eights," as the Beatles used to call them). Feist is writing music like that, at least some of the time.
Oh, there are a few quieter numbers that almost approach dirges. I'm not much fond of those. Much of their fault lies in the underproduction -- one of them sounds as if it was recorded in Feist's garden, with her simply strumming her guitar and singing (later joined briefly by brass instruments and perhaps saxophone, but not much else). More complexity and attention to detail in the arrangements could have brought much more out of those quiet songs.
I'm not a great analyser of lyrics. Here they are vague enough to be universal. To me they don't always make sense, but that doesn't bother me. "goo goo ga joob" Does that make any sense? No. It doesn't mean it isn't a great lyric. The main thing is that Feist's lyrics are not embarrassing -- they don't take away from the music. And some of her wordplay and vocal phrasing is quite clever.
So my final rating is
Songwriting: 4.5 out of 5
Production: varies from 3 to 5 out of 5, depending on the track.
Remember the "1234" Busby Berkely-inspired video of Feist from Youtube, that people seemed to enjoy so much? If you haven't seen it, check it out -- it is pure joy wrapped in a 3 minute package. That song is also a minor musical masterpiece, with guitar, banjo, a chorus of voices, quiet bits, loud joyful bits -- put together in a way that things are always changing enough to keep the ear from being bored at any time.
When I think of the Beatles work, or XTC, or James Taylor, Sting, Paul Simon, I think of music that is put together in a very entertaining and craftsmanlike way. A primitive like Bob Dylan (don't get me wrong, I love a lot of what Bob has done, but it is musically primitive) will take a simple three chord verse, then repeat it over and over with different lyrics. The greatest songwriters make music that builds, crescendos, then rolls back, with themes and variations, and little musical bridges (or "middle eights," as the Beatles used to call them). Feist is writing music like that, at least some of the time.
Oh, there are a few quieter numbers that almost approach dirges. I'm not much fond of those. Much of their fault lies in the underproduction -- one of them sounds as if it was recorded in Feist's garden, with her simply strumming her guitar and singing (later joined briefly by brass instruments and perhaps saxophone, but not much else). More complexity and attention to detail in the arrangements could have brought much more out of those quiet songs.
I'm not a great analyser of lyrics. Here they are vague enough to be universal. To me they don't always make sense, but that doesn't bother me. "goo goo ga joob" Does that make any sense? No. It doesn't mean it isn't a great lyric. The main thing is that Feist's lyrics are not embarrassing -- they don't take away from the music. And some of her wordplay and vocal phrasing is quite clever.
So my final rating is
Songwriting: 4.5 out of 5
Production: varies from 3 to 5 out of 5, depending on the track.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Music
As a Canadian living in the US, I'm always trying to convince people of why Canadian indie rock is so great. Not a tough sell with Feist's The Reminder, featuring the artist in top form. Both this album and her first album, Let It Die, demonstrate Feist's ability to effortlessly sound like anything she wants to, whether it's 70s disco or folksy pop song. Regardless, she infuses all her music with a sounds that's uniquely Feist-y and difficult to pin down.
PS: First review of this album on Amazon! Woot!
PS: First review of this album on Amazon! Woot!
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Jerry Durham
Format:Audio CD
Admittedly, I have become a sucker for CDs under $12. I had heard one song from this album on "Grey's Anatomy" and then saw the CD for $10. This is one of the best CD purchases I have made in the last year, and keep in mind that I purchase about 50 CDs a year. It is perfect in composition and I have yet to find a song that I skip over. Instead, I have about 5 songs that I find myself going back to over and over! Do yourself a favor and invest in this CD.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's about time I got on the Feist wagon
I couldn't stop myself when I realized how many songs on this Feist album were ones I wanted. I'm late on the Feist bandwagon, but this album is THAT GOOD that I had to climb on... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Coleen C. Ary
5.0 out of 5 stars
awesome FEIST album you can let play without needing to skip songs!!...
This album is perfect! Every song is amazing and you will never need to skip ahead to another song on this album! Great shipping and price. Read more
Published 3 months ago by kenneth Hoback
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oh, Those Canadians
From the wonderful folks who gave us Neil Young, k d lang and Leonard Cohen, here comes Feist. I first heard one of these songs on the radio, but was intrigued and bought the CD... Read more
Published 5 months ago by PJ in Minnesota
4.0 out of 5 stars
good album
This is a beautiful album from a gifted artist. It arrived promptly and the disc is in great shape. Unfortunately there is a crack in the case.
Published 7 months ago by M. E. Ries
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Music
Absolutely lovely cd. Bought it for the counting song (1234) because it is guaranteed to bring a great big smile to my granddaughter's face. Found that I enjoyed the entire CD. Read more
Published 10 months ago by G-Pa
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully Done
This is a great CD. Leslie Feist did not make the mistake of so many artist, who use their sophomore album to experiment, or go in a different direction in order to show their... Read more
Published 19 months ago by J. Lafferty
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome CD - great songs and great talent!
What can I say? This Grammy-nominated release by Leslie Feist and friends is simply a tour de force! It has so many lovely songs and such a great sound throughout. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Bron
2.0 out of 5 stars
great album, but record skipped
I received, but did not play the record for about a month. When I played the record, I was severely dissapointed. The third track continually skipped. Read more
Published on May 23, 2011 by GD
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love 1234
I saw this on the iPod nano commercial and I had to get it and have listened to it several times a day
Published on May 21, 2011 by vwrabbit
4.0 out of 5 stars
A sentimental album
This album makes me feel very sentimental, but I love it. Some of the songs, I pretty much skip over every time. Read more
Published on February 12, 2011 by Jessica J. Chandler
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