CHMA 106.9 FM CD Review: Feist / The Reminder

Artist: Feist
Album: The Reminder
Label: Arts & Crafts
Rating: 5/5

Writing about something you like or find interesting is always really difficult for some reason, while straightforward things always roll onto the page with great ease and are usually end up being boring. Occasionally, though, something comes along that is interesting, complicated, and yet easy to write, something that is easy to connect with fundamentally. The Reminder is one of these.
Ranging from her participation in Toronto’s Broken Social Scene music collective to the half-covers, half-originals of her previous release, Let It Die, Feist has covered a lot of musical ground. Yet, her music has never sounded at once as varied and emotionally concentrated as it does on The Reminder.
The sheer complexity of this record is cause for introspection. Feist seems to be doing everything at the same time within the span of thirteen songs. It’s all here, from the indie pop of “I Feel it All,” to the slowly meandering yet heart-wrenching acoustic track that is “The Park,” to the jazz of “The Limit to Your Love.” The songwriting here is only matched by the complexity of the instrumentation.
Nevertheless, Feist’s voice stands above it all and makes her a one-woman wrecking crew. In addition to its immediate beauty, the emotional intensity of her singing voice make this album what it is, and add levels of complexity beyond simple songwriting or instrumentation. To hear her voice quiver and then gain leverage while singing the words “but now I know I want to win the war” during “I Feel It All”, is enough to send shivers up the spine of any listener.
This is the one thread that weaves together a diverse tapestry of musical offerings. Despite the varied nature of its tracks, The Reminder ranges from undeniably catchy pop hooks, of which “I Feel It All” is the centerpiece, to complete album filler. This album somehow manages to add up to a complete listen.
Infinitely complex and yet accessible, I do declare The Reminder to be not only Feist’s best outing yet, but also the best release, so far, of 2007.

Standout Tracks: 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 13. Now Playing on CHMA 106.9 FM.