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 You've Been Feisted
Feist (The Reminder)
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
by M. Burns
That familiar tune leaps out of the iPod commercial and through the TV screen, “1234,” forcing a sing- a-long to the staccato horns. It’s so infectious in fact that many have been prompted to pick up a copy of Feist’s solo album The Reminder while in line for a latte at their local Starbucks. Unfortunately, like several impulse buys, the purchaser might be surprised with the product. The hype Feist has received would make one think she was the second coming. She isn’t and the album in question has just three striking tracks worth downloading. Otherwise, The Reminder will likely age into the ordinary.
Like Moby before her, the genius of Feist has been to license herself out of songwriter obscurity with videos and TV spots. They are visually and audibly memorable and bring attention to the Broken Social Scene member. The three strong singles, “1234,” “My Moon, My Man,” and “I Feel It All” have a great deal of pizzazz, especially the second of these with its dark backbeat meter, but don’t represent the choppy album of mostly jazzy standards. Feist is a fairly typical singer-songwriter. She writes wistful reflections on love, at times saccharine in point of view, at other times in mourning for a romantic loss. “So Sorry” being a fine example with lyrics like, “we don’t need to fight and cry.” The listless vocals and sluggish ballads drag down what could have been a fantastic record based on the bold singles. “Sea Lion Women” is Feist’s take on a Nina Simone’s “See-Line Woman.” “How My Heart Behaves,” a lovely piano laden track, sounds like a depiction of the entrance to the gates of Heaven.
“The Reminder” is a sincere, professionally polished musical effort by the Canadian artist but too common to be exceptional as a whole. Feist has shown the ability to take risks and write absorbing, splashy songs but failed to see the process through with every track.
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