The Reminder Reviews

• Leslie comes into her own as a songwriter

  
  By A1EAFFJQ2NDHGC on 2007-06-14
  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 is 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 it 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.
  
  

• Best of 2007: folk meets rock through a beautiful voice

  
  By A1IANEBSMVGHS9 on 2007-06-01
  I missed Feist's previous albums, but after having become addicted to Broken Social Scene, I couldn't let this one pass. I was not dissapointed!
  
  The more I listen to "The Reminder", the more I love it. Indeed, some moments in the album remind a lot of BSS ("I Feel It All" and "Past Is Present" being two good examples), but there's a whole lot more to enjoy in here. There's folk as much as there is rock. There is quiet whispering as much as there is passionate singing coming from the beautiful voice of Leslie Feist, making this a great contender in the run for the best albums of 2007.
  
  If you enjoy Feist, make sure to check out Knives Don't Have Your Back by Emily Haines, What the Sea Wants the Sea Will Have by Sarah Blasko and Bring Me the Workhorse by My Brightest Diamond.
  
  

• "The Reminder" : I'm reminded of all the other albums I could be listening to......

  
  By A2ULSA0IRUE09E on 2007-05-14
  Leslie's Feists' new album is definitely one where the rave reviews are `flavor of the season'. If you are a Feist fan intent on only hearing glowing reviews of this album please move on. There is no other way an album so bland (yet routinely pretty) can pass through reviewers' hands with so little criticism.
  
  I found the same thing happen with Joanna Newsom last year when released her sophomore album "Ys". Now that was a pretty album too, all harps and plink-plonk and sweet warbling over swooning instrumentation - but it wasn't a genre-breaking CD as most reviewers claimed it to be. Similarly, "The Reminder" is an album that seems to be on everyones' wishlist, but will be easily forgotten by the end of the year.
  
  I'm not saying that the music is terrible. However, this year seems to be the year for disappointments. Feists' last CD "Let it Die" was a mini-revelation of sorts - it was one of those woodsy indie albums that are available a dime a dozen at the thrift store but somehow it got recognized, and that itself was a feat for Feist. Her music was Jewel-lite on that CD, with some really beautiful melodies (albeit forgettable choruses). Not that I complained. I don't play that album a lot anymore, but in its' day it was worth the money I spent on it.
  
  The best thing about "The Reminder" is its' cover art. Its just so - striking. Moving past that, the music is definitely averagely good, but it is not a `masterpiece' or `classic' or any of those terms I see thrown around here by Feist fans. I really liked "Sealion" (which has an unusual history all its' own) and yes, lead song `1 2 3 4' is definitely one of those singalong ditties, but the rest of the album sort of meshes into one another. Not to say that Feist is a bad singer. If anything, she is tuneful and quite unique in her own way. But it is just not enough. She is bland, at the end of it, and she does not have enough personality to headline a record of her own, most certainly not this one.
  
  What I am tired of is producers letting singer-songwriters like these putting their ill-advised songwriting experiments to record. Leslie Feist had a good run with her first album, but I think the bid budget and big label are the only things getting "The Remider" its' attention. Just listen to "Honey Honey". Then listen to any Sarah McLachlan record and tell me why exactly Feist is being considered `special'? It makes no sense.
  
  Granted, there is a market for these pixie-like female voices strumming over fiddles and harps and what-not, but I think the robust praise for "The Reminder" is definitely misplaced. If you aren't sure about this album but still want to get it based on the positive reviews, then read this - Think of a sweet yet limp female voice, singing alongside some quaint instruments, with some electronica thrown in every now and then. There aren't any memorable choruses, and most of the subject matter seems unimportant at best, but the singer soldiers on. By Track 5 you are weary. However, you are unable to hate the singer, you just feel that its all a bit too insipid and tame, at the end of the day.
  
  There are at least a hundred better female folk singer-songwriter albums out there that are better than this one. Do yourself a favor and check out "True North" by Fisher, "Salt Rain" by Susheela Raman, "Calling" by Noa, and "Speak for Yourself" by Imogen Heap, instead.
  
  Two Stars. Massively overrated and extremely disappointing, in that context.
  
  

• two worthwhile songs and the rest is painful

  
  By A213LRLU5LMBPW on 2007-10-02
  I have never felt compelled to write a CD review, but this set of recordings is so poorly done that I have to try to save others from wasting their money. There are two tracks of merit: "My Moon My Man" which you have heard on TV commercials for a certain cell phone company and "1234" which you heard in the new VideoNano commercials. These two tracks are well done. The balance of the CD sounds as though it was recorded in a bad studio with a very low quality mixing board. I'm certain you will agree that the first two songs are an odd combination of muffled instruments and piercingly high treble vocals. This CD is a great argument for buying songs one at a time from a web music seller versus buying the whole CD. If I could return this CD, I would.
  
  

• Old Teenage Hopes Are Alive At Your Door.

  
  By A3AL8GQ69QE7WN on 2007-07-27
  I came across Feist when I saw the video for "1234" a little while ago. Since then, I did my research and learned about Broken Social Scene and that Feist had two previous cds. She also guested on The Postal Service's "Give Up" cd. That said, I believe "The Reminder" to be her best solo work to date. However, only half of the cd seemed to have decent songs, and the rest seemed like filler to me.
  
  The good: "So Sorry", "I Feel It All", "My Moon My Man", "Sealion", "Past In Present", "1234" and "How My Heart Behaves" are all solid ruminations on relationships and growing up.
  
  The bad: "The Park", "The Water", "The Limit To Your Love", "Brandy Alexander", "Intuition" and "Honey Honey" are all rather dull and could easily put you to sleep.
  
  The more I listened to "The Reminder" the more I felt I had heard this before from Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Kate Bush, Patti Smith, Norah Jones, Paula Cole, Regina Spektor, Imogen Heap, Joni Mitchell, Jewel, Carole King, Carly Simon, Joan Baez and countless other female singer/songwriters. Thus, three stars. I think Leslie Feist still has room to grow as an artist, and I don't think "The Reminder" is going to turn out to be her best work, more like the beginning of a fruitful career if she continues to be creative and fills an entire cd with colorful songs.
  
  
• Please enter a title for your review
  By A2KEKPMI3WQMPA on 2007-05-04
  i dug the song Mushaboom, but the fact that half of the songs on that debut album were covers put me off. So I figured now she's got her jazz cred half originals half covers album out of the way the training wheels will come off and she'll make a comprehensive artistic statement. Well it seems more like she just sank into industry-conscious mediocrity. There isn't even a single Mushaboom here, let alone a whole album of them. The single My Moon My Man is driven by an irrtatingly simplistic three-chord piano part with a one-beat rhythmmic loop and the majority of the album is similarly governed by tight regimented rhythms that allow the songs to move only in a rigid graceless fashion.
  
  
• I had no idea how great it'd be!
  By A26GYEJHX1FJE7 on 2007-05-31
  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.
  
  
• Though I know I love most of him
  By A1D2C0WDCSHUWZ on 2007-05-01
  Feist helped bring back heartfelt, subtle pop in her second album, "Let it Die." And in "The Reminder," this talented singer not only polishes up her sound, she expands it to include more colourful, expansive, complicated melodies that draw from jazz, pop, folk, a bit of funk, and some pretty little ballads.
  
  The first song is an echo of her last album's style -- a gentle guitar ballad, about someone who doesn't want to fight or break up. Feist murmurs through it, "I'm sorry, two words/I always think after you're gone... We're slaves to our own forces/We're afraid of our emotions/No one, knows where the shore is."
  
  But then she switches over to a poppier tune, delightfully jangly little guitarpop edged with toy piano. "I Feel It All" is only the first of her musical explorations: lo-fi folk, tightly wound piano jazz, delicate keyboard ballads, and some kooky electrofunk.
  
  But Feist also includes some of what she's strongest at , namely subtle pop songs like "Limit To Your Love," full of gentle piano, harp and guitar. And sometimes she goes WAYYYYY into her experimentation zone, like "Honey Honey," which sounds like a more melodious Joanna Newsom, or "Sea Lion Woman," a deliciously mad funky avant-electronic tune. I can hear other electropop "artists" grinding their teeth at this one.
  
  It's hard to eve find a flaw in "Reminder" -- if there's anything to criticize, it's that it doesn't sound very cohesive. But in all other respects, Feist has only grown as a musician. She takes the synth-piano-guitar triad from her previous album, and lets it bloom with greater passion and beauty, not to mention complexity.
  
  And she allows each instrument to shine in at least one song apiece, whether it's the thumpy piano, the tinkly toy one (it sounds like wind chimes), acoustic guitar, or epic ripples of synth. There's even some blaring trumpets and rattly rambourine in some songs. And she tries out virtually all kinds of good pop music, flavoured with everything from rock to jazz to avantelectro.
  
  Feist's voice is as adventurous as the music -- it's a pretty voice on its own, but she takes some vocal risks as well. She croons, purrs off-key, warbles a little, and even harmonizes with her own voice. And the songs she sings are simply lovely -- they're beautifully written ("Stranded in the fog of woods/Looking like the winter bird"), and full of emotion. Sometimes it's as simple as telling a lover that there's a limit to his love for her, but still "I'll go, I'll go, I'll go/Out on the road/because there is no limit... limit to my love."
  
  Feist's third "Reminder" is an exquisite little pop gem, and though one or two of the songs don't fit, each one is a little beauty. Definitely a must-listen.
  
  
• Feist continues her winning ways
  By A14GK0E64J0WAS on 2007-05-08
  Feist burst onto the main indie-scene (if there is such a thing) with her delightful second album, 2004's "Let It Die". A busy artist (she has dabbled into many other projects, including fellow Canadians Social Broken Scene), it took almast 3 years to release her third album.
  
  On "The Reminder" (13 tracks, 50 min.), Feist simply continues her winning ways of "Let It Die", slightly expanding her musical scope but sticking pretty much to the same overall feel. The opener "So Sorry" sets the stage, with heartfelt lyrics like "I'm sorry/Two words I always think/After you're gone/When I was acting all wrong". First single "My Moon My Man" is one of the 'louder' and more adventurous tracks on this intimate album. "Sealion" is a quirky track, actually an update/reinterpretation of Nins Simone's "See-Line Woman" and quite good at that. Other highlights include "Intuition" and the closer "How My Heart Behaves", again with aching lyrics like "The cold heart will burst/If mistrusted first/And a calm heart will break/When given a shake".
  
  In all, this is quite a satisfying follow-up to "Let It Die". This is not an album for anyone in a hurry. Get in the mood, and enjoy the intimate atmosphere painted by Feist. I haven't had a chance to see Feist live in concert so far, but I finally will when she visits the Bonnaroo festival next month. Can't wait for that!
  
  
• outstanding modern jazz-pop
  By A237TO6B746TDE on 2007-06-15
  Delicately skillful jazz vocalist/guitarist + a great cast of backing vocalists and musicians + sprinklings of subtle electronic trickery = Feist's The Reminder.
  
  The words can be sappy in parts, but the girl occasionally utters some evocative and insightful lines. The record earns the five stars without regard to the lyrics at all, though. This is GREAT music; if you find her saccharine phrasing disagreeable, don't listen to the words. Listen to the notes and the the way the instruments interact and you'll be satisfied.
  
  P.S. - I would recommend listening to this one with a decent pair of headphones - like a lot of great records, some of the subtler bits of instrumentation don't really pop out on the average stereo system or without a little bit of concentration.
  
  
• wants to be more than she is
  By A2AHS9Q36KZG9X on 2007-06-19
  if she actually took time to sing then this might be an alright album, however the insistence of being a work of art is underwhelming in the sparseness of the actual music that happens (or doesn't)
  
  
  
• Apple Ipod Nano Ad Song
  By AR4Y501FFAJHM on 2007-09-10
  After seeing the new Ipod Nano commercial numerous times on TV, the jingle song 1234 grew on me. Upon visiting the Apple web site, I discovered it was Feist, and the single from the new album. I sampled each song on here, and was pleasantly pleased. This is the first album I have listened to from Feist, but won't be the last. The tunes are catchy, as the case has it with 1234, and Steve Jobs must agree to have it featured as the Nano selling song. I'm sure to have Apple's endorsement will pay dividends for Feist, as many people will do what I have done as they have 1234 going through their heads.
  
  
• PT Barnum was right
  By A12PY2ZRERFOT6 on 2007-09-16
  When I first heard the iPod commercial, I thought it was a youtube video made by some high school kid with laryngitis. When I found it was a real album, I thought it was meant as a joke, like William Hung. I am amazed by the positive reviews here.
  
  
• Canadian indie rock goddess
  By A3DAFMW58LECAQ on 2007-09-25
  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!
  
  
• 1234 song is wonderful
  By A1DMTMYNUU6MB0 on 2008-02-18
  IT is soo refreshing to hear a clear clean voice like her's. And the 1234 song is beyond charming!
  
  
• Musical gems.
  By A1O3EYOGRSMV7O on 2007-05-01
  The Nova Scotia-born artist has produced an album which is so much more than a collection of songs that sound a bit like a load of other successful female stars.
  "1 2 3 4" and "The Limit To Your Love" are songs of such gentle but powerful wonder that they make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
  The more upbeat "I Feel It All" and "My Moon My Man" are probably destined for serious attention over the coming summer; the only risk is that they'll get picked up by some trendy ad man and done to death promoting a racey red car.
  "Sea Lion" is as quirky as anything that's come out of an 'experimental' female artist's mouth in a long time. It also features perhaps the best recurring use of the word 'sea lion' ever in the history of music.
  With only a tiny dip at the (almost) tedious "Intuition", the album is generally so good it's all too easy to imagine Madonna hunting Feist and her producer down and trying to force them to work their musical magic on her own career.
  
  
• A Great "Reminder"
  By AIYYKHP5N3YLO on 2007-05-02
  Building off the critical acclaim and indie success of her first commercial debut, Let It Die, Novia Scotia-native Leslie Feist has returned with the inexplicable, eccentric yet homey, "The Reminder".
  
  The art-rock-folk-bluesy chanteuse, who has been linked with BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE and PEACHES, has expanded her musical vision here. She's delving more into the stripped-down bare-bones aspect of folk ("So Sorry"); the bare-your-soul aspects of the blues ("The Water"); the shiny, joyous, frivolous nature of pop ("My Moon, My Man", "1234"); the broad-shouldered and brazen marches of folk-art-rock expierementation ("Sealion"); and even the broken rhythms and syncoaptions of a jazzier edge ("The Limit To Your Love").
  
  Feist, who seemed to have been more willing to die in the begining with being musically comfortable (though still engaging), has reminded us of why we love her so much and that, truth be told, she is a musician whose staying power is one to be reckoned with.
  
  In lamens terms: Grab yourself a copy of "The Reminder"; every song is a keeper, and every last note is to be savored.
  
  Hope you enjoy "The Reminder" :)
  
  
• So-so
  By A2NX6MFZP8TM6S on 2007-05-06
  Definitely not as good as her last album. And I was hoping it would top that one. I bought it from Amazon, put it in my iTunes library, burned a backup copy, and sold it on Amazon. My net cost? About $1.30. Even for a mediocre CD, you can't beat that with a stick.
  
  
• Yeechk!!!
  By A1Z484GQB9IRD5 on 2007-11-11
  There aren't enough adjectives to describe how annoyingly sappy this music sounds to me. The first time I heard of Leslie Feist, I saw that video on the iPod commercial and I thought to myself, "Did they take somebody's home video and use it for a commercial?" It was terrible. I thought the lead singer was just twitching a little like she was having a seizure or something. (I start flipping the channels when that commercial comes on.) Her voice grates on my nerves: it reminds of someone who can't catch their breath as a kid and trying to tell you something, and you keep wanting to grab them by the shoulders and say, "Just spit it out, for goodness' sake already!!!" I did like her sparkly blue outfit she was wearing in the video though, and it was admittedly a little clever the way they got all the dancers synchronized. It's not an all-in-one take like some people want to think though.
  
  Sorry, there's really not much constructive criticism I can offer. We were driving somewhere and a friend of mine made me listen to the whole CD and I have never wanted to rip my ears off so much in my life. Maybe 1-Star isn't a fair review coming from me, since I can't stand this type of music to begin with, so obviously this makes no difference. I guess I'm glad there's music for "the other crowd" out there; just keep your songs out of my head!
  
  
• Amazing compositions, orchestration and production
  By AJ7MQJVCRWLZ2 on 2007-04-18
  Listening to Feist can be that refreshing jolt one needs to remember that new music is indeed headed in the right direction.
  
  When i first heard Feist's debut, Let it Die i thought it was pleasant but nothing significant. However, since then, upon countless listens to the record, i've come to realize that Feist is something more.
  
  Feist's second, The Reminder is similar. It's like a chocolate covered tootsie-roll pop, sweet at the beginning but with each lick you get a bit more taste of the delicate soft center you're working towards. For Feist, the center is elegant yet casual, sharp yet well-rounded, and gets better with each lick.
  
  
• Do Not Listen to Feist! (OK listen, but don't tell too many friends)
  By A37PX6UPY7YWIA on 2007-06-27
  Until a month ago, I had never heard of Feist, never been drawn to indie music, that I knew of, and was fairly bored by recent musical offerings. I guess I heard Feist on the radio first: "1234" it was. It is a very catchy tune which incorporates unusual changes and has a banjo! I then saw the video on YouTube and thought it was enchanting. Terrific choreography; charming young woman.
  
  What seems rare to me about Feist in general is that she seems not to be infected by the cynicysm so prevalent in our culture. Her songs have layers of depth, her arrangements are surprising and interesting and then there is her voice. Feist manages to have more facinating nuances in her mouth than any other singer I know. And it is not simply the virtuosity displayed by many R&B or Soul singers who seem never to be content just to sing a line but must run it through a version of scales just to impress us with their vocal pyrotechnics.
  What Feist does is magical. Her voice and phrasing are luscious and fresh.
  
  My one fear is that Feist's originality will be infected by American culture and success. Far be it from me to tell an artist what to do, (and I really belive Fesit is an artist) but I hope she maintains some distance, stays in France and Canada, for example, and takes lots of time apart and permits herself to maintain health and perspective. My fears for her lead me to begin with the title, "Do not listen to Feist!" (OK, listen but don't tell too many of your friends). I get the sense from her work that it was created in a place seperate from the standard expectations of the studio and I just would hate to mess it up for her.
  
  In sum, "The Reminder" and her previous work, "Let it Die" are the most intelligent and creative Cds I have bought in a decade.
  
  
• Overrated
  By A4MCGA2PW7J7V on 2007-07-05
  Horribly overrated. This is adult contemporary gone mad. Cannot understand why Feist is getting all this love from the critics. Maybe because she is a Canadian. Her songs are ok as dinner background music -- specially if the dinner is good enough to keep you thoroughly occupied. Barely audible, her whiny drivel is irritating at best -- like the buzz of an over-friendly mosquito.
  
  
• Wonderful
  By A3O7S8DR1SLTTS on 2007-05-02
  I am a new Feist fan but one listen to her last album (Let it Die) had me hooked. This new album is even better! A very nice mix of pop, folk, blues and jazz. I would highly recommend this album to anyone who enjoys the likes of Imogen Heap, Frou Frou, Norah Jones, Jem, etc. Thoroughly enjoyable!
  
  
• Awesome!
  By AG2T4FU07A1TL on 2007-06-18
  I haven't been so impressed by a single artist and album in a long time. Fantastic pipes on this girl and excellent music played by the likes of Gonzalez and Mocky. It's one of those albums where the last track is over and the CD loops, you just don't mind it. Perfect!
  
  
• A Welcome Reminder
  By A1GJAOVL4RV5Y2 on 2007-08-21
  If we're lucky, an artist comes along every once in a while and perfectly captures our thoughts and emotions, wrapping them up in a way that helps us see the beauty and wisdom of our experiences. For me - and, I suspect, for anyone who has struggled with a relationship - the latest artist to do this is Feist. Her latest release struck such a deep chord for me that certain songs make me wonder if she could possibly have been reading my mind while writing the album. Yet the ability to touch on such universal themes in such a personal way is what makes an artist really stand out - and this Feist does, quietly yet distinctly.
  
  With The Reminder, Feist has put together a collection of thirteen songs that delve into the subjects of love, loss, and life, carrying a smooth, mellow sound while maintaining an emotional intensity that never fails to connect. The album features slow, romantic tracks that bristle with emotion, interspersed with a sprinkling of more fun, upbeat pieces. "I Feel It All" may be my favorite with its lively energy, while "1 2 3 4" is playfully cadenced and "My Moon My Man" has a jazzy feel with a bass line that you can't help but bounce along to. The songs that resonate most strongly for me, however, are the slower, more thoughtful pieces. "So Sorry" is a passionate song of regret in which Feist sings, "We don't need to say goodbye/We don't need to fight and cry/Oh we, we could hold each other tight/Tonight." "The Park" is equally poignant, capturing hope and longing with lyrics like "It's not him who'd come across the sea to surprise you/Not him who'd know where in London to find you." These and others, like "Limit to Your Love" and "Intuition", are heartbreaking in their melancholy, and the timbre in Feist's voice at times makes her sound as though near tears. Yet the beauty is that, despite their sadness, these songs are somehow uplifting, reassuring, even inspirational.
  
  Feist demonstrates the strength of her voice, her talent as a musician, and her insight into the human psyche with this album. The Reminder deserves to be listened to while curled up on your couch, perhaps a cup of tea in your hand or a loved one by your side, and contemplated wholeheartedly.
  
  
  
  
  
• My Mind Might Change
  By A1W3MBU3V858G9 on 2007-09-19
  This is the kind of pop that (regardless of the iPod push) deserves mass attention...her vocals, while occasionally grating and adolescent, are mostly unadorned...so refreshing in this age of melismatic calisthenics that have NOTHING to do with genuine artistic expression...she reminds me of the great European pop chanteuses of the 1960s (yes, chanteuses), along with the production quality...other times she reminds me of Melanie (of "Brand New Key" fame), a little on the bubble gum folk rock line...sometimes when I listen I am totally hooked, other times I wonder why I bother...
  
  
• The Harbor becomes The Sea
  By A281NPSIMI1C2R on 2007-09-26
  Sweet silky sweeps of melodious comfort introduce an exciting album in "So Sorry." Indie artist Feist seems to be returning to the heart of her music where her voice melts pleasantly with jangly flourishes and playfully insistent guitar. Her pacing captures your attention as a toy box of sounds almost makes this album feel more organic.
  
  The album merges jazzy pop with folk sensibilities to produce a pleasant vibrancy that draws you subtly into an intoxicating experience. The interesting transition with sounds of someone running in a park blends "My Moon My Man" effortlessly with "Park." Here even sentimentality feels modern with an artistic warmth. The originality of the ideas slip into "Water" with a delicate sultry ambience that turns whispery. "Sea Lion" is much more adventurous and is more like cold water splashing in your face as it jolts you from your contemplative solitude. Feist then almost turns country in "Past in Present."
  
  The album quiets and returns to contemplative lyrics as it turns sweetly sultry again and charming in "1234." Her silky voice turns breathy in "Brandy Alexander" and then strikingly clear in "Intuition." The harp is a surprise on "Honey Honey" and each song continues to amaze with creative appeal. The entire album feels like one line of the lyrics when she sings: "The harbor becomes the sea." This is an album of infinite possibilities with invitations into a memorable experience.
  
  ~The Rebecca Review
  
  
• Utterly Enchanting, My Favorite Album of 2007
  By ASI1I2RUR0ADY on 2007-10-01
  I heard Feist's first album "Let It Die" just a few months before "The Reminder" came out. Let It Die was a masterpiece that established Feist as a legitimate and talented artist outside of her work with Broken Social Scene. The Reminder is a further step in that direction, and in my opinion, one of the best albums of 2007. Artfully crafted with a wide variety of instruments and musical arrangements, this album covers a vast array of topics such as childhood innocence, the fleeting feelings of love and loss, and modern womanhood. The tracks are all delivered with Feist's wistful, honeylike voice and pleasant, catchy musical arrangements that are truly unique among modern indie songstresses.
  
  Feist currently occupies a musical domain that is entirely her own. She was a major member of the Canadian independent music collective Broken Social Scene, and has lived in France for the past several years. Formerly a punk singer in her teenage years, and now a Candian-French indie rock chanteuse. There's no perfect way to describe Feist; her unique style is best understood by listening to her albums. This has been one of the top sellers on Amazon for several months now. In ten years, I am certain that this will be considered one of the most relevant albums of this time period. Feist is changing the way people think about pop music. One of the top tags for this product is Bjork, and Feist has that same pioneering spirit, although she expresses it in a form much more accessible to listeners. Just buy this album - it'll be ten dollars well spent.
  
  
• commercialized
  By A2OXXXKM0XX1NX on 2007-10-01
  dreck. hear Feist on Grey's Anatomy. see Feist in the latest iPod commercial. find out, when you walk into your local store, that Feist's stuff is all over the Muzak playing therein. it could probably go on and on and on and on, and I'm sure that if it doesn't quite already, it soon will. still, it's certainly among the catchiest of sorts of dreck. just like candy that's oh so bad for your teeth, you still find that you somehow can't nearly get enough. heck, I know I can't, for all the problems that I have with Ms. Feist prostituting her work, I still own the disc. almost but not quite 4 stars for the actual music itself...
  
  
• I knew she would make it big
  By A2GU72RZHYA9TR on 2007-05-03
  glad she proved me right. I fell in love with her last album and thought such a pity the mass out there were not listening. This time around, Feist is even better. Brilliant songwriter.
  
  Make sure you check out Let It Die. Honestly I think it's actually better than this one.
  
  

• Let It Die
• Back to Black
• In Rainbows
• One Cell In the Sea
• Open Season