April 18, 2005

{ Feist - Let It Die }

Leslie Feist could easily have coasted on indie-pedigree alone through this sophomore solo-effort; as a former member of Broken Social Scene, and occasional chanteuse for fem-rap superstar Peaches, the Kings of Convenience, and trip-hopper Gonzales, she's got cred to burn. Maybe that's why Let It Die is such a revelation. Instead of falling back on her better-knowns, Feist steps forward with a strong mix of influence and diversity of sound, culminating in an album that is entirely her own. There's lounge (Leisure Suite), jaunty French cabaret (L'Amour Ne Dure Pas Toujours), a disco cover-tune (Inside and Out), and some utterly brilliant folk-pop (Mushaboom). It's as though we were perched quietly atop the toilet as Feist showered, listening intently as she crooned out her secret favorite songs with the kind of confidence reserved exclusively for shower-stall performances. These intimate glimpses are not without their tenative moments, but when Feist is shy it's only all the more fetching. I can think of no better way to herald the coming of Spring than a cool evening breeze and Let It Die playing in the background. It just feels that fresh, despite nearly half of the album being comprised of covers. "Mushaboom" and "When I Was a Young Girl" in particular have this incredible shinyness and newness to them. Also irresistible is the slow-burning title-track- it carries this insane high-school slow-dance vibe, almost Berlin's "Take My Breath Away"-style, that will have you shuffling slowly in a circle involuntarily, feeling a powerful unrequieted love.

» listentofeist.com

By Adam in Music | Comments: