Search - Feist :: Let It Die

Let it live

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 07/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If Lesie Feist sounds familiar, it's because of her musical resume -- it ranges from Canadian indie-popsters Broken Social Scene to female rapper Peaches to the Kings of Convenience. That sort of resume also makes one wonder -- what will her solo debut, "Let It Die," sound like?



The answer: Stripped down, sensual pop music, with a touch of jazz and trip-hop around the edges. It kicks off with only the strums of an acoustic guitar, before Feist jumps in like an orphaned torch singer. "Well it's time to begin/as the summer sets in/It's the scene you set for new lovers," she croons.



From there on, Feist doesn't even slow down. She ventures into cheery, catchy pop like "Mushaboom," sensual slow ballads, rippling trippy songs, and smooth torch songs. There's even -- surprisingly -- a cover of the Bee Gees' "Inside And Out," which she gives a funky spin, and a delicately catchy cover of Ron Sexsmith's underrated "Secret Heart."



The flavour of Feist's music isn't the sort that sets off fireworks and sets you raving about how much fun it is. "Let It Die" is the sort of album that is periodically hailed as being the real deal -- no studio tricks, little musical polish, and a reliance on good songwriting and tunes rather than hooks. In other words, pure music.



The star of the music is Feist herself; her vocals are front-and-center, and she proves herself a rare kind of singer. No "American Idol" vocal explosions, no hyperdramatics. Instead, Feist flexes her vocals in all sorts of different ways -- breathy, husky, ethereal and coy, and and moving along with the music in perfect sync.



Not that Feist's good voice doesn't mean that the music isn't also good. Most of the instrumentation is based on piano and acoustic guitar, with snapping fingers, cowbells, a hint of synth and handclaps thrown in. It's very simple, and very pretty, whether trying out catchy pop or traditional-sounding folk. Only a few songs, like the clunky "Lonely Lonely," fail to be captivating.



Leslie Feist moves out of the shadow of the other bands and artists she's worked with, and establishes herself with the beautiful "Let It Die." A rare and good type of pop."

Lovin' it inside and out!

...Sasha... | 07/12/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Leslie Feist has this spellbinding ability to carry you through her dreams ("Mushaboom"), her past (the tribal folk-influenced "When I Was a Young Girl"), and her solitude ("Lonely Lonely"). Her voice is ever-quietly powerful, as are her lyrics, and rich with vibrato. "Let It Die" blends the folk with the jazz, the rustic with the urban, and the meditative with the fun-loving. Her rendition of "Inside and Out" is, dare I say, more funk-filled than the Bee Gee's and her other covers, which include "Secret Heart" and "Tout Doucement" are so zestful and fresh that they, too, arguably blow the originals out of the water. The essential cocktails-in-the-backyard summer album!"

A rare treat!

R. Gorelik | 09/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This girl is pure soul. I listen to this cd over and over again and never get tired of it!"