Feist – Let It Die

Warmth and Nostalgia

Leslie Feist, the co-vocalist of the sundry styled pop band, Broken Social Scene, is a singer/songwriter filled with charm, charisma, and style. The first 6 tracks of her romantically inspired solo album Let It Die are originals, and the last 5 songs are covers. As for the originals, the song “Mushaboom” is flawless in its conception and breathtaking in its delivery. Filled with glowing 60’s style arrangements, handclaps, and male backing vocals, it is a cozy lounge-pop classic that could soundtrack a brisk yet sunny winter afternoon. The down-tempo disco number “One Evening” is sexy and fun with its sensual vocals, funk-filled beat and instantly catchy chorus. On the Astrud Gilberto influenced “Leisure Suite,” accompanied by finger snaps, organs, and a snaky groove, Feist softly sings: “In my leisure suite/It’s the place to meet/We can press repeat/And do what we do when we’re there.” It is a song rich with seduction and steeped in allusion. Feist’s renditions of Ron Sexsmith’s “Secret Heart” and the BeeGee’s “Inside and Out” are the most compelling of the 5 cover songs. The former is a romantic plea for emotional indulgence adorned with spring time arrangements. The latter is a saucy disco excursion. Here Feist is vocally charged, belting out lines like “No matter how you hurt me/I will love you ‘till I die.”

Let It Die is an album for those who can appreciate eclectic songwriting from a modern-day Chanteuse. Layered with romance, despair, and resolution, it’s the type of record that feels both timely and timeless. The themes are relevant, while the music is filled with warmth and a sense of nostalgia.