#74 - The Reminder by Feist

1-2-3-(7)4 (two months late lol)

Title: The Reminder
Artist: Feist
Length: 50:02 (13 tracks)
Label: Polydor
Year: 2007

Let’s talk about “1234”.

While released in 2007, “1234,” originally written by Australian artist New Buffalo, is firmly within my mental framework of “Obama Era” music. Silhouette iPod commercials, VW ad placements, the Garden State, and Grey’s Anatomy soundtracks: tunes with the veneer of serious music while still easily metabolized by a broad public. “1234”'s uplifting gang-vocal chorus and the secular worship hymn crescendo made it a staple of the larger capital I, capital R “Indie Rock” blitz, but stands decisively outside the rest of The Reminder’s tracks.

The Reminder (sans “1234”) lets you know that Leslie Feist has multiple gears, from R&B songs to straight-up shredding. “Sealion” indicates the strengths of her songwriting, creativity, and range, which she would build upon in future records: Metals, Pleasure, and Multitudes. “Brandy Alexander” and “So Sorry” slow the tempo down, allowing her to use the margins of her songs to turn standard ballads into tracks that linger with the listener. In between these speeds are her Broken Social Scene songs. “I Feel It All” and “Past and Present” are tracks that would fit nicely in You Forgot It In People or Broken Social Scene: Acoustic-led power-pop songs that spam the kick drum to make toe-tapping and headbobbing a biological necessity, not a suggestion.

The Reminder is an album that makes me nostalgic but also makes me think: “I forgot how good this record is.” Feist flips through styles on each track with enough variety to prove her range, and the chops avoid falling into “genre tracks.” Memory can be flattening, and “1234” supremacy (which is a good song!!) can add some baggage to relistening, but this record is a great introduction to Feist’s songwriting and a document of a very slick indie rock album — whatever that means!

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One for the Road

We’re going to do two for the road. Both The Reminder adjacent time capsules.

“My Moon My Man (Boys Noize Remix)”

Speaking of “whatever that means,” what was Bloghaus/Bloghouse? We’ll get into this later, but this song is VERY 2007. I mean that as a compliment and as a pejorative.

”1234 (Live on Letterman: 8/27/2007)”

This was my Avengers - Endgame. Feist performing on Letterman with a backing choir with indie rock darlings Mates of State, The National, Broken Social Scene, The New Pornographers, and Grizzly Bear. The American Apparel Infinity Stones are all on one stage.