Feist

The differences between good and bad singer-songwriters aren't all that vast. All such tunesmiths tend to use spare instrumentation (so as not to distract fans from their allegedly brilliant rhymes) and warble about topics that seem personal, and are, or ones that pretend not to be personal but still are...

By Michael Roberts

June 21, 2007

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The differences between good and bad singer-songwriters aren't all that vast. All such tunesmiths tend to use spare instrumentation (so as not to distract fans from their allegedly brilliant rhymes) and warble about topics that seem personal, and are, or ones that pretend not to be personal but still are. The distinctions, then, are largely based on intangibles — the sense that some performers are brave and compassionate for sharing their innermost feelings while others are irritating and should shut the hell up. Which brings us to Leslie Feist. On the surface, her resolute sincerity and sensitivity, not to mention her insistence upon using only her last name, should place her firmly in Camp Annoying. But against all odds, The Reminder, her latest CD, is a small wonder, filled with lovely airs such as "The Park" that quietly, insistently draw in a listener and refuse to let go. Feist, who's touring with Grizzly Bear, doesn't do anything particularly new, but she makes people care about every word she sings. And that makes all the difference.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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