Something Like Sound

Although Feist’s mainstream success (complete with an iPod commercial) may have brought her into the limelight, we haven’t heard much from the Canadian singer-songwriter since she took a break from touring a couple years ago. Here are six songs that may not be instantly familiar, but definitely remain among my personal favorites.

1. The Train Song (feat. Ben Gibbard): This cover of a Vashti Bunyan song appeared on 2009′s Dark Was The Night, a compilation made to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. Featuring another indie-rock heavyweight (Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie), this song makes me wish Feist and Death Cab would collaborate more often.

2. Leisure Suite: I once made a playlist called “music for seducing women.” This song was the first on that list; it’s sexy, smooth and delightfully seductive. For full effect I’d suggest dimming the lights and lighting some candles.

3. So Sorry: From the breakout record The Reminder, “So Sorry” often gets ignored because it’s not a hip radio single. Simple as it may be, it this soft, simple tune is moving in its sound and lyric.

4. One Evening: Another smooth track about a random encounter, “One Evening” casts a new light on the classic story of a one night stand. What really does it for me on this song are the keys and clean guitar.

5. It’s Cool to Love Your Family: From 1999′s Monarch (a record still out-of-print despite Feist’s recent worldwide success), this song resulted in a music video and helped to launch Feist’s solo career.

6. Lo How A Rose E’re Blooming: An odd rarity from a Christmas compilation, this take on the classic hymn/carol is hauntingly beautiful and stands out as my favorite recorded version of this song.