It has been four long years since Feist last released an album. And with her last release being the fantastic “The Reminder,” Feist had a lot of high expectations to live up to. Fortunately, her new album _Metals_ is by far her greatest work yet. Upon my first listen, I found myself completely entranced. I cannot stop listening to this album.

From the poetic opening “The Bad in Each Other,” to the gentle conclusion “Get it Wrong, Get it Right,” Feist hits every note flawlessly and effortlessly. Her soulful, sweet voice complements every track with her usual, Feist-like grace. Her range is so impressive, and she is not afraid to show it off. “A Commotion,” one of the faster-paced songs on the album, is a great example of her vocal range and dynamics. She has such great control, and she definitely worked these songs to near perfection.

Not only are the vocals fantastic, the production is phenomenal as well. It has a borderline-rudimentary feel while implementing a more indie vibe to clean up the sound and polish the final product. Every note is carefully constructed and played at the perfect time. As simple as the music sounds, it actually has a lot of depth and complication upon further listening. This album is constructed beautifully with an impressive range of instruments and sound techniques throughout.

_Metals_ is undoubtedly a top album of 2011. Fans waited a long time for another Feist release, and she definitely delivered. I would not be surprised at all if she were nominated for several more Grammys in the upcoming year. It is so refreshing for an artist to take her time on something actually worthwhile. Most artists tend to disappoint after waiting for so long to release more music, but this album is not a let-down. With that said, I hope we do not have to wait another four years for Feist to release another album, but it was more than worth the wait.