Canada's indie powerhouse collective Broken Social Scene's best kept secret is back for her second solo shot. Internet junkies have probably read of Leslie Feist's scene-stealing stage presence, and on this, her second stint stepping out front - she's proven here that it's no fluke that she tends to outshine her bandmates - given the opportunity.

Her first solo strike 1999's Monarch stayed much more true to the guitar and strings modality of her indie personae, and while likable did nothing to really reveal the sizzle and pop of her striking stage presence. Let it Die, (long since released in her native land) has just recently made it's way south of the 54-40 and is a stunner to be sure.

Feist let's her playfully prodigious vocals bleed all over this collection of jazz, disco and French chanteuse numbers. For an album that does as much genre-jumping Let it Die maintains a breezy cohesion, that would make it the perfect accompaniment to a backporch, wind-chime sunset with your favorite cocktail. Equal parts original and cover, Let it Die finds the quasi-foreigner teeing it up and knocking it long. The first two tracks set the pace "Gatekeeper" an original jazz exposition on the intricacies of love past and present, is followed by "Mushaboom," the album's strongest track - and serves notice that Let it Die is going to be a light and lovely treat.

Recorded in both Toronto and Paris with the production guidance of ex-Canadian Jason Beck, Feist covers songs from acts as diverse as the Bee Gees to Ron Sexsmith to 40s songsmith Dick Haymes. Colored by swishy synths, mellow vibes, clean percussion, the record might have easily turned into mushy pap, but Feist's remarkable vocals keep it all crisp and cool. Had she lived in an earlier era she would be one of those time-honored jazz singers, her chops are just that smart.

Definitely one of the more pleasant surprises of the year (for us Yankees) Let it Die is one of those albums that transcends the boundaries of classification. I listened to it non-stop for weeks then turned it into a Birthday gift for my torch/jazz loving father, who loves it like his own. Great record. Perhaps Leslie won't wait 5 years before favoring us with another.