Regina Spektor

Regina Spektor first came to my attention with her Soviet-navy-drinking cover artwork on Soviet Kitsch. I suppose it shouldn't be too surprising why this was the breakout album for her: she was after all signed to Warner Records and they had decided to re-release the album. So, by the time Begin to Hope came out, she was already a star among the singer/songwriter crowd.

Spektor's much anticipated album, Far, was released a few weeks ago (June 22^nd) on Sire Records. The release came in two editions: a standard album and a deluxe edition (you can find them at all major retailers, such as amazon and Best Buy). My review copy is just a standard version, but I will go ahead and recommend the deluxe version because you get two bonus tracks and a DVD for only a few dollars more. Fans should take a look at the Fan Edition, which comes with the CD and DVD, 6 panel soft pack, and a 14”x14” Limited Lithograph (The first 1000 will be hand numbered).

Far seems to me to be a lot happier and more comfortable and even knows where it's going, compared to Soviet Kitsch and Begin to Hope. This tells me a lot of things about where and how Spektor feels in her life at this moment. If you listen carefully to her songs, she gives little hints to her past. Her tendency towards making "instrument" sounds with her voice tells me she probably studies a capella (check out some examples like the snare drum with her voice on "Eet", ooof ooof sound on the foot-tapping "Folding Chair", and beep-bop and piano notes on "Dance Anthem of the 80's").

How about her religious views? She seems to have faith in the "Human of the Year" and the poignant "Laughing With", which states a variety of situations with "no one laughs at God when ... (insert scenario)", even though "God can be funny ... ha ha". It's sung in an ironic kind of way. Apparently, Spektor felt so strongly about the strength of this song that she made it her first single, preceding her Far album.

It was really hard for me to choose a favorite song to represent Far, as practically all the songs are very good. The lyrics are wonderful, the melodies are catchy, and Spektor's voice is irresistible. I have decided to go with "Blue Lips", which I am pretty sure the album is actually named after: "Blue, the color of our planet. From far, far away".

If you aren't already a fan, you should be. "Eet" is just an example of a great pop song, about the impossible notion of forgetting the words to your favorite song. The video gives it a dream-like quality: