#80: Regina Spektor - 11:11 (2001)

She’s a little crazy. She’s a little out there. Then again she’s damn near perfect. This album is classified as anti-folk and for good reason, it constantly challenges the way we normally listen to music. There are blues, jazz, folk, and pop influences throughout the album. However unlikely her hooks may be, they sink right into you.

Rejazz
She’s got one of the best voices I’ve heard in a long time and she’s not content with singing straight. She’ll grunt, growl, sing the drums, sneeze, or do whatever feels right in the moment. What it means for the listener is she’s always entertaining – she keeps you on the edge of your seat. This track features a standup bass and Regina. However, it’s one of the best tracks on the album. If you’re unsure if you’d like this album, I think this is the track to start with, it’s super solid.

Flyin'

While the previous spotlighted song featured just bass and Regina, this track features a cajon and Spektor. It really shows off just how good she is vocally as well as lyrically. She repeats phrases to add a sense of familiarity to the music while she is constantly tweaking the melody. Her phrasing is phenomenal, it’s amazing how entertaining such a simple arrangement can be.

Pavlov’s Daughter
If you’re one of those hip cats that go to poetry readings and you’re well dug into the avant garde scene then this is your ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Regina throws out all kinds of music on the best track on the album. She starts with a rap only to transition to this incredible dissonant piano coupled with oddly specific lyrics. When she sings “My name is Lucille and I know how you feel. I live downstairs, I hear you taking out your garbage…” I lose it every time. It’s so ridiculous but it’s so incredible. The song then changes to this very open, sparse feel. The song then works its way back to the beginning. Is the song odd? Absolutely. Is it amazing? Absolutely.

All in all, Regina does an amazing job of doing some crazy things and finding out a way to get away with it. Surely everyone doesn’t get it – we’ll start with my coworkers. Let’s be honest, I don’t totally get it either, but that’s part of the allure for me. It’s absolutely different from every album I’ve ever heard but it’s one of the most entertaining.

Tomorrow's album: Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto's Getz/Gilberto.

#70: Regina Spektor - What We Saw From the Cheap Seats (2012)

My co-workers are convinced that she's crazy. She's got an odd sound to her and an even weirder voice at times. However, I think she's brilliant. Granted, her albums get further disconnected than I'd ever think to go, but it works because it's true to her. Her music is not only entertaining, it keeps you locked in and focused throughout.

Small Town Moon
Songs like this are why I fell in love with Regina. Her distinct vocals and cooky style carry an otherwise solid pop song. I admire everything about Spektor, especially her lack of fear. She is exactly who she is, her music reflects that and she's unapologetic. She's the full package - she's truly one of a kind.



How

This album and specifically this song is a little more standard pop that her previous works. Regina still brings her signature style to it, but it's a lot more radio friendly. Instead of 25% pop and 75% Spektor - it flips on it's head, and that's not to say I dislike it, it's just not what I expected. This track is very well written and performed; in many ways is a throwback to the era of big ballads.

All The Rowboats
This is the good stuff, by far the best track on the album. It has so many different sounds smashed together with such a bright feeling. The song features big drums, ominous bass, light vocals, ethereal piano, and deep lyrics. Regina continually puts out music that's like nothing else I've ever heard. Also, massive bonus points for singing along with the drums.

All in all this album has several really good songs and also some exceptional tracks. I truly enjoyed it, and while at times Regina is featuring a more 'commercially acceptable' pop path it's still a Spektor album. I'm sure I'll listen to this album again soon, her albums tend to be creepers (the more you listen the more you love it).

Tomorrow's album: Bob Dylan's The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

#38: Regina Spektor - Far (2009)

This is the album that started it all. I’m known to set highly unrealistic goals – I do it all the time while my friends and family watch me crash and burn. Almost exactly a year ago I reviewed this album, anticipating doing a weekly album review. I got as far as week one. I thought about rewriting the review, but instead I’ve settled on just reposting it. Here it is, in its entirety:

So recently I went on vacation. We had a house right on the beach and it was an entire week of nothingness. Most people brought crosswords, books, and games to pass the time. All I brought was my headphones and my nifty new iPod.

I was pretty excited, a whole week on the beach and my entire music catalog to choose from. However, I spent my entire vacation listening to Regina Spektor. Nothing but staring at the waves and listening to her voice. Far, is probably my favorite of her albums and it's definitely the 'poppiest'.

As a musician I listen to music like a thief looks for something valuable. I believe that all musicians are, to a certain degree, plagiarists and thieves... But that's another topic.

Regina Spektor has taught me the value of being different, the value of doing what you love despite the backlash. I've read some reviews of her music that are less than favorable, however, it's the "imperfections and inconsistencies" that make the music so beautiful to me.

While her music is amazing, her voice is phenomenal. She makes me want to finish my album, 'Keep Fishin'' and get back into the studio. I want to experiment.

Stand out tracks:

Blue Lips:
Such beautiful strings... throughout the album the use of strings is extremely tasteful. The chorus is such a huge contrast to the rest of the song and what absolutely brings this song together. Such a simple concept...

Folding Chair:

My favorite track on this album. "Come and open up your folding chair next to me. My feet are buried in the sand, and there's a breeze..." This song takes me back to the beach, such a great, upbeat feel to it. I think it's Regina at her best. It's commercially "acceptable" for parts of it - then back to her wheelhouse - showing off what defines her.

Machine:

The bridge of a song (to me) is supposed to be completely different from the rest of the album - but still has to fit into the rest. This is the bridge of the album for me. I'm always drawn to these songs on albums. This song is completely different from the rest of the album, yet is not so different that it can't fit right between 'Folding Chair' and 'Laughing With'. After returning from my vacation - this song inspired me to write the bridge to my album.

Two Birds:

I love the imagery. She picks a theme to represent a relationship and she sticks with it. Throughout the song you learn more about this relationship than you thought you would considering it's upbeat demeanor. Quite possibly, my favorite aspect of Regina's music has to be that when she repeats herself it's actually more entertaining than the first time.

Dance Anthem of the 80s:

The simplicity. Words can not express how much I am dialed into this song. It's the little things that change in her voice that keep you listening and in the present moment. Usually, listening to music I'm listening to all the parts, with this song - it's hard to listen to anything but Regina. Again, beautiful contrast, great use of repetition, and extremely catchy.

Wallet:

Had I not been on the beach this would be my favorite song on the album. Let me just start off by saying that no artist that I listen to would write a song about finding a wallet and returning it to Blockbuster. It's a breath of fresh air to listen to something so specific (See: "local bar" lyric from The Script's 'For the First Time'). It's a beautiful story with captivating lyrics, vocals, and piano. When she says, "blue rubber band" I get goosebumps. Is that lame? I don't care. It's such a simple thing and yet the way she sets it up is remarkable.

Overall, the album is worth a listen. I'm a huge, huge fan. It grabbed me on the first listen and I'm having issues putting it down. I understand, however, that not everyone will be drawn to her as I am. Due to the nature of Regina's music it's tough to find a radio-ready single. However, for any fan of music, this is well worth the listen.

Tomorrow's album: Ray Charles' The Genius of Ray Charles.