Regina Spektor “Far” Review
It’s hard to talk about Regina Spektor’s new album without mentioning her last, the piano-folk-pop masterpiece Begin to Hope. Sporting at least a half-dozen single-worthy tracks with quirky, memorable lyrics (that didn’t venture too far into cutesy-town) and a flawless pop sensibility, Begin to Hope was a near-perfect mix of Spektor’s anti-folk past with some extremely radio-friendly melodies and piano arrangements. The result was one of 2006′s best albums, and in my opinion one of the most fun and compelling albums of the decade.
With Far, I half expected Spektor to return to her overly-quirky past, and half-expected her to venture further into overly safe, piano pop territory (like the not-so-great song she added to the Prince Caspian soundtrack). I didn’t expect the same balance that made Begin to Hope so good, but luckily, I was pretty much wrong.
Far, to be sure, doesn’t reach the same heights that Begin to Hope reached, and it lacks the monster singles of its predecessor. But it’s a solid continuation of the previous album’s philosophy: the lyrics and vocal tics are sometimes cute, but retain an edge and originality that really separate Spektor from other piano-pop singers. The production, while it might be too much for fans of Spektor’s earlier, more minimalist work, is polished and professional but never overwhelms the singer’s personality. And while she worked with a bunch of famous producers here (Mike Elizondo, Jacknife Lee, Jeff Lynne and David Kahne), Spektor is always the star.
The album’s first track, “The Calculation,” is as original and well-written a love song as you’re likely to hear these days, the story of a relationship that is seemingly humming along just fine, until the lovers discover that what they knew as love was really just the tip of the iceberg. Other highlights include “Blue Lips,” a haunting meditation on faith and the meaning of life (not exactly well-worn territory in pop music), and “The Wallet,” which tells the story of someone finding someone else’s wallet and returning it to Blockbuster so it can be picked up by the owner. On the surface, it’s a pretty simple, silly story, but, like much of Spektor’s writing, contains a much deeper, more meaningful message about human nature and modern existence for those who care to look for it.
These highlights, however, don’t loom too large over the rest of the tracks; overall, Far is a very solid, cohesive album, without a lot of peaks and valleys. It’s full of interesting stories and unique observations, memorable images and even-more-memorable melodies.
Ultimately, it might be easy for people to write Regina Spektor off as either another Starbucks-friendly piano chanteuse or as another ultra-quirky indie-folk weirdo. To be fair, she could fit into either category, but the way she crams these two sub-genres together is what makes her special. She makes challenging music feel easy, and gives easy music an edge and an intelligence that makes it infinitely more rewarding for the active listener. Far is a beautifully bittersweet album, and certainly a worthy follow-up to a ’00′s classic.
“She makes challenging music feel easy, and gives easy music an edge” – love that line, think it does well at expressing the contrast in her music in addition to her uniqueness as an individual (without stressing that alone, like “SHE’S UNIQUE, DAMMIT”)
This is my favourite review of ‘Far’ so far.
this review made me so sad. it’s on the spot, but it’s so depressing. Regina Spektor was, until Begin to Hope, a master-weaver of classical music, her own brand of quirky literate short-stories, with some pop elements. she seemed so promising.
THIS is what she’s reduced herself to? as you say, a new breed of Starbucks chanteuse?
I have been a Regina fan since near the beginning, and it is true that a lot of the album is on the safe side, but I still love it…I have “respekt” hehe.
it’s ok. i miss old regina.
Wonderful review!
I don’t understand people who talk about the ‘old Regina’ as if it was some other person; it’s Regina, and like everyone else she matures, gains insight and advances along her own path.
Great review, and it, I feel, really captures the album
wow, I was truly an idiot earlier on in the comments, I feel so embarrassed :/ I’m so sorry, Regina, this is a truly fantastic album.
I very much like the album. Fans should learn how to grow with the artist. Fans stuck in one gear will always end up disappointed by subsequent records.
I like how this review supports Regina’s fans by giving a justification to the shallow dissatisfaction tendency. We all know how Regina came into the music scene so imposingly, and when she released a new album it’s like a good movie sequel everybody would hate. The ‘with all the hype, I can’t like it’ tendency. But it’s now proven that the album has too many rooms for adoration. The lyrics are still powerful, Her almost mythical voice, twisted themes. This album is my newfound love for Regina. (Intoxicated now)
Ok i admit i am a Jeff Lynne addict and that is why i perchased the album. I could and probably would have totally ignored this masterpiece if i had’nt found out that JL had produced a few songs which has not destracted me from this talented purist.
Like myself i think its about time we woke up and celebrate a master musician, vocalist and composer. Composer being the right word. Yes it is a production compilation of which all have done themselves proud and let Regina’s innovations and vocals shine through.
Every song on the album are works of art dare i say musical masterpieces. Shear perfection. Each having a contrasting range of melodies with their own special sense of mortality. Some are delicate ‘Laughing with’, intrigueing and haunting ‘Genius Next Door’& ‘Man of a Thousand Faces’, joyfull ‘One More Time with Feeling’, agressive ‘Machine’, upbeat ‘Dance Athem of the 80′s’& ‘Two Birds’, commercial ‘The Calculation’, bizarre ‘Human of the Year’,sophisicated and de-stressing ‘The Sword and the Pen’& ‘Time is All Around’, cute ‘Folding Chair’, Alzheimatic ‘EET’, beautiful with self-belief ‘Blue Lips’, warm hearted ‘Wallet’.
Not experiencing or having the pleasure of hearing her previous recordings. I will take on board all the comments i have read and believe they have to be respected nad investigated into in the very near future. In the meantime i will live ‘FAR’ away in Reginas ecstatic world of total brilliance.
Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t she playing much of the songs on “Far” in concerts before “Begin to Hope” came out? Check the playlists of her early shows years ago. That means that although these are polished new recordings, it is very much the “Old Regina”. Let it go and just love her in all her forms. Regina = Regina…end of story.
I didn’t like the review. ‘far’ is just as good as ‘Begin To Hope’ and anything else she’s ever recorded. You say nice things but I can tell that your review was written after hearing the album maybe just once or twice. Anything NEW has to be mulled over before you can say what you think about it. I remember reading once how people hated The Beatles White Album when they first heard it. What better example can I give you than that. Not that ‘far’ is like the White Album, but for not being a Beatle, it’s pretty damn close. She reminds me of them. Lots of variety and very experimental.
I for one am shocked and angry to learn that other people are now listening to the same music I do. This clearly means that the artist is now a sell-out, and her music is therefore inferior to all her previous work.
Seriously people, chill out and grow up. There’ll always be a new obscure musician to make you feel good about your superior, elitist tastes.
With that said Maven, aren’t we indie boys elitist all the same?