CD Review: Regina Spektor

By: Christina Caldwell

Posted: 7/2/09

Something has gotten into Regina Spektor.

The uber-cutesy anti-folk songstress has garnered comparisons to Fiona Apple and Tori Amos since the release of Soviet Kitsch, her first album that got the attention of mass audiences.

In the past, the comparisons to Apple and Amos were only based on the whole indie-lady-with-a-piano persona. Now, Spektor has taken on their serious sound.

The whimsical and underlying humorous nature of past hits like "Better" and "On the Radio" are lost on her newest release, Far.

Although, the album certainly stays true to its title. Far sounds distant in lyrics and tunes when compared to previous albums. It sounds a lot like the in between phase of being awake and asleep. It's punctuated by brief moments of quirkiness (like Spektor's impromptu dolphin noises on "Folding Chair"), but overall the theme of the album is ambient and in some places, quite boring.

The stand out song on the album hands-down goes to the first single, "Laughing With." It's the only song that has any hope of being memorable, thanks in part to deeply insightful, yet simple God-inspired lyrics and painfully beautiful vocals. "The Calculation," is another radio-friendly tune that redeems Far, kicking off the album with an upbeat, sunny-day theme with Spektor's signature octave-defying voice.

Far is an endearing effort that begs to be loved. But as a follow-up to her no-holds-barred Begin to Hope, Far falls flat. One would hope with a myriad of producers Mike Elizondo, who has worked with Dr. Dre and Eminem, and David Kahne, who has produced Paul McCartney, Spektor would come out with a diverse sound on Far. But it just sounds confused.