Regina Spektor Begin to Hope Label: Sire Release Date: 06/13/06

It starts out like a sunny morning drive home in sunglasses with a smirk on your mug after a fiery reunion with your first love. Or at least that’s what “Begin to Hope” gets me longing for. Track 2 hits like an all girl sleep-over dance-party, complete with hairbrushes turned microphones and mattresses turned trampolines.

Older Spektor enthusiasts will recognize “Samson” as the opening track to Regina’s earlier album, “Sounds”. Samson is quietly reminiscent of what could be a personal memoir of love gone awry, disguised as the classic bible tale of Samson and Delilah. This CD’s energy never rests. I mean-sure. It’s got its fun-n-dancies and its mellow crooners, but all in all i don’t reach one moment of total stillness whilst my eardrums are politely stroked by Spektor’s carefully crafted new release. It goes without saying and with one listen that Spektor’s sound is even more crisp and polished than it already was on her 2004 album, “Soviet Kitsch”. “Begin” also seems to include an element of self reflection that soviet may have lacked. And her peppy sense of awareness rubs off.
Said best, in “on the radio”, Spektor preaches:

“Well this is how it works. You peer inside yourself. You take the things you like and try to love the things you took…”

Regina, you make me want to be a better woman!

This entry was posted on Monday, June 26th, 2006 at 10:34 am and is filed under CD/LP. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.