Regina Spektor, Albert Hammond Jr.

I had the fortunate/unfortunate luck of discovering Regina Spektor early... before "Soviet Kitsch" was *officially* released, before the "Us" video soldified the star that would be.

It's a weird thing... seeing her live. Short set, awkward posture, coy laugh, just her and a piano. A crowd of however many people the Warfield holds. She seemed so out of place... like her audience is already outgrowing her. But hark! A white light beaming down on stage, getting bigger and bigger, a small voice chiming "Hallelujah!", an audience mesmerized... And maybe she was always a star, and he audience is just finally growing into her.

All things said... she's one of the most idiosyncratic and brilliant songwriters since Jacques Brel, which may not be entirely accidental. She's just a small Russian girl, afterall... but her head always seems to deliberately be in the clouds... like if a normal word comes out of her mouth then she'll crumble. Weird for the sake of weird, but with a very poetic motive.

"Songs" is one of the best albums ever. That version of "Samson" has broken many hearts, I'm sure. "Reading Time with Pickle" and "Consequence of Sounds" are brilliant. "Lulliby" is beautiful.

"Soviet Kitsch" is the album that made her a hipster staple, and take that for what you wish. But the power of songs like "Carbon Monoxide" and "Ghost of Corporate Future", and the deliberately juvenile pomp of "Us", is astounding.

"Begin to Hope" is the real break-through... the pop star in the making, but with apocalyptic love songs and some of the most idiosyncratic character studies this side of Bob Dylan. "20 Years of Snow" is too much to not feel, and "On the Radio" should be listened to in moderation, lest all mankind fall in love with each other and die of the ensuing heart attack.

I love Regina Spektor. Here's hoping her audience grows into her before they grow out of her! And OMG she's SOOOOOOOO PRETTY!!!