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Singer-songwriter and pianist, Regina Spektor was born February 18, 1980 in Moscow, the Russian born musician came on to the music scene as a remarkable lyricist, pianist and composer. She began her piano lessons at the early age of six. Nine years later she emerged in New York, and attended Purchase College in New York, where she studied for three years and graduated with honors in 2001. Her music is associated with the anti-folk scene centered on New York City's East Village.
Regina Spektor released her third album in 2004 Soviet Kitsch, two years later Begin to Hope her fourth released June 2006. The album debuted at number 70 on the Billboard 200, Rolling Stone magazine named it the 21st-best album of 2006. And in June 2009 Spektor released her fifth album Far.
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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!!!