Regina Spektor: Far (2009)

Reviewer: Sarah Dolan

Rating: 7/10

I liked this CD and thought it would be something really great to listen to while entertaining guests because it’s an easy-listening CD along with a beautiful voice. The title, Far, is simple and the songs are nice and short, not long, boring and dragging on too much. Her distinct voice and style is somewhat different which is what I tend to quite enjoy seeing as following everybody else’s music preference these days doesn’t exactly tickle my fancy. Some of her songs are a little repetitive though (such as Folding Chair; it’s repetitive and plain and simply annoying. I couldn’t wait for it to end) but I guess that’s what happens when solo artists try to come up with original ideas unlike most of the artists out there. To be honest, her voice makes me want to pick her up and hug her… Or just pat her on the head

She comes across as a “cute” artist because of her simple piano usage and repetition of the words “you are so sweet” in her song, Dance Anthem of the 80s, which gives the impression of a first love couple who watch each other eat and “really just want to watch each other sleep”, which could often be referred to as “cute” in today’s society, I guess. I mean, I get the fact that it could be extremely cute, I’m not totally heartless, but some people just look horrible while sleeping… Poor, poor people, they can’t help it. I love all you ugly sleepers out there.

I like this album because it’s sweet, slow, easy to listen to and you can actually hear the lyrics unlike most songs these days with “boom, boom, pow” in them. I mean, what the hell is that meant to mean? I could listen to this CD quite happily in my car while driving to Uni and back every day. I’d be mortified if it was to be used as a song on an advert on television, though. It deserves better than that, even if it does come across as that kind of album. 7 out of 10 from me. J