2007 Begin to Hope by Regina Spektor

Here is what I said in the 2007 Album of the Summer announcement email:

Wikipedia describes Regina Spektor as a Russian-born American singer-songwriter and pianist whose music is associated with the anti-folk scene centered on New York City's East Village. Neither she nor this album are new. BEGIN TO HOPE was released over a year ago, but the album is also not old yet, as evidenced by the fact that as I write this the shorter version of the album rests at #54 on the Amazon.com music list. BEGIN TO HOPE was also chosen as one of the top 10 albums of 2006 (#7) by NPR listeners, and Amazon.com lists it as one of the top 100 albums of 2006.

Last year's choice of was a stretch of the "It has to be happy" criterion, but I feel like, in the end, you have to go with the album you like best—so long as it has some upbeat segments and seems appropriate to summer. Several of this year's Honorable Mentions are lighter collections than BEGIN TO HOPE, but this is the album that has really stuck with me. There are some very happy spots, and you feel like dancing, particularly on the opening number, "Fidelity," and on "Better," "On the Radio," and "Hotel Song." But Spektor is often bluesy and sardonic. She has a wonderful, energetic voice, and her unusual style includes occasional grunts, noises, and scat singing. On several songs, she accompanies herself on the piano to great effect, particularly on the beautiful ballad, "Samson". She does lonely longing especially well on songs like "Field Below" and the sweetly forlorn "Summer in the City."

If you buy the album I strongly recommend you spend the extra money for the iTunes "Bonus Track Edition" or the yellow two-CD "limited edition" version, else you will miss out on some really great songs, including "Another Town," "Hero," and "Bartender."

PARENTAL ADVISORY: This album has many direct references to drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes and some oblique references to sex ("...come into my bed, I've got to know you..."). Having said this, the only "bad language" I recall is the use of the word "shit" on the somewhat maniacal song "That Time" and on "Baobabs."

Here is one of my favorite songs from Begin to Hope, the beautiful forlorn ballad, "Samson":



This song is not on Begin to Hope, but it is so wonderful that I had to include it here. This is a live performance from the 2007 Bonnaroo festival of John Lennon's song "Real Love" which Spektor contributed to the recent Amnesty International Darfur benefit album collection of Lennon songs. I prefer this live version, with Spektor's vigorous piano pounding over the recorded track.



2007 Album of the Summer Honorable Mentions

1. Half the Perfect World by Madeleine Peyroux (I really like this album and came very close to choosing it.)
2. Hey Eugene! by Pink Martini (They continue to put out joyful international fare—even in Arabic! The title song is great.)
3. Traffic and Weather by Fountains of Wayne (This latest from the original 2003 Album of the Year winners is much fun.)