Since the debut of her first studio album, “11:11”, in 2001, Russian-American singer, Regina Spektor, has awed listeners with her particular sound for music. She recently released her sixth studio album “What We Saw From Cheap Seats”. The 11 track album keeps true to her original style, but each song has a sound that makes it special. The collection contains the first studio recordings of her live tracks, along with some new material. But– even though this might appear a strange mix– Spektor manages to perform each track beautifully.
The first single released off “What We Saw From Cheap Seats” was All The Rowboats. The track is slightly intense, giving it a almost creepy sound, which continues through to the lyrics. It may not have been the best choice for the album’s first single, but it does make one curious about the album. Don’t Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas) was the second single released off the album. Compared to the earlier single, it is completely different. The song is bright and bubbly, acting Spektor’s closest song to pop. The lyrics may not make much sense, but they are fun to listen to and sing along with.
The newest track on the album is Jessica. The track is not even two minutes long and the lyrics are simple and repetitive. But the simplicity of the song is indeed what makes it worth listening to– it’s not at all flashy, relying instead on Spektor’s voice to make it so excellent. Her other newer tracks, How and The Party, were debuted earlier at tours. How is simple as well. Surprisingly enough, it’s a typical break up song. It describes the heartbreak over a lost love with bittersweet music and lyrics. The Party is completely different, with cheerful lyrics talking about how being with someone you love is like always being at a party. It also features some of Spektor’s signature vocal techniques when she imitates a trumpet. Other tracks with her techniques are Open . Unfortunately, in this case, Spektor seems to overstep her boundaries by essentially growling into the microphone.
Although Spektor may not be everyone’s type of music, she is definitely worth checking out. The tracks on “What We Saw From Cheap Seats” can fit any emotion a person feels. The songs are cheerful, fun, dramatic, and completely unique. Regina Spektor’s new album is an excellent choice for anyone who loves discovering new music.
