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Amazon.co.uk Review
The style known as "anti-folk," as realized by practitioners like Ani DiFranco and Billy Bragg, is derived from a punk aesthetic, and thus tends to be spare and confrontational. But while Regina Spektor's music is anti-folk in the way it subverts the traditional coffeehouse vibe, it's less interested in rebellion and more concerned with the joy of eccentricity, melody and surprise. Begin To Hope is full of surprises, and like her promising major label debut Soviet Kitsch, it displays an easy facility with song structure that enables her to go in different--sometimes wildly off-the-wall--directions without sounding scattered. Classically trained on the piano, she's been compared to Tori Amos, but her music isn't as delicate or precious. Fiona Apple comes up as well, but just because neither fits in the usual female singer/songwriter cookie cutter mold doesn't mean they sound the same. Her voice is actually the primary attraction, cracking and loopy on would-be lullabies like "On The Radio" and "Field Below," then punchy and cute on "Hotel Room." But the music, if understated in the mix next to her vocals, makes an impression as well, breaking in with twisty piano arpeggios ("20 Years of Snow") and occasional touches of electronica. It's a consistently intelligent and daring record, yet remains enormously listenable--a neat trick for anti-folk, or any other genre of music for that matter. –Matthew Cooke
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is the third studio album from a woman varyingly described as eclectic, eccentric, energetic and enigmatic. Alliterative descriptions aside, this album is one of the most purely enjoyable and listenable CDs I have bought in a long time. Spektor is a classically trained pianist, and as a woman singer songwriter inevitably attracts comparisons with Tori Amos. Its not a bad comparison - but Spektor is a feistier, happier and bouncier musician than her better known comparator.
The music is a combination of gloriously catchy, poppy songs with loopy lyrics and gripping chorus lines, and the more delicate, heart-stirring songs that seem to come directly from and to the soul. That leaves another set of songs which are derived from Spektor's wide and varied imagination, complex, twisting and haunting melodies which weave fairy tales of varying degrees of darkness and intensity.
This is one of the first albums of the year that I have listened to in a state of joy and sheer exuberant pleasure. Each track is enjoyable, and there are more than a handful which are simply great. From the happy, clappable Fidelity to the stirring, childlike delight of Samson and the repeated delights of On The Radio.
Not only does Spektor utilise a range of instruments, notably focusing on her ability on the piano, but her voice is quirky and interesting. At once New York, and then surprising with a Russian accent.
For a CD that has been labelled "anti-folk" this is both off-beat and gloriously listenable. It is the perfect way to enjoy something that is different, surprising, intelligent, daring but that doesn't stray into the mainstream.
The music is a combination of gloriously catchy, poppy songs with loopy lyrics and gripping chorus lines, and the more delicate, heart-stirring songs that seem to come directly from and to the soul. That leaves another set of songs which are derived from Spektor's wide and varied imagination, complex, twisting and haunting melodies which weave fairy tales of varying degrees of darkness and intensity.
This is one of the first albums of the year that I have listened to in a state of joy and sheer exuberant pleasure. Each track is enjoyable, and there are more than a handful which are simply great. From the happy, clappable Fidelity to the stirring, childlike delight of Samson and the repeated delights of On The Radio.
Not only does Spektor utilise a range of instruments, notably focusing on her ability on the piano, but her voice is quirky and interesting. At once New York, and then surprising with a Russian accent.
For a CD that has been labelled "anti-folk" this is both off-beat and gloriously listenable. It is the perfect way to enjoy something that is different, surprising, intelligent, daring but that doesn't stray into the mainstream.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Regina's latest release has come under fire from some of her hardcore fans for being more "mainstream" than her earlier releases. Although the charge is true, in the case of Regina I feel inclined to say that this is in fact a good thing.
In her earlier work, Regina utilised only her voice and her piano, and created some stunning albeit spectacularly strange music. In this current work she has experimented more with other instrumentation, and the outcome is more radio-friendly than anything she has previously released. However, this is not the sound of an artist compromised; Regina sounds confident and at ease with the material. What some would call selling out, I would call artistic growth.
I thoroughly recommend this album, and if you enjoy it then I'd consider purchasing "Soviet Kitsch" next, as out of all her other CDs it is probably the closest in sound to this one.
In her earlier work, Regina utilised only her voice and her piano, and created some stunning albeit spectacularly strange music. In this current work she has experimented more with other instrumentation, and the outcome is more radio-friendly than anything she has previously released. However, this is not the sound of an artist compromised; Regina sounds confident and at ease with the material. What some would call selling out, I would call artistic growth.
I thoroughly recommend this album, and if you enjoy it then I'd consider purchasing "Soviet Kitsch" next, as out of all her other CDs it is probably the closest in sound to this one.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have all of Regina Spektor's albums and as a pianist myself I love her music.
I like the more poppy/indie sound that she has in this album, it comes across as alot more mainstream and is alot more easy- listening than her previous albums.
I have become completely addicted to this album and have not only listened to it non-stop but my friend made me a book of the sheet music for my birthday and I have been playing it also.
As I said above, this album is alot more well rounded and flows easier than previous albums however I feel that it is Regina's orginal style, lyrics and piano accompaniment that make her such a wonderful artist to listen to.
On conclusion, although slightly different and possibly a more developed sound than her previous music.... still a BEAUTIFUL album and definately worth buying. If you are anything like me you will fall in love with it and question the meaning of your life without it.
I like the more poppy/indie sound that she has in this album, it comes across as alot more mainstream and is alot more easy- listening than her previous albums.
I have become completely addicted to this album and have not only listened to it non-stop but my friend made me a book of the sheet music for my birthday and I have been playing it also.
As I said above, this album is alot more well rounded and flows easier than previous albums however I feel that it is Regina's orginal style, lyrics and piano accompaniment that make her such a wonderful artist to listen to.
On conclusion, although slightly different and possibly a more developed sound than her previous music.... still a BEAUTIFUL album and definately worth buying. If you are anything like me you will fall in love with it and question the meaning of your life without it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Songs from another time, and from a groovy world
4 pounds for a Regina Spektor album! I would gladly pay more, but if this is the cost, I'm in!
And that's how I ended up buying the Begin to hope cd, after having... Read more
And that's how I ended up buying the Begin to hope cd, after having... Read more
Published 4 months ago by lucy.sunshine
Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope
This has to be one of my favourite albums at the moment - Spektor is both an very accomplished pianist and singer, with some very witty and funny lyrics. An excellent purchase :)
Published 11 months ago by amandycat
What a voice
This was my first purchase from this artist and will not be my last. From the moment I put it on I was in love with the voice and the individuality of the music. Read more
Published 13 months ago by C. J. Pointer
Bought it for my daughter, but it's on my iPhone!
As the title says, this was an album that I purchased for my daughter; she loves the "music box" track. I'd not heard any Regina Spektor songs before, so gave it a go myself. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ewanv1970
my favourite album
regina spector is amazing, she has a brilliant voice and listening to her makes me smile. :-) this album is great from start to finish, If you have not listened to regina spector... Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2009 by Mr. Graham Smith
Decent album by a not too quirky singer-songwriter
Not a great 47 minute album but good overall. It has some strong songs but it also has a few duds as well. Read more
Published on 31 Aug 2009 by BS on parade
Wonderful Music, Awful Recording
I love the songwriting of Regina Spektor. I love her lyrics and the way she sings them, I love the way she plays the piano. Read more
Published on 3 July 2009 by YellowSphere
Fabulously Regina. But not as groundbreaking as her earlier stuff
This cd is packed full of Spektors trademark original-ness. Unfortunately she seems to have toned down a bit and looked for a more main stream sound. Read more
Published on 8 April 2008 by molko
Best album I own!
This is an excellent collection of music, and, though it is Regina's latest album, it is the best introduction to her style and the easiest way to begin listening to some of her... Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2008 by Baba ganoush
Tiresome
New Yawk arthouse/coffeehouse. Off the wall lyrics. Cold noodly piano and synths, piano and synths, yeah, welcome to singer/songwriter land where words and phrases are frequently... Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2008 by J. Macdonald
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