It is rare for me to be blown away when hearing an artist for the first time. Usually, most sounds and artists grow on me over time and before I realize it, I dig them in a big way. Not so with this whimsical, playful, anti-folk, Moscow born, East Village New Yorker by the name of Regina Spektor. I’m really impressed with her piano work and lyrics. She is a great story teller, but not J-Cash style. Her story telling is more a snapshot of time that she encapsulates in song and bangs out on the keys. Her style reminds me of a still life that would make Rembrandt proud as she pens and performs verbal photos of life in all its interesting particular parts. Her new album is ‘Begin to Hope’ but if you want a treat, listen some of her later work like ‘Soviet Kitsch’ or 11:11. Her worldview seems to be the norm among thoughtful east coast artists- spiritual, observant, and brave to point out irony and contradiction in our world while attempting to articulate a message of hope without a foundation or destination. At least this is what I am gathering through her body of work thus far.

Give yourself a treat and take a listen on her website. Make sure you listen to ‘US’ and ‘Samson.’ You’ll be hooked and thanking me for introducing you to another poet in our day who is attempting to navigate through the pains and joys of life while trying to find meaning and purpose under the sun.

P.S. If you buy her new album on iTunes you get 7 bonus tracks that are really good b-sides. Listen to ‘Baobabs’ or ‘Hero’ where she chants defiantly “I’m the hero of the story and don’t need to be saved!” This is a great peek into the thoughts of those image bearers in our day who have yet to come to the true Hero of the story.