Regina Spektor
“Far”
3.5 stars out of 5

Die hard fans of Regina Spektor might be just a tad disappointed in Far, her fifth album (third on a major label) especially after her last, Begin to Hope, contained such listener friendly gems such as “Fidelity” and “Samson”.

You’ll find all of the elements essential to a Spektor album: piano driven melodies rooted in anti-folk, Regina’s distinct mezzo-soprano vocals, quirky lyrics and just enough emotion to make the songs more than just performed notes on a page. The production is (nearly) flawless, but what can you expect when you have four experienced producers (Begin To Hope’s David Kahne U2‘s Garret ‘Jacknife’ Lee, ELO’s Jeff Lynne and pop oriented Mike Elizondo) working on the album?

Spektor starts off the album strong with the charming “The Calculation” and “Eet,” but it’s admittedly hard to keep interest until the very end. Even “Dance Anthem of the 80’s” isn’t upbeat enough to get you through the last 5 songs.

If you’re looking for the soft, storytelling Spektor you’ve grown to love, your best bet here is “Laughing With,” a characteristically silly and spiritual song that shows Regina’s growth (but certainly not her maturity).

Key Tracks: “The Calculation,” “Eet,” “Laughing With”

-MV
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Those Darlins
Self-Titled
3 out of 5

If Vivian Girls traded in their Chuck Taylors for cowgirl boots, they’d probably sound like Those Darlins. Born and raised around Nashville, Tennessee, this all-girl trio loves classic country and isn’t at all shy about it. They played a number of SXSW dates this year (dressed in short shorts and boots) and built up an underground buzz leading up to this debut on Oh Wow Dang Records.

There are songs on here about whiskey, mamas, and greasy skillets. If the stigma of the word ‘country’ makes you shaky at the knees, you’re probably best off avoiding this. If you enjoy tongue-in-cheek, self-aware country shenanigans, this will definitely be your thing. Even so, this isn’t the most scintillating listen- most of these songs are two-and-a-half minute verse/chorus ditties- so I wouldn’t advise overindulgence, no matter how appealing plaid and faded denim seem to you. I think I’ve exhausted all the country metaphors in the book, so I’m going to stop typing.

Key Tracks: “Wild One,” “Red Light Love”

-CP