Sigur Ros loses out this week. Their new album (Valtari) was the album I was most excited to hear this summer season and turns it might be the biggest let down of the year. On their last album, the Icelanders took a giant step forward, crafting some of the best work of their career. Everyone thought this was a sure sign that they were headed for Radiohead-like Godness. And when I say everyone...I mean me. This new album is anything but bold...it's anything but daring...it's so safe...it's pathetic. Basically, the band has made an hour long lullaby that even Explosions in the Sky would find tame. What's worse is I bought the album on CD, spending almost $12 after tax. Had I opted to buy it on line...I could have spent only $4.99 and downloaded 2 bonus tracks. That's just ass. I spent almost twice as much money for a nice package (it was weak) for a great new album (it is not) and I get rewarded by getting the version of the album with two less tracks. I'm not even sure what I understand the record company is trying to pull with this one.
That said...I don't suggest the new Sigur Ros.
Here are the 11 Best Songs By Regina Spektor:
- On the Radio (Begin To Hope)
- Laughing With (FAR)
- Fidelity (Begin To Hope)
- Eet (FAR)
- The Calculation (FAR)
- Braille (11:11)
- Hotel Song (Begin To Hope)
- Blue Lips (FAR)
- Better (Begin To Hope)
- Us (Soviet Kitsch)
- Folding Chairs (FAR)
Buy Regina Spektor's new album, What We Saw From The Cheap Seats...now!!
I'm still letting the new Regina sink in... I would add some tracks to this list like "Samson", "Love Affair", "Your Honor", "Chemo Limo", "Pound of Flesh", or "Oedipus". I always think that where Regina has headed isn't what I initially liked her for, but I still end up enjoying what she creates.
ReplyDeleteOn the 1st note, It always bugs and baffles me when an album that you pay more for is missing songs when one cheaper has them. Recently my wife bought the new Bruce Springsteen on Vinyl. Which its really nice, and it comes with a CD. However, that CD does not have the two bonus tracks from the deluxe edition. which I wouldn't necessarily expect, but it'd be nice little reward to those who paid the 25 or 30 dollars for the double gate fold 180 gram vinyl version of the album.
I think we can always argue over which songs are "best" from an artist - what's important here is that MORE PEOPLE SHOULD BE LISTENING TO REGINA! (Having said that - move "Us" up to top 3 and and add "Samson"...)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Chris - I've been a fan since the beginning and I'm never sure she's going where I thought (hoped?) she would, but I'm always pleased with the result. I dismissed the new album after a first listen and then it grew on me. I am digging the eclectic styles and, somehow, it seems to be coming together for me. Not her best album, but it's not as horrible as I first thought.
Also, my additions aren't a judgement in anyway on the list, more "bonus tracks" :)
ReplyDeleteI cannot pick favorite among Regina songs. I honestly have never heard a song of hers that I did not instanty love. (Even the pickle song or the one about the kid finding a penny).
ReplyDeleteYes, if you made me pick one, it would be Laughing With, but for very complicated reasons.
At this exact second, I supposed Ne Me Quitte Pas (in all of its many incarnations) is high on my list, but Small Town Moon, Samson, all of them....