Laughing With Regina Spektor (at you)

I don't know how many times I have mentioned her before, but is any female vocalist more slept on than Regina Spektor? I mean, people know who she is, they like her music and all, but Regina has yet to attain that Tori Amos or even Fiona Apple type of fame. And it isn't like the hipsters aren't doing their part. So, I suppose this weighty burden falls upon my shoulders.

Regina's new album Far drops on the 23rd, and Laughing With is the lead single. I know nothing about it, so I won't color my expectations with online press/junket crap. Instead, I will say I am super effing psyched. I loved her last disc, Begin to Hope, and I ended up getting all her previous stuff and seeing her live in Chicago back in 2007. I was a bit fanatical then. But hey, what's wrong with being a Regina Stan?

Laughing With seems to be a departure from the typical Regina. There is little if any dynamic range to the vocals and the piano track is way too smooth. You would never guess that this cute redhead was capable of ballbusting tracks like Flyin, Hotel Song, or Poor Little Rich Boy. Which actually brings up a sidepoint that some of her best tracks have very little piano in them at all. (Sacrilege, I know). And where is the catchy hook? Everyone knows a good lead single has to have a catchy hook!

I'm not saying I hate it, but I am saying it isn't what I was hoping for. I wanted Regina to come flying out of the gate like she did last time. Compare Laughing With to Regina's last lead single Fidelity. Fidelity is infinitely better, both acoustically and visually. It is an engaging song with highs and lows and a cute video to match. Laughing With is a downer with a boring video. Fidelity built up to a fun ending, while Laughing With ends just as lackadaisically as it began.

So Regina, I take back my comment from earlier this year back, you were never on my "shitlist", just my "come on release something already!" list. That said - I am praying for a killer second single. Laughing With is a weak effort and I know you are capable of something 10x better.

Ed Note: Moving sucks. I'm in the process of moving out and it is just a total mess. Selling furniture, putting stuff in storage, cleaning the place, paring down to the essentials - blah blah blah. The only joy I get is from tossing stuff in the dumpster. Obviously this is no excuse for irregular posting, but try to be sympathetic, ok?