Regina Spektor - Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)

Regina Spektor's 2009 album, Far, was a mixed bag for me.  The album had plenty of great songs and the foundation was there, but it was plagued by unfortunate production.  Many of the tracks contained beats that sounded pre-packaged and unnecessary.  Regina's ability the write a wonderful song felt buried beneath the frills and metronome structure.  I really just wanted to hear something that resembled her early work, quirky songs with a strong dose of raw piano.

It's not as if Regina is unable to create an album that successfully uses the various instruments often included with high production values.  2006's Begin To Hope was glossy and took advantage of this sound with beautiful, and full, arrangements.  Still, Far isn't a bad album.  It's far from that, actually.  The album was simply a letdown after Regina's previous records, all of which were pretty spectacular.

Regina's latest single is an updated version of a track from her 2002 album, Songs.  "Ne Me Quitte Pas" is now "Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)".  What was once a simple fun thing is now a full blown bouncy pop single.  Let me just say that I absolutely loved the original version.  I don't quite understand why she chose to redo the song, but it actually works pretty well.  The first edition still wins, hands down, but this updated model is an interesting listen that has me excited for the full record.  The synth-horns and bubbly chords do add a strange tropical vibe, though.

Regina's album, What We Saw From The Cheap Seats is out on May 29.  The record contains both "Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)" and "All The Rowboats", the latter of which had a music video release earlier this week.  You can listen to "Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)" and pre-order the new album below.

 

Pre-Order: Regina Spektor - "What We Saw From The Cheap Seats"

Another Playlist

Here's some more awesome music that I've been listening to. It's mostly alternative, but a couple of the songs are a bit different.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are a pretty dominant rock group right now. They have some great songs like Gold Lion and Maps, but Zero is a little different. Their newest album, It's Blitz! (which includes Zero), has more of a dance feel. Some people even say it has a touch of disco. That's a decent stretch from their alternative-punk sound.

All Time Low - Weightless

All Time Low is a pop-punk band, they're similar to the other bands in the new wave of pop-punk (Hey Monday, The Maine, Anarbor, etc.). When I say pop-punk, I strongly stress pop. Their previous album has less of a pop sound than their new release, Nothing Personal. Warning to young listeners: explicit content. It's just once, but that's enough for a radio edit.


If you want a couple more songs, then check out this list. I might go into detail about them in another post...

• The Sounds - Dorchester Hotel
• Bon Iver - Skinny Love
• Bayside - No One Understands
• Band Of Skulls - Blood
• Anarbor - Let The Games Begin
• Owl City - Fireflies
• Chiodos - Life is a Perception of Your Own Reality
• TAT - Pessimist
• Regina Spektor - Eet

Remember, some of these are fairly old and not quite brand new. Also, a few of them are kinda way out there in terms of musical styles.