Soviet Kitsch

The selection of an aggressively pro-Israel artist in the context of September 2026's (finally dwindling) Ed Sheeran news cycle feels pointed, but probably wasn't meant as such. Whichever, this is another entry in that particular genre of the angry-twee pop chanteuse, variously channeling the Godmother Joni Mitchell, Björk, and Fiona Apple, and I have to say a lesser representative than any of them. Not bad, but this vocal delivery (and the general attitude and affectation in the lyrics) were a little much for me at album length.

Soviet Kitsch is the third album of singer-songwriter Regina Spektor. It's the sort of art pop that has songs with strange plot twists. This kind of music is often hit or miss for me. On this album there are more hits than misses. This album contains beautiful melodies and the avantgarde parts add more than annoy. The closer, "Somedays", is a majestic song.

Quite good. Interesting songs.

too bad she's a Zionist, and it isn't even as good as I remember

I loved this - to the point I found it really difficult to turn it off and get my next album! I am really looking forward to exploring the rest of her work in the next wee while. I hear hints of an an influence of/on Tori Amos, Björk, Christina Perri (one note in particular), Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Lorde, Kate Bush (of course), Lisa Loeb, her classical background, and (distantly) a wee soupçon of System of a Down in the way she uses eastern European themes and motifs. She is however absolutely still one of a kind. I sort of wish I had listened to her sooner, but I also know that I wasn't really ready until recently. An instant 5 🌟 for me!

The more I listen to it the more I like it.

Going through divorce right now, opener 'Ode To Divorce' hits hard. A bit more whimsical and upbeat follows after that, lucky for me. I would call this album quirky.

First time hearing this album, even for a recent release, this should be on the list. 4/5

Regina 😍 Delightful little album

I only know 1 song from Spektor, and it not from this album. I like the style, and she's a good singer.

Oh Regina. I’ve loved you for so long. This wouldn’t have been my album pick of hers but there’s so much to love here. ‘Us’ is the obvious highlight for me. Spektor was/is a favorite of my ex-wife. She was an artist we enjoyed together, and that adds a complicated layer of emotion when listening now. This album opening with an ‘Ode to Divorce’ made that feeling go double for a bit haha

A really interesting and different listen, with some big Fiona Apple vibes, which is definitely a good thing. I enjoyed the eccentricity and the way it doesn’t sound like much else I’ve listened to recently. I’m not sure how often I’ll come back to it, but there are enough songs and ideas here that I could see myself returning to it at some point.

Objectively, this is a very good album. Regina Spektor is an incredibly talented lyricist, and the music is interesting and varied. However, it has a very 2004 vibe that just screams godawful Apple iPod advert, and my experience at the time means that I can't bring myself to like this album.

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Us, Your honor

Interesting album. Standouts: Ode to Divorce, Carbon Moxoxide 3.5

Pretty good, but probably won’t listen again. 3 stars.

I can appreciate Spektor's artistic goals and killer vocals on this album, just a matter of taste when I found it to be somewhat annoying and a bit of a drag to listen to. There's an undeniable fun energy throughout, with Spektor's irreverent energy propelling the LP along – as someone who cares about instrumentals more than vocals, however, I found the lyrics a bit grating and distracting. The instrumentals felt a bit threadbare as well, with Regina's performance of course meant to be up front and center. No hate, just not my cup of tea.

3/4

Hmmmm.... I've always heard the name Regina Spektor but never really listened to it. The word that comes to mind is "quirky'. It's that mid 2000s-early 20210s quirk that was so annoying. This predates it by a few years so she was ahead of the curve but it still I can't separate it out. Overall this album didn't really hook me. The piano is nice but I find her playing with her voice too much from song to song didn't work for me. My personal rating: 3/5 My rating relative to the list: 3.5/5 Should this have been included on the original list? Slight no.

First off, trying to ignore all the Gaza stuff for now and just listen objectively. Well aware of the name, never listened to her stuff other than the odd track maybe. Opener leaves a good impression, good use of strings, interesting voice, a little Fiona apple, a tinge of Joanna Newsom. Second track very mid-late career Fiona Apple but more annoying than good. I was wondering when the soviet anything was going to come in, it takes until track 4 for me to recognise an overt influence. Us is a good song. I am enjoying the difference in sound so far resulting from the only percussion being something being whacked in track 2. Oh, forget all that, Your Honor essentially spoils that whole vibe. That came after the fairly annoying Sailor Song - third mention of Fiona Apple here, she would have made it better. Ok. an interesting enough record but didn't particularly grab me so I doubt I'll return, I imagine I've reached similar conclusion when checking her out in the past. When I am in this mood I will reach for one of the other artists I've mentioned or similar stuff.

Real nice

Charming little album by Fiona Yabloko herself.

Not quite fiona

3/5

The early-mid 2000s were the absolute worst time for music. This is mostly dull and where it isn't, it's overwrought.

We are living in a US dominated world, which unavoidably means that culturally they prevail. This means that albums like that keep finding their way in a list of favourite albums. It was not nice and it was boring and although she is not totally untalented I am not sure what this album has to offer. It is tiring to having to face all these mediocre US albums.

I don't listen to a lot of Regina Spektor but this sounds like maybe she had a bad time, drank a bottle of wine and then just laid an album down. Which, cool. Did she say Wakka Wakka at one point?

Probably just gets even weirder 2