Regina Spektor - What We Saw From the Cheap Seats

Regina Spektor - First new studio album in three years from the Brooklyn-based, ivory-tickling performing songwriter is also a reunion of sorts with Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple, Eminem) who co-produced four songs on Spektor's 2009 album Far...most songs were cut with just Spektor on vocals and piano and then she and Elizondo added in layers of additional instrumentation with the goal of making each song stand alone in both style and sound // Release: What We Saw From the Cheap Seats (May 29, Warner Brothers) // Sounds like: Spektor has always balanced the unpredictable and playful with the pensive giving her songs a rambunctious theatrical edge while holding the melody front and center...less  stridently pretentious than Fiona, more left-of-center and spry than Tori, Spektor manages to appeal to mainstream pop sentimentalists while giving a subtle wink to the indie hipster elite...

Quote: “Regina Spektor is that rare artist that continues to surprise. Just when you think you have her figured out, she knocks you out with something completely different. It’s that spirit that drives this record. Each song takes you on a journey that only Regina is capable of providing. She has truly outdone herself.” - Mike Elizondo // What we like: for our money, the swoon-worthy "Firewood" pretty much has it all -- a killer, perfectly constructed melody (check out the wonderful minor-chord turns), lovely, impassioned vocals, glittering piano note runs and a completely uncluttered production that still sounds sinfully rich..."Open" has the dramatic feel and skillful composition of an off-Broadway musical number brought to the edge with Spektor's heaving wail...opening track "Small Town Moon" is quintessential Regina, an off-kilter, careening melody pushed forward with a brash, ballsy shove...

Regina Spektor - "Firewood" (from What We Saw From the Cheap Seats)

Regina Spektor - "All The Rowboats" (from What We Saw From The Cheap Seats)

Stream the full album at NPR