What is anti-folk, really? It’s a pretty loose, punk-ethos-tinged genre that no one can quite define, but words like raw, honesty, personality, and storytelling are often associated with it. Begin To Hope is Soviet-born, New York-based Regina Spektor’s 4th studio album, and the aforementioned descriptors come to life in the piano-heavy (Spektor was classically trained) 12 tracker. The light, feel-good "Fidelity” is the immediate attention grabber, and “Better” follows with a heavier rock sound. “On The Radio” and “Summer In The City” are also pleasant, well-written indie pop tunes, and other picks include “Samson” and “Apres Moi.” This is the 2016 reissue, and it’s the first time the album is on 1LP.

• music label: Sire 2006 / 2016

reviewed by donut savage 06/2016