Album Review: Regina Spektor - Remember Us To Life
Remember Us To Life is a lot of things. It's sweet and soft, but loud and grandiose at times. It has sweet, subtle melodies, but also possesses dark, witty, and introspective lyrics. Ultimately, it achieves one element that typically sours albums that are created with a similar approach: it's exhilarating. Artists with similar approaches to their work; and by "similar" I mean songwriting with a significant amount of melancholia, tend to write lovely songs which become more dull with each passing listen. The opposite is true here. While not every song is an example of balladry or anything of the sort, the album does possess quite a softer side. Each song that uses the piano as a backbone does not simply recede into a lifeless rendition of something you feel you've heard over and over before. Therein lies the beauty of this record: You will want to hear these songs again and again. They'll get into your head.
The Light is a perfect example of a composition that gets more intriguing with each listen. It's continuously winding down with infectious verses, only to construct more momentum with intricate piano playing. At certain times, songs don't encourage these kinds of shifts within their framework. But when they do (as these songs do), the payoffs are wonderful and make sense. Same goes for a song such as Obsolete, the longest and most haunting song on the record. It's beautifully recorded and performed, with melodies you will hum for days (I know I continue to do so). Suddenly, the song twists into a cloudy, almost sinister burst of cacophonous piano. It's quite Fantasia-esque in its approach, and will certainly grasp at you to pull you in.
But this album isn't all about its softer approach. It also showcases Regina's vibrant, quirky side. With tracks Bleeding Heart and Small Bill$, Regina presents a bouncier vibe to her melodies, with the latter feeling like a trip through her alter ego as a rapper (she's not quite rapping, but it's still a lot of fun). The Trapper And The Furrier embraces a combination of songwriting approaches, with dramatic, whirlwind string compositions alongside a beautifully memorable chorus. This album strikes many different moods within every song, allowing the listener to not feel too comfortable in its surroundings.
Remember Us To Life is as strong as it gets for a veteran songwriter. The song elements blend together to create an album that captures your attention and doesn't let go. The symphonic effect felt in these tracks is gripping, keeping you on the edge of your seat like a thrilling movie, while the production gives the record a sense of wonder. This will, without a doubt, be among my favourite albums released in 2016.
