Friday, Dec. 17, 2004
(TIE) Not Going Anywhere - Soviet Kitsch
Both of these singer-songwriters were born abroad, and funky English pronunciation is part of their appeal. Israeli-born, French raised Ann chirps her delicate songs with nary a hard consonant, as if she knows the tiniest affricative could ruin everything. The Russian-born Spektor is harder, kookier; she crams syllables into her mouth like un-lit cigarettes, rolling them around until she decides to fire them up all at once. Her voice isn't quite as gorgeous, but her songs are riveting.
Best Tracks: (Keren Ann) Not Going Anywhere, Road Bin
(Regina Spektor) Ode to Divorce, Poor Little Rich Boy