Customer Reviews

Mary Ann Meets the Gravediggers and Other Short Stories (CD & Region 2 DVD)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When Regina Spektor put out the brilliant "Soviet Kitsch," a lot of people hailed it as a great debut. Of course, it was actually her third album, after the equally brilliant "Songs" and "11:11."

The highlights of those albums are collected in "Mary Ann meets the Gravediggers and Other Short Stories," a sort of best-of collection for anyone who can't locate those first two albums. In other words, this best-of collection is a gorgeous collection of vibrantly eccentric songs.

There's no real order to these songs either. "Mary Ann" veers madly from one album to the next, and most of the songs selected are perhaps deliberately her quirkier ones. You won't find the bittersweet pensiveness of "Ode to Divorce" or any of her quieter songs.

Instead "Mary Ann" is dominated by the thumping insults of "Sailor Song," the rapid-fire minimalist anthem "Oedipus," the dancey scatting of "Pavlov's Daughter," and the rambling, bittersweet pop song about a poor little rich boy, with Spektor changing speeds at a second's notice. "You don't love your giiiirlfriend/And you think... that you should... but shethinksthatshe'sfat/Butsheisn'tbutyoudon'tloveheranyway!"

The high points are the rippling beauty of "Us" ("They made a statue of us/and put it on a mountaintop/now tourists come and stare at us...") and the exquisite "Love Affair," which tells of a love affair, "the kind of love affair/which every respectable building must keep as a legend."

Regina Spektor is often compared to Tori Amos and Fiona Apple, mainly because she plays piano, and they can't find anyone else she is even remotely comparable to. Instead, Spektor plays her music as if piano and strings have been discovered for the very first time, and she is pioneering a new, brave musical style.

Her use of piano and strings is pretty unconventional (and I mean that in the best way), with jagged cello and sharp piano notes, along with a few tambourines, drums and thumping feets. It's part anti-folk, part coffeehouse blues, part oddball pop, and Spektor does it with comfortable flair.

And she can do the coolest things with her edgy voice. "Chemo Limo" is almost entirely blurted out in rapid-fire songs ("IcanaffordchemolikeIcanaffordalimo..."), but can switch to a sweet soaring trill in songs like "Us," where she ripples all over the phrase "we're living in a den of thieves."

For a look back on the now-flourishing career of this insanely talented singer/musician, "Mary Ann Meets the Gravediggers" can't be beat. A treasure.

Ms Spektor is a wonderful artist who knows how to use her voice like a fine instrument. She employs so many facets of singing that I would not know how to "classify" her music. Possibly cabaret? Some light rock? But oh-so-interesting lyrics. This music might be a little harsh for the over-40 crowd. But as a 57-year old grandma, I feel my son has broadened my horizons my introducing me to such wonderful and unique music as Ms Spektor's. I will definitely buy more of her music.

Regina Spektor has shocked my musical tastes into shape yet again! Ever since I listened to "Us" from Soviet Kitch, I have loved Regina's lyrics and innovative vocals. This CD combines songs from Regina's previous CDs including the hard to find "Songs" and "11:11". Part of the reason I love Mary Ann Meets the Gravediggers is that each song on the CD is so distinct ( you have stories about condemned men being warned not to drown in the bath and sneaky murderesses and a woman with cancer who decides to buy a limo before buying chemotherapy). The selling point of this CD for me was the song, "the Consequence of Sounds" that uses a simple beat as a backdrop for Regina to explore how careless words/media have caused a world of fear and violence. Plus the artwork from this album is reminiscent of Edward Gorey's genious.

Regina Spektor is confounding, even compared to all the other "nutty females with guitars" as my brother likes to call them. But despite the fact that she uses a piano, it doesn't diminish her utter uniqueness, and yes, strangeness...but strange in the very best of ways. At times soaring, at others a husky mutter, her voice is reminiscent of Emiliana Torrini's (in tone and quality) but Spektor manipulates it in an enthusiastic way that anchors it in a real world of smoky bars and striped stockings. Her songs are almost impossible to follow even after several run-throughs, but that's part of what makes her so great: if you can't sing along, you have to shut up and just listen. Which is all you'll really want to do, anyway.

For me, Regina Spektor is the artist of the year. I bought Soviet Kitsch, her third album but major label debut, early 2005, and I have to say, it was a grower for me, much like Lisa Germano's music was at first listen. But when this compilation CD came out, I had to have it, and based on both this disc and her previous one, I am now in love with Regina's music. Yes, she has a quirky side, which is highlighted on this release, but she has the ability to write grgeous songs too. For all of us that have not been able to obtain copies of 11:11 and Songs, here is a chance to own some of the tracks off those two albums, in a beautiful release PLUS a bonus DVD of the music video for her most polular song, Us. A must have both for fans and curious listeners! Want something fresh? Get Regina!

This compilation of mostly early compositions is interesting, creative, and cool. Some songs are beautiful. Some crass. Above all, her signature song "Us" is completely flawless. The CD is worth buying for this song alone. If she never writes another song again she will have already made her contribution--that's how good the song is.

Other songs: "Oedipus", "Sailor Song," and "Prisoner" are all good, and then "Consequence of Sound" is one of my favorites!

The CD would be close to perfect if it only included "Carbon Monoxide" (one of her best) and deleted "Poor Little Rich Boy" which is unlistenable (the novelty of her playing piano and drumming at the same time is little more than a stage gimmick, not to mention half of the song is just her cursing like a cab driver.)

Of the video tracks, "Us" is just great, (although it frames a little weird on computer--junk around the edges like it's not cropped right). Doesn't matter, it's still great. "Survival Guide To Soviet Kitsch" just sucks and then sucks some more just when you think it's sucked as much as it can possibly suck. It's too precious--with Regina trying to be all experimental like film maker Maya Deren. It fails for a variety of reasons, but mostly because she seems too preoccupied with trying to be the cute. The video is comprised of one portrait after the next of "I'm an innocent Russian girl" poses. How embarrassing. Here's the deal though, she has to experiment and possibly suck in order to create goodness. I forgive her the embarrassing moments because when she shines, she makes every other singer look silly.

The bad news is Sire records seems to be trying to package her as the next Fiona Apple. Her latest CD "Begin To Hope" is much more even sounding and more polished, but all this professionalism comes at the risk of making her nearly as bland as every other songbird girl singer out there now. The thing that has made her most interesting is her curious sound and non-traditional approach. The world does not need another Nora Jones! The warning signs are there though that Regina is possibly heading towards this rather dull destination. It's a shame. Anyway, for those of us who don't mind the world a little less polished, Mary Ann Meets the Gravediggers is a pretty interesting place to hang out for a while.

This is a collection of songs from Regina Spektor's first 3 USA releases.
Regina's first 2 releases were not available in the U.K. Regina is an
intelligent singer/songwriter/performer. She can make a single note sound
as if you have never heard it before..This CD is a beautiful example of
Regina's immense talent.The quality of sound is also "tops"
p.s. Regina sounds like a classically trained musician(HERSELF)
~Peace

It was AMAZING. My friend had me round to her house the other night and had Regina Spektor on in the background. By the end of the evening I was hooked - she's got a completely beautiful voice that really grows on you. This is the best record I've heard in years, and I can't wait for her next one. She's coming to England on tour soon, so fingers crossed I'll get to see her then...

I'm a dear fan of Ms. Regina. I've almost ever album she's come out with including "Songs" and "11:11." I'd just like to point out that -if- you can get your hands on these albums, then "Mary Ann" is okay to skip. All the songs on this album are scattered about her other cds between "11:11" and "Begin to Hope". Even the "Survival Guide to Soviet Kitsch" is included in the special edition album of the same title. However, if you're not able to attain the others, then "Mary Ann" will still make a great edition to anyone's musical library.

This is a surprisingly good compilation album. A good sample of the works on both 11:11 and SK. One thing that stands out, is that the best of both of these albums causes for a distinct lack of drag-which is a good thing. The only miss for me that really stands out is Pavlov's Daughter. Some of the other tracks are very charming, other are infectious. I would suggest getting this album as a starter, and then finding the album that it came from and then pursue the albums as a whole.