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Begin To Hope
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Begin To Hope Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 109 Ratings

  • Summary: The Russia-born, New York-based anti-folkie returns with a dozen new tracks produced by David Kahne (The Strokes).

Top Track

Fidelity
Shake it up I never loved nobody fully Always one foot on the ground And by protecting my heart truly I got lost In the sounds I hear in my... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. The A.V. Club
    91
    Even in its darkest moments, a humane glow envelops the album, which takes her already-arresting sound and expands it to widescreen.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    She displays a range fans old and new will find intoxicating. [16 Jun 2006, p.75]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    'Begin To Hope' is the sound of [Spektor] blossoming into the most talented female artist around--and one with edge. [8 Jul 2006, p.43]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Slant Magazine
    80
    There's a fearless, uninhibited confidence to Spektor's voice, not to mention a delightful whimsy to her music, that sets her apart from artists like [Fiona] Apple.
  5. Stylus Magazine
    75
    A little bit of kitsch is important... Begin to Hope has enough of it to stand out, and enough ethics to keep the whole thing grounded.
  6. Rolling Stone
    70
    Less miserable than Fiona Apple, less wacky than Nellie McKay and less hippieish than Tori Amos, Spektor shows off her gorgeous, fluttery voice, her burgeoning writer chops and her God-given quirks on [Begin to Hope].
  7. NOW Magazine
    40
    As if the synthesized strings and electronic dabbling weren't sad enough, [Spektor's] ascerbic voice has been all but lost in squishy couplets about making things better and needing to "know you."

See all 29 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 39
  3. Negative: 2 out of 39
  1. yune2
    Jan 19, 2013
    10
    A positive, bubbly, almost childish personality coupled with a great voice and spectacular song-writing skills make Regina Spektor one of theA positive, bubbly, almost childish personality coupled with a great voice and spectacular song-writing skills make Regina Spektor one of the greatest musicians of our generation.… Collapse
  2. Epic
    Apr 29, 2007
    10
    The best record of 06! I love this album!
  4. MattyC
    Jun 15, 2006
    10
    Simply Amazing. Regina's new album retains everything that makes her unique but it has expanded the style and really redefined a genre.
  5. RoxanneKimberly
    Nov 24, 2021
    10
    Regina Spektor's charm is wonderful and her clever lyrics here are amazing as well
  6. JeremiahW
    Jul 18, 2006
    9
    All her disconcerted critics can fuck right off.
  7. RylandDinneen
    Jan 23, 2013
    9
    Begin to Hope is easily Spektor's best album. In it she covers all that is classically influenced, using her own odd vocal techniques and oralBegin to Hope is easily Spektor's best album. In it she covers all that is classically influenced, using her own odd vocal techniques and oral sounds to make a completely abnormal, yet entrancing piece of music.… Expand
  8. DH
    Feb 27, 2007
    2
    Oy! This passes for intelligent music? Banging out piano chords, sliding your voice up and down hardly qualify as music. The lyrics are Oy! This passes for intelligent music? Banging out piano chords, sliding your voice up and down hardly qualify as music. The lyrics are uninspiring; well, if you like unicorns and collect candles maybe they will speak to you. Shallow, dumbed down music suitable for anyone who wishes George Winston would sing. Regina Skeptor is the paradigm of faux indie music. On the plus side: your mother probably loves her music.… Expand

See all 39 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Best Album of 2006
78
#78 Most Discussed Album of 2006