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Far
by
Far Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 73 Ratings

  • Summary: The Russian-born singer-songwriter's latest album was produced by Jeff Lynne, Mike Elizondo, David Kahne and Garret "Jacknife" Lee.

Top Track

Laughing With
No one laughs at God in a hospital No one laughs at God in a war No one's laughing at God When they're starving or freezing Or so very poor No one... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)
    91
    The tunes are consistently fetching, and a few standouts have clever lyrics.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    playing the freak also makes her blissfully unself-conscious, and that can be contagious. Nothing's more heartfelt than 'Wallet,' an ode to a stranger who lost his.
  3. Q Magazine
    80
    She's making a bid for the mainstream, even recruiting ex-ELO mainman Jeff Lyne to her corner on five tracks, including grandiose highlight 'Human Of The Year,' a three-minute distillation of the album's overriding facination with religion. [Aug 2009, p.104]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Observer Music Monthly
    80
    Tired of her peculiar singer-songwriter pop being a fringe taste, the Russian-born New Yorker's gone for the commercial jugular, polishing her strangeness with help from ELO's Jeff Lynne among others.
  5. Under The Radar
    70
    While some of Far covers ground Spektor's already gone over, she's essentially doing what she does best. [Summer 2009, p.62]
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  6. Slant Magazine
    60
    Here she leaves behind the flaky-as-adorable posturing long enough to salvage Far from its role as capricious sideshow, and so, too, long enough for listeners to get a glimpse of the songwriting talent that lurks beneath the peculiarity.
  7. Uncut
    40
    Throughout, there's an ungainly combination of the leaden and the jaunty. [Aug 2009, p.102]
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See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 2 out of 18
  1. Junom
    Jun 23, 2009
    10
    The songwriting is a world on its own. Its a story that's completely different then normal making it a life of its own. The sound made The songwriting is a world on its own. Its a story that's completely different then normal making it a life of its own. The sound made is completely original and godly refreshing. A fluid, original masterpiece.… Expand
  2. clarinhaaa
    Nov 22, 2021
    10
    Regina Spektor keeps her charm and witty lyrics present in this wonderful album
  4. CharlesC
    Jun 26, 2009
    10
    I keep reading these half-hearted reviews of "Far," and I can't help but think, "Are we all listening to the same album?!" I have only I keep reading these half-hearted reviews of "Far," and I can't help but think, "Are we all listening to the same album?!" I have only been listening to Regina for a few years, but she quickly became my favorite artist on the strength of her sharply unique voice, quirky and brilliant lyrics, rollicking music and refreshing artistic demeanor. In short, she has always been this humble and sweet musician who paints masterpieces by doing what comes to mind, and that's why we love her. A "polished" sound does not detract from that. "Far" is, in my opinion, better than her previous two albums, and this is coming from someone who will freely admit 'Soviet Kitsch" changed my life. I think it's interesting that music reviewers who listen to 20 sec. snippets of her songs decide that, because of her increasingly accessibility, Regina has somehow lost the edge that made her popular. They would be far off the mark. Talk to any fan of Regina before this album's release, and they'll tell you that if she's changed, it's only been for the better. I would be surprised if this album or the next one did not catapult her even more into the mainstream on her brilliance, alone. As for the songs, what is there to say? Every track on here is brilliant.… Expand
  5. ChrisJ
    Aug 7, 2009
    10
    Great things about Far:- 1. "We made our own computer out of macaroni pieces" 2. The way those 'pop-like' drums change the tempo of Great things about Far:- 1. "We made our own computer out of macaroni pieces" 2. The way those 'pop-like' drums change the tempo of Eet three times while the vocal track and piano plays at the same pace 3. The fact that while the first and last verses of Folding Chair are identical, due to what happened in between they both mean very different things 4. Genius Next Door 5. That voice 6. Those lyrics 7. That piano 8. I wish that had been MY wallet 9. The almost spoken-word bits of Laughing With's chorus 10. "Outside the cars are beeping out a song just in your honour...." 11. "You-o-o-o-o a-a-a-a-are so swe-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-eet" 12. The dolphin(sea-lion) song 13. "I've got a perfect body 'cos my eyelashes catch my sweat" 14. Those stunning piano arpeggio's at the beginning of Blue Lips 15. The rest of Blue Lips 16. The fact that I can only whittle my favourite song on this album down to a choice of 7(in case you're wondering 2,3,4,6,7,9,10) 17. Brilliant dual stories on One More Time With Feeling 18. The "I have no wallet" verse I don't think this album is as good as Soviet Kitsch or Begin To Hope but it's probably as close as anyone's going to get.… Expand
  6. EstebanO
    Nov 7, 2009
    10
    Pop perfection, powerful alternative rates combined with smooth melodies next to an almost angelical and deeply confused voice...the best Pop perfection, powerful alternative rates combined with smooth melodies next to an almost angelical and deeply confused voice...the best album of the year!!!… Expand
  7. ImmersedInSound
    Nov 18, 2014
    7
    Varies in tone so much it could almost be called a flaw.
    Regina Spektors voice carries the really quite simple songs out of their potential    Varies in tone so much it could almost be called a flaw.
    Regina Spektors voice carries the really quite simple songs out of their potential mediocrity and transcended my expectations. Nothing immensely skillful though.    … Expand
  8. GabrielC.
    Jul 11, 2009
    0
    Terrible album.

See all 18 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

80
#80 Most Discussed Album of 2009

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