Joni Amos: Norah Jones vs. Nellie McKay vs. Regina Spektor

I wrote it a while ago in her own thread, but Nellie McKay's Obligatory Villagers out-Yses Ys in its crazy ambition, opacity, and orchestration.

I don't like Soviet Kitsch much, but is a song I could listen to every day, and have in my head a lot.

I like the comparison that Sasha Frere-Jones made between Norah Jones and Sade, how they both are secretly all about sexy.

In all three cases, except for "On The Radio" and "Fidelity", I've liked the solo-piano versions of their songs (live or radio sessions) more than the arranged recordings.

"On The Radio":

"The Dog Song":

"Feeling The Same Way":

er...don't like Soviet Kitsch, but "On The Radio" is a song I could listen to daily.

Nothing of Spektor's has really penetrated my brainspace beyond one song -- "That Time" -- that I think is about the greatest thing ever; I'm not sure how much difference it makes that she's playing guitar on that one, not piano.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Thoroughly into the cover by Chip Taylor (who wrote "Wild Thing"). I've got lots of thoughts about this song relating to the high stakes of leaving the U.S.S.R. in 1989 but the main thing is the new cover brings out new colors of the lyrics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTNWpTEWtp0

Two of these two are playing shows together this summer (Jones and Spektor).

Newly recorded older song here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHaetZ-Vu8Y

I had never heard of Nellie McKay before opening this thread.

She's great! I wish she'd get back to releasing original music.

I loved Nellie's first album and liked the second, but completely dropped off after that. I got a bit curious about her third not too long ago (nothing she's done since then seems too appealing) and was surprised at how scarce it seemed.

After McKay shared the phone number during a show of...maybe it was the president of Columbia Records or whatever her label was that she was in dispute with, she lost the visibility and PR and opportunities of a major label. But she seemed to land fine in cabaret and Prairie Home Companion world, hopefully making an OK living.