Pitchfork: Regina Spektor Kicks Off Tour

Our favorite current Russian export, Regina Spektor, will set out on a 13-date tour of North America starting this weekend in Montreal. The shows will precede the release of the piano woman's new LP, Begin to Hope, scheduled to hit stores on June 13 via Sire.

To know her is to love her:

04-08 Montreal, Quebec - Cabaret Music Hall
04-09 Boston, MA - Axis
04-11 Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
04-15 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre Of Living Arts
04-16 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
04-24 Toronto, Ontario - Mod Club
04-26 Chicago, IL - Martyrs'
04-29 Minneapolis, MN - Quest Club
05-02 Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre
05-07 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey
05-10 Portland, OR - Dante's
05-13 San Francisco, CA - The Independent
05-16 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre
Fans can get an early taste of the album on April 11, when three preview tracks will be available for download on iTunes, including "Fidelity", "Summer in the City", and "Better". The latter features a guest spot from lanky Strokes axeman Nick Valensi (you know, the one without the afro).

Conveniently enough, the record was also produced by recent Strokes' mastermind David Kahne (who helmed the NY quintet's latest disc First Impressions of Earth), a collaboration Spektor described to Rolling Stone as such:

"I was able to be more playful because it was such a no-pressure atmosphere. It was just the two of us, me and David, and we were just working like on an art project. It was the first time when I really let go. (Kahne) recorded my voice in this way I hadn't heard before. I love the idea of singing every song differently. I look forward to the day where I'll have a record where my fans won't even recognize that half the songs are sung by me."

Pitchfork has heard Begin to Hope, and every song certainly sounds like her. Which means it sounds like the work of the coolest, kookiest friend you ever wish you had.