Full credit here to the leaders of WJMD for insisting I tune into Ms. Spektor. At first glance, we appear to have another strong-willed piano-playing songbird (of which, we probably don't really need more...) But if you take a second glance, and then a third...by the fourth glance, you may not be able to look away...

Spektor's a fresh breeze. She can speak her mind and still sound intelligent. She can run through a gamut of complexity, all in one song, and still make it sound coherent. She's classically trained, and uses the perspective to shine above all-comers.

The gal was born in the Soviet Union, and it looks like she may have arrived ready to take on the West...but in a good way.

The song, "Us," includes all of the contradictions I've mentioned already, and brings about a thousand more to the table. But there's so much charm, earnestness, and rich BEAUTY in the song (not including the Beauty singing it), that it deserves to be held up as the first AC1 of AC WEEK! ;-)

Please, go out to iTunes and check out the video. It's playful, hints at her past, and again, opens the doors to the inherent contradictions that make this singer/songwriter so amazing to behold. Especially behold the vocal trill leading into the "Den of thieves" line. By God, if you haven't fallen for her by the end of that line, you're frickin' hopeless.

Intelligent, talented, and beautiful.

I've heard she doesn't like being compared to another certain auburn-haired pianist/singer. The comparison begs to be made. BEGS, I tell you. But I'll refrain for now... until I run out of topics!