Pepi Ginsberg
East is East - PARK THE VAN
FILTER Grade: 77%

Seeking true quirkiness in a female singer-songwriter? Skip Regina Spektor and give Pepi Ginsberg a chance. Following 2008’s Red, Ginsberg’s label debut East is East produced by Dr. Dog’s Scott McMicken, and mixes offbeat, jittery indie-folk arrangements with flittering vocal trills that recall a slightly unhinged Joni Mitchell. The singer’s throaty theatrics often require repeat listens to locate a melody, even if that’s somewhat beside the point on upbeat compositions like “Shake This.” Her hyper-poetic words about vagabonds and drifters bounce and dip at alluringly unorthodox angles, with an almost Dylan-esque intonation. That said, a tune like the relatively restrained, ukulele-tinged “Coal to Diamonds” proves a welcome respite from the songstress’ near-constant zigzagging. An engaging presence brimming with ideas, Ginsberg just needs to work on focusing her spunk-folk—without, of course, losing her charming idiosyncrasies.