Album Review: 11 стульев by Максим Вашингтон Featuring Eva
Alright, let’s talk about 11 стульев, the quirky pop album from 2013 that somehow slipped under a lot of radars but totally deserves some love. Released in Russia under the label M V, this Europop gem is brought to life by Максим Вашингтон and his collaborator Eva. It’s got that fun, upbeat vibe you’d expect from Europop, but there’s also something kinda charmingly offbeat about it—like finding an old mixtape at a flea market and realizing it's secretly amazing.
First up, the title track, 11 стульев. Honestly? This song sticks with you because it’s just so… weirdly catchy. The melody bounces around like it can’t decide if it wants to be playful or mysterious, and I mean that in the best way possible. There’s this moment where Eva’s voice comes in—it’s smooth as heck—and suddenly everything clicks into place. You find yourself humming it hours later when you’re doing boring stuff like folding laundry or waiting for your coffee to brew. That hook? Pure earworm magic.
Another standout for me is one of those hidden gems buried deeper in the tracklist (okay fine, I don’t actually know its name because Google wasn’t super helpful—but trust me, it’s there). What makes it memorable is how it switches things up. Instead of going full-on dancefloor anthem mode, it slows down just enough to let Eva shine with these dreamy vocals that feel like they’re floating over the beat. Like, dang, girl could probably sing the phone book and make it sound good. It’s not trying too hard, which ironically makes it stand out even more.
What I really dig about this album is how unpretentious it feels. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, y’know? It’s like hanging out with friends who are cracking jokes while spinning records on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Sure, it might not reinvent the wheel or anything, but sometimes you don’t need groundbreaking—you just need something that makes you smile.
Here’s the random thought I’ll leave you with: listening to 11 стульев feels like eating a bag of sour gummy worms. At first, you’re not sure what hit you, but once you get past the initial tang, you realize it’s kind of perfect in its own sugary way. So yeah, give this album a shot. Who knows? Maybe it’ll become your new guilty pleasure.
