St. Vincent's Annie Clark is a unique talent; she's as much a musician as she is a songwriter, and both her sounds and her words are delicately uncompromising. She blends rock, jazz, electronic, and classical touches together so seamlessly that it doesn't seem remarkable, and as lovely as her voice and music can be, she's too strange and too smart to be merely winsome. Marry Me was as bold as its title proposal suggested, uniting her sardonic, whip-smart viewpoint and jaunty music into songs with beacon-like clarity. Things are murkier, but no less fascinating, on Actor, Marry Me's darker and more ambitious follow-up. Musically and lyrically, the album often feels like a duel (and occasionally, a duet) between Clark's collected, literate side and her raging emotions. This is especially striking on Actor's arrangements and instrumentation, which are even more expressive than they were on Marry Me. "The Strangers" opens the album with choral vocals, woodwinds, and typically charming/unsettling lyrics: "Desperate doesn't look good on you/Neither does your virtue." But before things get too dainty, massively distorted guitar and drums let out the fury that's been brewing in the song the entire time (later, "The Bed" offers an even sharper contrast between innocence and violence). "Marrow" is just as startling, switching from pretty to abrasive and back again with a swiftness that's surprising, even knowing how fond Clark is of turning her songs on their sides. She also loves couching uncomfortable moments in sweet sounds and vice versa, so it's no surprise that Actor's poppiest songs are its most disturbing. On the album's single, the forceful rocker "Actor Out of Work," she pulls in and levels a lover in just over two minutes, beginning with alluring "oohs" and then twisting the knife with putdowns like "You're the curses through my teeth" -- the song's brisk dance between hot and cold is dazzling. Likewise, "Laughing with a Mouth of Blood" pairs the album's most gruesome song title with one of its most honeyed melodies. As brilliantly as Clark uses these contrasts, at times they threaten to overpower Actor's songs, and the slightly more straightforward, Marry Me-like tracks such as "Save Me from What I Want" and "The Party" help balance the album with some breathing space. Similarly, while the album's elaborately layered sounds are engrossing, they tend to overshadow Clark's equally thoughtful lyrics at first -- although when she sings "Tomorrow's some kind of stranger who I'm not supposed to see" on "The Neighbors," it's with more palpable emotion than anything she sang on Marry Me. "The Sequel" ends Actor on a fittingly uneasy, open-ended note, given all the complexities that came before it. This is some of St. Vincent's most complicated music, but its fearless creativity rewards repeated listening, as Clark has few rivals when it comes to seducing ears and challenging minds at the same time.
St. Vincent, Brooklyn’s sweetheart Annie Clark, has a style that can suit anyone’s fancy. And Actor is a powerful example of an astonishing effort from Clark to develop down right delightful tunes. It’s the warm coffee in the morning. As well as the ecstasy for an exciting night. If “Laughing With A Mouth of Blood” doesn’t make you feel like break-dancing at your closest Starbucks,
More >
Born in Tulsa, but currently residing in Brooklyn. St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) attended the Berklee College of Music. She has played guitar for both Sufjan Stevens and the Polyphonic Spree. Clark released her debut album, Marry Me, in 2007 for which she was nominated for three 2008 PLUG Independent Music Awards eventually taking home the prize for Female Artist of the Year.Read the full revie...
More >
The honeymoon of Marry Me is over for Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent, as she sets her gaze on the big stage in Actor.
More >
This is the first time I've ever listened to a St. Vincent song in full. I've seen her frail, kooky looking image plastered all over internet/magazine ads, but I've never heard someone say "you gotta hear this St. Vincent track!" so I never really bothered to listen besides 30 second increments here and there. I have a short attention span for music I don't know, which sucks, because a lot of t...
More >
Born in Tulsa, but currently residing in Brooklyn. St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) attended the Berklee College of Music. She has played guitar for both Sufjan Stevens and the Polyphonic Spree. Clark released her debut album, Marry Me, in 2007 for which she was nominated for three 2008 PLUG Independent Music Awards eventually taking home the prize for Female Artist of the Year.Read the full revie...
More >
St. Vincents new album Actor is for sure going to be one of 2009’s best. I already discussed how much I adored her first single for the album “Actor Out Of Work”. Well the video for it just came out and you can watch it above. I never realized how cute she is, in a [...]
More >
St Vincent's new album, Actor, comes out May 5th. But the MP3 for the single "The Strangers" is available for free download now. Listen to it here or download it at:Snob's Music
More >
St. Vincent has been touring Europe with Grizzly Bear and now a collaboration with Grizzly Bear guitarist Daniel Rossen has been recorded and put up on Youtube. She does have a history of collaborating with tour mates from John Vanderslice to Andrew Bird. The duo played a...Click the link to read more
More >
Annie Clark aka St. Vincent is back on the scene with the announcement of a new album. Actor will be released on May 5th via 4AD and features a grander, more complex album that builds on her stunning debut Marry Me . Clark says "I wanted to make these songs technicolor animatronic rides." Sounds good right? Just for a refresher here's a sparkling track from Marry Me :mp3: St. Vincent - Pari...
More >
St. Vincent + Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear fame end a European tour date’s set with “The Party” off of St. Vincent’s latest, Actor.Share this on del.icio.usDigg this!Share this on RedditBuzz up!Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUponShare this on TechnoratiPost this to MySpaceShare this on FacebookTweet This!Subscribe to the comments for this post?Add [...]
More >
St. Vincent’s recent expedition to Jimmy Kimmel bore a televised gem in the form of Marrow. This song is all tension and release and apparently Annie likes the release only horns can bring. Me too.
More >
Read the press email below:On May 5, 4AD will release 'Actor' the anticipated new album by St. Vincent (nee Annie Clark), and the follow-up to her first album 'Marry Me,' one of the most acclaimed debuts of 2007. 'Actor' was co-produced by Clark and John Congleton (Modest Mouse, Polyphonic Spree etc...) and features eleven new songs, all written and arranged by Clark.'Actor' takes the ambitious
More >
Socke Merde! If only I could have been at this performance. Fortunately, Andrew Bird and St. Vincent will be touring together in the US, but alas! they won't be coming to the west coast. Those on the east coast will get a chance to see them (their dates are below), and I strongly recommend their show.JP's Blog posted the video from Soiree de Poche, which you should definitely take a look. Andre...
More >
Annie Clark sings on her second outing as St. Vincent, "the future's got big plans for me", you can only hope that's an understatement. Flawless.
More >
Okay, okay. White flag. I'll be the first male admit it: Annie Clark (a.k.a. St. Vincent is proof-positive of ye olde time-honored axiom that “Girls Rule, Boys Drool.” She's cool, confident, and funny; she bros down and hangs out with dudes all day for months at a time, she covers The Beatles without fear (or even too much reverence), she releases top-notch records like this year's Actor (TMT
More >
St. Vincent, Brooklyn’s sweetheart Annie Clark, has a style that can suit anyone’s fancy. And Actor is a powerful example of an astonishing effort from Clark to develop down right delightful tunes. It’s the warm coffee in the morning. As well as the ecstasy for an exciting night. If “Laughing With A Mouth of Blood” doesn’t make you feel like break-dancing at your closest Starbucks,
More >
St. Vincent - Bicycle [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More >
I’m not even going to start on how much I love this woman. Just watch and try to keep your jaw off the floor.
More >
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
 "Actor")
