St.Vincent, Actor

Posted on 18th Jun 09 by Rob Cumiskey | 0

Annie Clark, working under the title of St.Vincent, brought herself into the world of music with 2007′s Marry Me. Her quirky dark-pop style endeared herself to critics and music lovers alike, setting us up for this years Actor.

She’s outdone herself this time. Strangers is a sweet-sour Radiohead esque wonder. It uses her idiosynchratic croon, to break into a fuzz alt-rock finish, before bringing us into the dream-like Save Me From What I Want. It might serve as the perfect soundtrack for the upcoming Tim Burton‘s Alice in Wonderland, it’s that trippy.

Actor Out of Work is the perfect choice for a single. It’s one of my songs of the summer, playing some more fuzz-rock off a group-voice effect. The harmonies that enter the song mid-way build the song up to a climatic finish and suggest that this girl is setting herself up for great things.

St.Vincent is doing something different with her music, ignoring trends and get rich quick schemes. Let’s hope she sticks to this strategy

St.Vincent can really sing. There’s some beautiful piano and  more crooning vocals on The Party. She loves her ‘Oooohs‘ too. They create quite a haunting atmosphere on most of her work.

Laughing With a Mouth of Blood is very unusual. She sings about dark topics, commenting on the state of her own mind and relationships, but does it in such a sweet style that it deceives the listener into thinking that this is a trivial affair. It really isn’t.

The Sequal ends proceedings with some free-jazz. It’s a fantastic way to finish one of the year’s best albums and leaves the listener wanting more. St.Vincent is doing something different with her music, ignoring trends and get rich quick schemes. Let’s hope she sticks to this strategy, because it’s this integrity that will continue to serve her well with into her thrid album.

Drop-d Rating: 9/10

St. Vincent Myspace

Tags: Actor, Actor Out of Work, Annie Clark, Marry Me, Polyphonic Spree, St. Vincent