St Vincent

Annie Clark, aka St Vincent, is on the cover of two magazines this month: Death + Taxes and Texas Music. Since I've never heard of her, this bares investigating!



Of course, I'm in the minority, as she's pretty well known. In fact, our own Lara who pointed out to me that she's a member* of the The Polyphonic Spree (which actually doesn't surprise me as they have 20+ band members, rivaling BSS for most band members ever) and that her song, "The Apocalypse Song" is "amazing". I should also mention that she is used be part of the touring band for the Christian-folker Sufjan Stevens.

I spent the better part of Sunday listening to Actor, released in May on the "shoegazing" label, 4AD Records. What can I say about this album? There's enough weird sounds and instruments on the record that will appeal to the typical Pitchfork music fans. If you like Xiu Xiu, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, you'll feel at home with St Vincent.

I did high school plays. It's something that I absolutely love, but I'm absolutely abominable at. But being good or not didn't hinder my enjoyment of it. I loved everything about it, from the staging to the lights to the underpinnings.

- Annie Clark

What I think Actor tries to do is to create a theatric dramatic story as an album, starting with "The Strangers" and ending with... "The Sequel". She even admitted to trying to lend her music to film or television.

There's also a variety of instruments (which I'm assuming Clark plays most of them), and I couldn't tell what they are all - since I don't have the liner notes. It's safe to let you know that there's screeching violins at some point.

When I like Clark, it's with her colorful, often witty lyrics: "You're a liar and that's the truth" ("Actor Out of Work"), "I'm a wife in watercolors, I can wash away ("Save Me From What I Want"), "These kids are foaming at the mouth psychotropic capricorns" ("The Neighbors"), and "I can't see the future, but I know its got big plans for me " ("Laughing With A Mouth of Blood").

The single, "Actor Out of Work", is a great introduction to St Vincent's music.  It's poppy and the lyrics are fun.  It points out all the faults of this "supplemental" actor, yet there's something about him that you love.

If you like a little orchestrated music, you should check out Actor by St Vincent. Actor is available at the usual locations, including Amazon and iTunes.

* Update 7/20/09 7:42pm: As noted in the comments, she was a member.