Actor

This is certainly the best album St. Vincent has made, and one of the best albums anyone has made in the past 10 years or so.It has what I think are my three favorite St. Vincent songs: "The Neighbors," "Laughing With a Mouth of Blood" and "Just the Same But Brand New."I'd describe it like this to someone unfamiliar with the album and artist: beautiful singing, sneaky and powerful guitar playing, solid and unconventional song-writing, deeply intricate soundscapes, and a fundamentally weird, threatening mood that permeates everything. Annie Clark reportedly said she was inspired by Disney cartoons when making this album--I'm guessing the Wicked Queen segments of Snow White. "Just the Same But Brand New," for instance, is a very delicate song throughout that somehow manages to build to a hard-hitting crescendo, and when it's over, it leaves behind a feeling similar to watching a very effective psychological horror movie. Hard to describe, as is the whole album.Finally, it is solid from front to back, every song. (Although... sometimes I feel like I wouldn't miss "The Bed" if it were left off.)

Annie Clark, the one-woman band behind St. Vincent, released a delightful debut album in 2007, "Marry Me", one of the most pleasant and impressive albums, period, in 2007. Now comes the highly anticipated follow-up album."Actor" (11 tracks; 39 min.) continues on, and expands, the eclectic sounds of the debut album. Clark throws in all kinds of mixes and influences on this album: rock, jazz, electronic and classical, it's all hear. The opener ""The Strangers" starts things off quietly, only to then dive in with a hard-charging "Save Me From What I Want". The single "Actor Out Of Work" is as mainstream and accessible (rock) as St. Vincent has ever been (and had commercial radio any life-pulse left, this would be played, but alas...). Other highlights include the gentle sounding but biting hard lyrics "Laughing With a Mouth of Blood", and the closing two tracks: the epic "Just the Same But Brand New" ( at 5+ min. the longest track here) and the short "The Sequel", which sounds open-ended and summarizes the album nicely, inviting us for the next serving of St. Vincent.In all, this album is as equally good, if not better, than "Marry Me". If you like indie-rock, you surely will not be disappointed by this. I've seen St. Vincent in concert a number of times, most recently just last weekend at the Bonnaroo music festival, and each time I see her, she sounds better and better live. Finally, if you wonder where you might hear St. Vincent, check out WOXY (BAM! The Future of Rock and Roll), the internet-only station that plays the best indie-music in the country, bar none.

Vinyl copy. A high quality pressing, static clean. The jacket is a double, all lyrics included. The MP3 download includes Bicycle, which not on the record, it is an Amazon bonus track. Most of the tracks benefit greatly from the analog clarity, Black Rainbow and The Party are beautiful. The album has very little distortion effects used that would defeat the analog mode, the vocals are clear, the instrumentation includes woodwinds and brass (very nice) and her guitar sounds especially good on Mouth of Blood.I still have my LP collection from the 60's and 70's, this is my first new addition this century. I am very happy with it.

I got this cd in the mail today. And it has been on constant repeat!! I hate the radio andthis cd has made me believe in music again! I am a serious audiophile!!! And I mean serious. AnnieClark aka St. Vincent has out done herself. I take a trip on each track.The songs are all well written, anddifferent. I hear a touch of Bjork, a touch of Kate Bush. What a wonderful songwriter. If you love music like Ido PLEASE BUY THIS CD!!! YOU WON"T BE DISAPPOINTED. St. Vincent thinks outside the box. I hate current radio andam always looking for something music wise that is not COOKIE CUTTER. This CD is it!!! The lyrics are dark but you always hear that bit of light that comes through her voice. This woman has something to say! Put this cd in your player and take a trip!!!! You will NOT be disappointed.

There were a few over-the-top moments and some moments that were slower than I usually like. But it's still the most interesting music I've heard in years. I've always been into "weird stuff" including Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Bjork, Radiohead and things like that. This is in the same ballpark. Annie provides a lot of experimental, unexpected and dischordant progressions, but it's melodic and catchy most of the time.Thanks to SPOTIFY for allowing me to preview this entire album. The result is that I purchased it so I could listen to it on my MP3 player(s), since I don't have an unlimited data plan on any mobile device. If you don't know SPOTIFY--it's the only TRULY LEGAL way to stream darned-near anything you might want to hear.

This is her most "cinematic" type work in my opinion. It is some how I think her most "pop accessible" as well. I'm not sure how that gets pulled off. Maybe you'll hear something totally different. Everything I have heard from her is brilliant though and so is this. I can't recall a single track that really grabbed as much as I thought the whole thing had a "Flow" to it.