Review: St. Vincent – Actor
St. Vincent - Actor (2009) [4AD] // Grade: C+
I have to give it to Annie Clarke (formerly of the Polyphonic Spree)… usually an album the likes of Actor would have me wanting to gouge my eyes out. The sort of album whose own stylistic blend of influences just as charming as they’re deliberate in getting every major music media outlet to bust out the lip gloss and pucker up when read off a press release.
But Annie Clarke is everything she’s made out to be, a consummate songwriter with a beautiful voice who effortlessly weaves pop into electro into jazz into this back to that and a little bit of the other. But it’s Clarke’s willingness to push her delicate pop sensibilities right up against rougher distorted stretches over and over the course of this album that creates the sort of dynamic that really holds my interest.
In the end though, while I truly appreciate what Annie Clarke has done on Actor, it is just a little too flowery for my sensibilities. But that’s me so feel free to knock this up 1/2 a grade if you can stomach something this pretty for repeat listens.
