ARTIST:
ST. VINCENT


ALBUM:
STRANGE MERCY


KEY TRACKS:
CHLOE IN THE AFTERNOON
CRUEL
SURGEON
NEUTERED FRUIT


"I've had good times, with some bad guys..."


The cover art strongly suggests the content within.  St. Vincent's Annie Clark sounds more ghostly than ever in her newest album, Strange Mercy.  Her voice is haunting yet oddly calm over her intricate guitar riffs.  Annie is one of the most talented guitarists in my musical library and I can never get enough of her distortions.  But even more satisfying is how sludgy she can make her instruments sound and how it gives a perfect contrast to the lightness of her voice.  

I love Annie Clark.   Not just because her music is great, but because she shows that pretty girls can rock the fuck out too.  This album proves that point even more than her previous two efforts.  The sound here is definitely darker and moodier with less reliance on electronics and more on Clark's manic guitar riffs.  


Even Clark's lyrics are more suggestive this time around.  Chloe in the Afternoon is an outright ode to adultery.  Here the focus is on "horse-hair whips", "no kisses no real needs", "send you home" then "back to work".  Annie's soft voice smooths over the lyrics while she shreds her guitar in contrast.  There's a duality here, and throughout the album between good and evil.  Sweet and sour.  But in this case it oscillates between gentle and brash.   


Cruel is definitely the catchiest on the album.  I've often found myself whistling that oh so catchy chorus line at work (most likely driving my officemates insane) so it definitely works its way in.  

Another particularly great track is Surgeon, which was a grower for me.  At first it's a bit too eerie, but then Clark's fretwork kicks in for the chorus and really ignites the track.  "Best finest surgeon" she says, "come cut me open": a line taken from an actual Marilyn Monroe quote.  The repetitive chorus in this track almost sounds like a challenge when I hear it.  All throughout the song Annie Clark talks about all the dull behaviors she does just to "get along, get along, get along" like laying in bed, sifting through mail piles, staying inside.  It's almost like this skilled surgeon she keeps calling to is going to cut out all the dullness in life.         


The bass line in the oddly named "Neutered Fruit" is also quite addicting. It's the St. Vincent that I'm used to hearing, ghostly chorus lines mixed in with equally haunting vocals, and heavy instrumentals.  


Like I said, I love Annie Clark.  Not just because of her talent, but because she's not afraid to push boundaries for female artists.  We need more gutsy eccentric artists like her.  There aren't enough.  There simply aren't enough.  

LISTEN:  CHLOE IN THE AFTERNOON | CRUEL | SURGEON | NEUTERED FRUIT 

NEXT WEEK:  WASHED OUT | WITHIN AND WITHOUT