I happened to stumble upon St. Vincent's music a while back through the collaboration album with David Byrne, Love This Giant. St. Vincent, pseudonym of musician Annie Clark, is a project characterized by some very strange sonic attributes: a mix of digital beats and live drums, some electronic electronic elements, and some effects laden guitar riffs. These riffs, while compact, are very melodic and rhythmic in some very unorthodox ways, as the rhythms and phrasing often scoff in the face of the rhythm behind it, and are rich with harmonics.
I have just recently discovered St. Vincent, and have hardly delved into her back catalog, but from what I have heard, this is her most focused effort yet. Other albums had a bit more of a meandering feel, but here she gets straight to the point, melodically and lyrically, with tight electronic and guitar arrangements accompanying lyrics reflecting those pointless status updates ('Digital Witness'), her run in with a rattlesnake in the desert ('Rattlesnake'), and a plethora of other topics. She also makes a lot of sounds her own. She channels an almost Allison Mosshart a la the Dead Weather sound on the latter half of 'Huey Newton', and the sounds that accompany 'I Prefer Your Love' remind me of Sea Change, and more recently Morning Phase, in a way, though that may be because I listened to both about a dozen times this week. My favorite track would have to be 'Birth In Reverse', due to its mix of humor, its interesting little guitar lines, and the propulsive beat that grabs your attention and refuses to let go. I look forward to hearing more in the future. Ms. Clark, let your freak flag fly!
I have just recently discovered St. Vincent, and have hardly delved into her back catalog, but from what I have heard, this is her most focused effort yet. Other albums had a bit more of a meandering feel, but here she gets straight to the point, melodically and lyrically, with tight electronic and guitar arrangements accompanying lyrics reflecting those pointless status updates ('Digital Witness'), her run in with a rattlesnake in the desert ('Rattlesnake'), and a plethora of other topics. She also makes a lot of sounds her own. She channels an almost Allison Mosshart a la the Dead Weather sound on the latter half of 'Huey Newton', and the sounds that accompany 'I Prefer Your Love' remind me of Sea Change, and more recently Morning Phase, in a way, though that may be because I listened to both about a dozen times this week. My favorite track would have to be 'Birth In Reverse', due to its mix of humor, its interesting little guitar lines, and the propulsive beat that grabs your attention and refuses to let go. I look forward to hearing more in the future. Ms. Clark, let your freak flag fly!
Out of a possible 5 stars, I give this:
Check in tomorrow for a look at Cyhi The Prynce's new mixtape, Black Hystori Project.
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