- Release Info -------------------------------------------------------------- -
Artist: St. Vincent
Album: Strange Mercy
Label: 4AD
Playtime: 40:52 min
Genre: Indie
URL: http://www.ilovestvincent.com/
Rip date: 2011-09-20
Street date: 2011-09-13
Size: 74.22 MB
Type: Normal
Quality: 241 kbps / 4410Hz / Joint Stereo
- Release Notes ------------------------------------------------------------- -
As clever and insightful as Annie Clark's first two St. Vincent albums were,
she sometimes seemed slightly removed, and perhaps somewhat above, her songsÆ
subjects. However, sheÆs down and dirty with them on Strange Mercy, a
collection of cracked veneers, eye-level confessions, and portraits of
breaking points. ItÆs tempting to call this her most genuine album, but itÆs
probably more accurate to say itÆs Clark's least academic-feeling set of
songs. Contrast has always been a major part of her music, and Strange Mercy's
juxtapositions of harshness, softness, truth, lies, cruelty, and kindness feel
especially pointed and potent. Most apparent is her use of opposing sounds;
working with producer John Congleton, she focuses on luxurious strings and
woodwinds that float above wobbly keyboards and ugly, distorted guitars that
emphasize that these songs are under pressure. Clark finds plenty of range
within this palette, though, busting out the talkbox on ôNeutered FruitöÆs
confrontational jazz-rock and a dance-pop beat on the subtly frantic
ôHysterical Strength.ö Less obvious are the emotional shifts many of these
songs undergo, and how they blur the albumÆs contrasts. On the title track,
Clark goes from vulnerable to protective to violent as she sings ôIÆll tell
you good news that I donÆt believe/If it will help you sleep,ö and on
ôChampagne Year,ö she confesses and deceives at the same time. ôCruelö is
Strange Mercy's definitive track, putting inspired lyrics like ôThey could
take or leave you/So they took you then they left youö atop strings and
woodwinds straight from a vintage musical and a messed-up, fuzzed-out guitar
solo. The song gets increasingly anxious as it closes, a pattern Clark repeats
throughout the album; indeed, while these songs are some of her most
fragmented, each song on Strange Mercy is tied to another. ôSurgeonö shares a
stuttering beat with opening track ôChloe in the Afternoonö and a similar
melody to the declaration of independence that is ôCheerleader.ö ThereÆs so
much going on musically on Strange Mercy that it could be easy to overlook
Clark's growth as a songwriter, but ôYear of the Tigerö boasts fully realized
storytelling as well as a melody that would do Joni Mitchell or Carole King
proud. Full of great lyrics and great playing, Strange Mercy is St. Vincent's
most reflective and most audacious album to date, and Clark remains as
delicately uncompromising an artist as ever.
- Track List ---------------------------------------------------------------- -
01. Chloe in the Afternoon ( 2:55)
02. Cruel ( 3:35)
03. Cheerleader ( 3:28)
04. Surgeon ( 4:25)
05. Northern Lights ( 3:33)
06. Strange Mercy ( 4:28)
07. Neutered Fruit ( 4:13)
08. Champagne Year ( 3:28)
09. Dilettante ( 4:03)
10. Hysterical Strength ( 3:16)
11. Yer of the Tiger ( 3:28)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -