Three years since her last release, St. Vincent (moniker of Annie Clark) storms back onto the alternative music scene Tuesday with the release of her fourth album, a self-titled LP of biting commentary on the digital age and cult leaders. Clark, the Texas native whose first album Marry Me debuted seven years ago, has continually reshaped her sound with every album and collaboration.
After working with Talking Heads' lead singer David Byrne in 2012 on Love This Giant, Clark has sharpened her talons, sinking venom into the new planet on which she has landed with this release. Combining her trademark alternative-jazz guitar wailing and electronic synthesized backing tracks, Clark elicits chills and fears on “Rattlesnake,” a tale of Clark wandering a desolate desert, and “Huey Newton,” a digital minefield of getting lost in the endless hallways of the Internet.
While Clark is known for her sardonic lyricism, this release seems to be a culmination of the talent she has honed and perfected since 2007. “Digital Witness,” the album’s second single, brings the musical experience of working with Byrne and her sharp lyrics to craft a story of living in the age of constant social media immersion; “If I can’t show it you can’t see me,” comes off as a critique of the need to post about daily life’s minutiae.
St. Vincent is a very front-heavy release, with the more refined and venomous moments coming in the first six songs. Clark reflects on her relationship with her mother in “I Prefer Your Love,” and “Prince Johnny” tells the tale of a self-destructive friend “holding court in bathroom stalls.”
The later half of the album, however, is not a denouement into silence. “Psychopath” holds over some of the strong pop-rock musical elements of Strange Mercy, St. Vincent’s third release. “Severed Crossed Fingers,” the albums final track, was a one-take effort, where afterward she broke down crying, according to Clark.
Clark’s guitar skill is far and away the highlight of the album. Her versatility shows the progression from backing guitarist for The Polyphonic Spree and touring musician with Sufjan Stevens to her current recognition in the music world.
Clark’s fourth release is a dark, delightful experience of exploration of a digital planet, and is an excellent edition to her near-perfect canon.
Rating: A
