The Useless Critic 2.0

Album of the Day "Actor" by St. Vincent is a wistful experience of an album I'll never get over. Each song is based on a movie, but I'm not sure which or what. Anyway, it's perfect for languid bus stop stays. Annie, I love you. Never change.  For real- I can't believe this album has been out for FOUR years. I played it to death from 2009 - late 2010.  p.s. put out new music ASAP Annie. David Byrne or no David Byrne. Thanks, Britt

First of all, thanks for growing your hair out, girlll! Second of all:  the new album. Strange Mercy . what do you think? Reader, I'm a little at a loss. When this album is good it is BRILLIANT. St. Vincent is very accessible and does have a pop feel to her sound, yes, a cloying little female singer-songwriter vehicle like so many before her. Think Regina Spektor, even (egads). but what separates her from the fold is she sounds like she is slowly going insane. or maybe she's already insane BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW. That's how this whole album is. Even Actor  didn't leave me feel like I had stumbled out of a dreamlike daze this much. I mean that in the least pretentious way possible, by the by. It just happens to be how so much of it is. "Hysterical Strength" (my personal favorite btw), "Year of the Tiger," "Dilettante"...each song is carried by some supernatural, some disembodied element. Like she's half-awake and humming. ...

They are closely associated in my mind. They are like the essence of autumn to me, along with Andrew Bird and Beach House. It's like wearing sweaters and shit. But yeah. St. Vincent and Charlotte Gainsbourg are my melodic colder-weather music. I'd say Europop is definitely summer music, but on the other hand, when isn't Europop good? RIGHT.  EXHIBIT 1: Charlotte Gainsbourg - Terrible Angels   produced by Beck, this baby (EP) will be out September 6th. SWOON EXHIBIT 2: St. Vincent - Cruel Strange Mercy  in all its glorious entirety is available September 13th.  St. Vincent - "Cruel" I am jizzing in honor of both of these fine, fine girls. also, I might be MIA for a while. a hurricane is headed my way which might cut my electricity. alas, I WILL READ. :/