(pair of mirrors)

St. Vincent - “Cruel”

Strange Mercy

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Annie Clark knows how to play her guitar. And granted, that shouldn’t be a huge accomplishment for a musician that’s featured on the cover of Spin, but seriously how many women in music are actually playing their own instruments these days? And how many of those play them well? Not enough, sadly. Annie Clark of St. Vincent though is an exceptional exception to the rule—and my new heroine. 

Strange Mercy just came out on Tuesday. I’ve been creeping along all summer, watching the preview videos, listening to “Surgeon” like an addict, and watching “Cruel” more times than youtube should allow. And high expectations were, thankfully, not too high. The album is everything I hoped it would be. 

Catchy—but not TOO catchy—choruses, incredible guitar playing, and that strange and whimsical voice are even more enjoyable on Strange Mercy than I found them on Actor. L doesn’t agree with me, but maybe she’ll come around. In the meantime…

They took you, and they left you

How could they be so casually cruel?

-M