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{{Infobox album
{{Infobox album
| Name = Actor
| name = Actor
| Type = studio
| type = studio
| Artist = [[St. Vincent (musician)|St. Vincent]]
| artist = [[St. Vincent (musician)|St. Vincent]]
| Cover = St vincent actor.jpg
| cover = St. Vincent - Actor.jpg
| Released = May 4, 2009
| alt =
| Recorded = 2009 at The Track Studio
| released = May 4, 2009
| recorded =
| Genre = [[Indie rock]], [[Baroque pop]]
| Length = 46:05
| venue =
| studio = {{hlist|Elmwood Studio|The Track Studio {{small|([[Plano, Texas]])}}}}
| Label = [[4AD]]
| genre = {{hlist|[[Baroque pop]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2009/04/st-vincent-actor-4ad/|title=St. Vincent, 'Actor' (4AD)|website=Spin|accessdate=13 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/st-vincent-strange-mercy|title=St. Vincent - Strange Mercy|website=Clash|date=5 September 2011 |accessdate=19 February 2016}}</ref>|[[indie pop]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2009/05/04/st_vincent_actor/|title=St. Vincent, 'Actor'|work=The Boston Globe|accessdate=13 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/st-vincent-strange-mercy|title=St. Vincent Strange Mercy|website=Slant|date=12 September 2011 |accessdate=19 February 2016}}</ref>|[[progressive pop]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/10401|title=Album review: St Vincent|work=NME|date=28 April 2009 |accessdate=13 February 2016}}</ref>|[[art pop]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/strange_mercy/|title=St. Vincent: Strange Mercy (4AD)|website=Under The Radar|accessdate=19 February 2016}}</ref>}}
| Producer = Annie Clark, [[John Congleton]]
| length = 39:09
| Last album = ''[[Marry Me (album)|Marry Me]]''<br>(2007)
| label = [[4AD]]
| This album = '''''Actor'''''<br>(2009)
| producer = {{hlist|[[John Congleton]]|[[St. Vincent (musician)|Annie Clark]]}}
| Next album = ''[[Strange Mercy]]'' (2011)
| prev_title = [[Marry Me (St. Vincent album)|Marry Me]]
| prev_year = 2007
| next_title = [[Strange Mercy]]
| next_year = 2011
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Actor
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Actor Out of Work]]
| single1date = April 20, 2009
| single2 = Marrow
| single2date = November 2, 2009
}}
}}
}}
'''''Actor''''' is the second album by musician [[St. Vincent (musician)|St. Vincent]], released by [[4AD]] on May 4, 2009, in the United Kingdom and a day later in the United States. The first single released was "Actor Out of Work" that April.<ref name="pitchfork">{{cite web | url=http://pitchfork.com/news/34661-st-vincent-announces-new-album-iactori/ | title= St. Vincent Announces New Album: Actor | publisher= Pitchfork Media | accessdate = 2009-04-21| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090408171848/http://pitchfork.com/news/34661-st-vincent-announces-new-album-iactori/| archivedate= 8 April 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> St. Vincent wrote the album using the computer music application [[GarageBand]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/st-vincent-s-annie-clark-acts-out-for-second-1003965183.story | title= Annie Clark Acts Out for Second | publisher= Billboard.com | quote=On "Actor," Clark's writing process was esoteric. She used Apple's Garage Band software to orchestrate the elaborate, whimsical arrangements, then worked backward to create pop melodies and lyrics. "I didn't write it on guitar, I didn't write it on piano. It was really, really weird," she says.}}</ref>
'''''Actor''''' is the second studio album by musician [[St. Vincent (musician)|St. Vincent]], released by [[4AD]] on May 4, 2009, in the United Kingdom and a day later in the United States. The artist was influenced by [[film score|scores]] to films by [[Disney]] and [[Woody Allen]].<ref name="billboard-article">{{cite magazine |last=Ayers |first=Michael D. |date=April 22, 2009 |title=Acting Out |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268838/st-vincents-annie-clark-acts-out-for-second-album |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=121 |issue=16 |accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref> To prevent [[writer's block]], she watched films without the sound and composed music for her favorite scenes.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Rao |first=Priya |date=April 20, 2009 |title=St. Vincent's Grand Ambitions |url=http://www.wwd.com/eye/people/saintly-pop-catching-up-with-st-vincent-2108843 |journal=[[Women's Wear Daily]] |volume=197 |issue=83 |accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref> After arranging the music using [[GarageBand]], she then wrote lyrics and added gentle vocal melodies.<ref name="billboard-article" />


''Actor'' was promoted on the [[Actor Tour]], with concerts in North America, Europe and Asia between February 2009 and December 2010.
==Reception==
{{Album ratings
|rev1=[[Allmusic]]
|rev1Score={{Rating|4|5}} [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1544765|pure_url=yes}} link]
|rev2=[[The AV Club]]
|rev2Score=A- [http://www.avclub.com/articles/st-vincent,27535/ link]
|rev3=''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
|rev3Score={{Rating|4|5}} [http://www.blender.com/guide/new/77185/actor.html link]
|rev4=[[Drowned in Sound]]
|rev5Score=8/10 [http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14113/reviews/4136788 link]
|rev5=''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
|rev5Score=A [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20276760,00.html link]
|rev6=''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]''
|rev6Score=77% [http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/05/st-vincent-actor.html link]
|rev7=[[Pitchfork Media]]
|rev7Score=8.5/10 [http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12985-actor/ link]
|rev8=[[PopMatters]]
|rev8Score=7/10 [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/73544-st.-vincent-actor/ link]
|rev9=[[Robert Christgau]]
|rev9Score={{Rating-Christgau|hm1}}<ref name="Christgau">{{cite web|last=Christgau |first=Robert |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=15074 |title = Actor |publisher= [[Robert Christgau]]|date = |accessdate= }}</ref>
|rev10=''[[Rolling Stone]]''
|rev10Score={{Rating|3.5|5}} [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/27796934/review/27809840/actor link]
|rev11=''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
|rev11Score={{Rating|4|5}} [http://www.spin.com/reviews/st-vincent-actor-4ad link]
|rev12=[[Tiny Mix Tapes]]
|rev12Score={{Rating|4|5}} [http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/st-vincent-actor/ link]}}
The album received wide critical acclaim.<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/stvincent/actor?q=st.%20vincent Actor reviews at Metacritic.com]. Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2009-12-09.</ref> [[Pitchfork Media]] gave the album an 8.5/10 rating and a "Best New Music" tag, praising the concept and describing the sound as "melodic and controlled, conjuring abrasive textures that nevertheless have a clean, meticulous quality that complements her immaculate arrangements."


==Background==
[[The AV Club]]'s review called the album a departure from St. Vincent's debut, noting an absence of "the coy, conventional pop winks of [[Marry Me (album)|Marry Me]]; even ''Actor''’s lovelier moments come tinged with down-the-rabbit-hole danger." Clark has "found her own voice—and it's one you wouldn't want reading your kids any bedtime stories."
:{{quote|"This was the first record I worked on with [[John Congleton]]. I started it with another producer, but things just went horribly wrong so I called John. I'd spent a long, long time on all of these tracks, all of these beautiful [[wind instrument|wind]] and [[string orchestra|string]] passages that I was trying to make into songs. I called John and said, 'You know what? I think I need to try again with these songs… I think that if I'm not careful, I'll be making the soundtrack to ''[[The Lion King (1994 soundtrack)|The Lion King]]'', so can we just rethink this?' I went in and basically re-recorded everything but the wind and strings. It was definitely an [[:wikt:eleventh-hour|eleventh-hour]] thing, with John and I together in the studio saving the record. When I was writing it, I was watching a lot of films – [[List of Walt Disney Pictures films|Disney films]] from the '30s and '40s. I was going for [[Technicolor]] on that record, and luckily we saved it from being the last record I ever made. The way it had been going, I'm not sure if anyone would've given it a listen. John's sonic power is strong and contagious – and, because we were already friends, I felt very comfortable with him. We were able to go about making a record with no ego or strange human relationships. We could be clearheaded about the songs and the best way to present them with the arrangements." – Annie Clark<ref>{{cite journal|first= Tom |last= Pinnock |title= Album by Album: St Vincent |journal= [[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |date= January 2015 |page= 54}}</ref>}}


==Reception==
Other reviewers, such as ''Entertainment Weekly'' and Allmusic, praised the album's contrast of melodic pop and distorted guitars with dark lyrics.
{{Album reviews
| ADM = 7.4/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/52/St-Vincent-Actor.aspx|title=Actor by St Vincent reviews|website=AnyDecentMusic?|accessdate=January 8, 2020}}</ref>
| MC = 81/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/actor/st-vincent|title=Reviews for Actor by St. Vincent|website=[[Metacritic]]|accessdate=February 13, 2016}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/actor-mw0000815466|title=Actor – St. Vincent|website=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=January 18, 2014|last=Phares|first=Heather}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
| rev2Score = A−<ref name="av-club">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/st-vincent,27535/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508061143/http://www.avclub.com/articles/st-vincent%2C27535/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2009|title=St. Vincent: Actor|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=May 5, 2009|accessdate=January 18, 2014|last=O'Neal|first=Sean}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/new/77185/actor.html|title=St. Vincent: Actor|work=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]|accessdate=May 25, 2016|last=Eells|first=Josh|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501134405/http://www.blender.com/guide/new/77185/actor.html|archivedate=May 1, 2009}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4Score = A<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2009/05/06/actor|title=Actor|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=May 6, 2009|accessdate=January 18, 2014|last=Vozick-Levinson|first=Simon}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5Score = 6/10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/10401|title=Album review: St Vincent|work=[[NME]]|date=April 28, 2009|accessdate=May 25, 2016|last=Mackay|first=Emily|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623172404/http://www.nme.com/reviews/10401|archivedate=June 23, 2016}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev6Score = 8.5/10<ref name="pitchfork review">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12985-actor/|title=St. Vincent: Actor|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=May 5, 2009|accessdate=January 18, 2014|last=Perpetua|first=Matthew}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite journal|title=St. Vincent: Actor|journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|issue=275|date=June 2009|page=131}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/27796934/review/27809840/actor|title=Actor : St. Vincent|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=May 1, 2009|accessdate=May 25, 2016|last=Rosen|first=Jody|author-link=Jody Rosen|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509092839/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/27796934/review/27809840/actor|archivedate=May 9, 2009}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev9Score = 8/10<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rwcxxhbc_kYC&pg=PA92|title=Dark Sweet Lady|journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|volume=25|issue=5|date=May 2009|accessdate=May 25, 2016|last=Suarez|first=Jessica|page=92}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
| rev10Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal|title=St. Vincent: Actor|journal=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]|issue=145|date=June 2009|page=103}}</ref>
}}
The album received wide critical acclaim.<ref name="MC"/> In the 2009 [[Pazz & Jop]] albums survey, ''Actor'' ranked twelfth,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/albums/2009/ |title=New York Pazz And Jop Albums |date=2010 |website=[[The Village Voice]] |accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref> and most of the songs on it received mentions for the singles survey.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2009/ |title=New York Pazz And Jop Singles |date=2010 |website=[[The Village Voice]] |accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' gave the album an 8.5/10 rating and a "Best New Music" tag, praising the concept and describing the sound as "melodic and controlled, conjuring abrasive textures that nevertheless have a clean, meticulous quality that complements her immaculate arrangements."<ref name="pitchfork review" /> It later placed ''Actor'' number 13 on its year-end list of albums,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7744-the-top-50-albums-of-2009/4/ |title=The Top 50 Albums of 2009 |last=Klein |first=Josh |date=December 17, 2009 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |accessdate=January 18, 2014 |archive-date=September 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926080502/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7744-the-top-50-albums-of-2009/4/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and "[[Actor Out of Work]]" ranked number 52 on its list of the year's top tracks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7742-the-top-100-tracks-of-2009/5/ |title=The Top 100 Tracks of 2009 |last=Wolk |first=Douglas |date=December 14, 2009 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref> Pitchfork included "The Strangers" at number 492 on its list of the top tracks of the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7685-the-top-500-tracks-of-the-2000s-500-201/ |title=The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 500-201 |date=August 17, 2009 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref>


''[[The A.V. Club]]''{{'s}} review called the album a departure from St. Vincent's debut, noting an absence of "the coy, conventional pop winks of ''[[Marry Me (St. Vincent album)|Marry Me]]''; even ''Actor''{{'}}s lovelier moments come tinged with down-the-rabbit-hole danger." Clark has "found her own voice—and it's one you wouldn't want reading your kids any bedtime stories."<ref name="av-club" />
==Track listing==
;Compact Disc
#"The Strangers"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 4:04
#"Save Me from What I Want"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 3:35
#"The Neighbors"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 3:30
#"Actor Out of Work"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 2:15
#"Black Rainbow"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 4:11
#"Laughing with a Mouth of Blood"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 3:01
#"Marrow"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 3:24
#"The Bed"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 3:43
#"The Party"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 4:05
#"Just the Same But Brand New"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 5:24
#"The Sequel"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 1:53


Other reviewers, such as ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' and [[AllMusic]], praised the album's contrast of melodic pop and distorted guitars with dark lyrics. [[PopMatters]] listed ''Actor'' number 26 on its list of the year's best albums.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/feature/117680-best-60-albums-of-2009/P3/ |title=The Best 60 Albums of 2009 |last=Huff |first=Quentin |date=December 17, 2009 |website=[[PopMatters]] |accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref>
;Vinyl
;Side A
#"The Strangers"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 4:04
#"Save Me from What I Want"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 3:35
#"The Neighbors"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 3:30
#"Actor Out of Work"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 2:15
#"Black Rainbow"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 4:11
#"The Sequel"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 1:53


==Commercial performance==
;Side B
As of July 2011, Actor has sold 59,000 copies in US.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qbr6WdsnLzQC&q=akon&pg=RA7-PA59| title=Most Anticipated| publisher=Billboard| magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date=30 July 2011| accessdate=5 November 2018}}</ref>
#<li value="7">"Laughing with a Mouth of Blood"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 3:01
#"Marrow"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 3:24
#"The Bed"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 3:43
#"The Party"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 4:05
#"Just the Same But Brand New"&nbsp;&nbsp;– 5:24


==Singles==
The digital download available from the [[iTunes Store]] comes with the bonus track "Oh My God". The American [[Amazon.com]] store offers an exclusive version of the digital download, with "Actor Out of Work" [[b-side]] "Bicycle" as a free bonus track.
The first single released was "[[Actor Out of Work]]" that April.<ref name="pitchfork">{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/news/34661-st-vincent-announces-new-album-iactori/ | title= St. Vincent Announces New Album: Actor | website=Pitchfork Media | accessdate = 2009-04-21| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090408171848/http://pitchfork.com/news/34661-st-vincent-announces-new-album-iactori/| archivedate= 8 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> It featured "Bicycle" as a [[B-side]]. The music video for "Actor Out of Work" was premiered April 10, 2009 on [[Spinner (website)|Spinner]].<ref name="billboard-article" /> In it, Clark auditions a series of actors who begin sobbing in front of her.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Ryzik |first=Melena |date=May 7, 2009 |title=I Like Things That Are Unsettling |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/arts/music/07vince.html |journal=[[The New York Times]] |page=C1 |accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref>


The video for "Laughing with a Mouth of Blood" features Clark with comedy duo [[ThunderAnt]] as owners of a [[feminist bookstore]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/02/new_st_vincent.php |title=New St. Vincent Video: 'Laughing With a Mouth of Blood,' Featuring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein |last=Baron |first=Zach |date=February 4, 2010 |work=[[The Village Voice]] |accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref>
==Personnel==


==Track listing==
*Annie Clark - vocals, guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, arrangements, etc. (GarageBand)
All tracks written and arranged by [[St. Vincent (musician)|Annie Clark]].
{{tracklist
| headline = ''Actor'' {{nobold|– Standard edition}}
|title1= The Strangers
|length1= 4:05
|title2= Save Me from What I Want
|length2= 3:35
|title3= The Neighbors
|length3= 3:31
|title4= [[Actor Out of Work]]
|length4= 2:15
|title5= Black Rainbow
|length5= 4:11
|title6= Laughing with a Mouth of Blood
|length6= 3:02
|title7= Marrow
|length7= 3:24
|title8= The Bed
|length8= 3:43
|title9= The Party
|length9= 4:05
|title10= Just the Same but Brand New
|length10= 5:24
|title11= The Sequel
|length11= 1:54
|total_length = 39:09
}}


{{Track listing
with
| headline = ''Actor'' {{nobold|– [[iTunes]] edition}}
| title8 = Oh My God
| length8 = 4:29
| title9 = The Bed
| length9 = 3:43
| title10 = The Party
| length10 = 4:05
| title11 = Just the Same but Brand New
| length11 = 5:24
| title12 = The Sequel
| length12 = 1:54
| total_length = 43:34
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = ''Actor'' {{nobold|– [[Amazon.com|Amazon]] edition}}
| title12 = Bicycle
| length12 = 3:19
| total_length = 42:23
}}


'''Notes'''
*Hideaki Aomori - flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto, tenor & soprano saxophones
* On the album’s vinyl release, "The Sequel" is moved to the end of side A, following "Black Rainbow".
*Michael Atkinson - French horn, score consultant
*Daniel Hart - violin, sarangi
*Mackenzie Smith - drums
*Alex Sopp - flute
*Paul Alexander, William Flynn - additional bass guitar
*Jeff Ryan, Matthias Bossi, Aynsley Powell - additional drums


==Personnel==
'''Musicians'''
{{div col}}
* [[St. Vincent (musician)|Annie Clark]]&nbsp;– [[Singing|voice]], [[guitar]], [[bass guitar|bass]], [[Keyboard instrument|keys]], etc.
* Hideaki Aomori&nbsp;– [[flute]], [[clarinet]], [[bass clarinet]], [[Alto saxophone|alto]], [[tenor saxophone|tenor]] and [[soprano saxophone|soprano]] [[saxophone]]
* Michael Atkinson&nbsp;– [[French horn]], [[Sheet music|score]] consultant
* [[Daniel Hart (musician)|Daniel Hart]]&nbsp;– [[violin]], [[sarangi]]
* [[Midlake|McKenzie Smith]]&nbsp;– [[Drum kit|drums]]
* Alex Sopp&nbsp;– flute
* Paul Alexander&nbsp;– additional bass
* William Flynn&nbsp;– additional bass
* Jeff Ryan&nbsp;– additional drums
* Matthias Bossi&nbsp;– additional drums
* Aynsley Powell&nbsp;– additional drums
{{div col end}}
'''Production'''
{{div col}}
* [[John Congleton]]&nbsp;– production, recording, mixing
* Annie Clark&nbsp;– production, additional recording
* [[Greg Calbi]]&nbsp;– mastering
* [[Scott Solter]]&nbsp;– additional recording
* Annabel Mehran&nbsp;– photography
* Lever and Beam&nbsp;– management
{{div col end}}


==Singles==
==Charts==
*'''"Actor Out of Work"''' (April 20, 2009)
*# "Actor Out of Work"
*# "Bicycle"
*'''"Marrow"''' (November 2, 2009)
*# "Marrow"
*# "Oh My God"

==Sales chart performance==
''Actor'' debuted at #90 in the US on the [[Billboard 200]].{{citation needed|date=November 2010}}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
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!Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|[[UK Albums Chart]]<ref>[http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK2009.HTM Chart Log UK – Chart Coverage and Record Sales 2009 and Special Single-File Version]. Zobbel.de. Retrieved on 2010-11-30.</ref>
|[[UK Albums Chart]]<ref>[http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK2009.HTM Chart Log UK&nbsp;– Chart Coverage and Record Sales 2009 and Special Single-File Version]. Zobbel.de. Retrieved on 2010-11-30.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|161
| style="text-align:center;"|161
|-
|-
|U.S. [[Billboard 200]]<ref name="billboard">[http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/st-vincent/chart-history/859558 St. Vincent], Billboards.com, May 23, 2009</ref>
|U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref name="billboard">[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=st. vincent|chart=all}} St. Vincent], Billboards.com, May 23, 2009</ref>
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| style="text-align:center;"|9
|-
|-
|U.S. [[Billboard Charts|Rock Albums]]<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/st-vincent/chart-history/859558?f=408&g=Albums St. Vincent], Billboards.com, May 23, 2009</ref>
|U.S. [[Billboard Charts|Rock Albums]]<ref>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=st. vincent|chart=Rock Albums}} St. Vincent], Billboards.com, May 23, 2009</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|48
| style="text-align:center;"|48
|}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{MusicBrainz release-group|id=aa1ff9a6-4f2b-379e-8074-1b4cf8719a0d|name=Actor}}

{{St. Vincent}}
{{St. Vincent}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Actor (Album)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Actor (Album)}}
[[Category:2009 albums]]
[[Category:2009 albums]]
[[Category:4AD albums]]
[[Category:4AD albums]]
[[Category:English-language albums]]
[[Category:St. Vincent (musician) albums]]
[[Category:St. Vincent albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by John Congleton]]
[[Category:Baroque pop albums]]

[[sv:Actor]]

Latest revision as of 05:44, 8 December 2024

Actor
Studio album by
St. Vincent
ReleasedMay 4, 2009
Studio
Genre
Length39:09
Label4AD
Producer
St. Vincent chronology
Marry Me
(2007) 		Actor
(2009) 		Strange Mercy
(2011)
Singles from Actor
  1. "Actor Out of Work"
    Released: April 20, 2009
  2. "Marrow"
    Released: November 2, 2009

Actor is the second studio album by musician St. Vincent, released by 4AD on May 4, 2009, in the United Kingdom and a day later in the United States. The artist was influenced by scores to films by Disney and Woody Allen.[7] To prevent writer's block, she watched films without the sound and composed music for her favorite scenes.[8] After arranging the music using GarageBand, she then wrote lyrics and added gentle vocal melodies.[7]

Actor was promoted on the Actor Tour, with concerts in North America, Europe and Asia between February 2009 and December 2010.

Background

[edit]

"This was the first record I worked on with John Congleton. I started it with another producer, but things just went horribly wrong so I called John. I'd spent a long, long time on all of these tracks, all of these beautiful wind and string passages that I was trying to make into songs. I called John and said, 'You know what? I think I need to try again with these songs… I think that if I'm not careful, I'll be making the soundtrack to The Lion King, so can we just rethink this?' I went in and basically re-recorded everything but the wind and strings. It was definitely an eleventh-hour thing, with John and I together in the studio saving the record. When I was writing it, I was watching a lot of films – Disney films from the '30s and '40s. I was going for Technicolor on that record, and luckily we saved it from being the last record I ever made. The way it had been going, I'm not sure if anyone would've given it a listen. John's sonic power is strong and contagious – and, because we were already friends, I felt very comfortable with him. We were able to go about making a record with no ego or strange human relationships. We could be clearheaded about the songs and the best way to present them with the arrangements." – Annie Clark[9]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.4/10[10]
Metacritic81/100[11]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
The A.V. ClubA−[13]
Blender[14]
Entertainment WeeklyA[15]
NME6/10[16]
Pitchfork8.5/10[17]
Q[18]
Rolling Stone[19]
Spin8/10[20]
Uncut[21]

The album received wide critical acclaim.[11] In the 2009 Pazz & Jop albums survey, Actor ranked twelfth,[22] and most of the songs on it received mentions for the singles survey.[23] Pitchfork gave the album an 8.5/10 rating and a "Best New Music" tag, praising the concept and describing the sound as "melodic and controlled, conjuring abrasive textures that nevertheless have a clean, meticulous quality that complements her immaculate arrangements."[17] It later placed Actor number 13 on its year-end list of albums,[24] and "Actor Out of Work" ranked number 52 on its list of the year's top tracks.[25] Pitchfork included "The Strangers" at number 492 on its list of the top tracks of the 2000s.[26]

The A.V. Club's review called the album a departure from St. Vincent's debut, noting an absence of "the coy, conventional pop winks of Marry Me; even Actor's lovelier moments come tinged with down-the-rabbit-hole danger." Clark has "found her own voice—and it's one you wouldn't want reading your kids any bedtime stories."[13]

Other reviewers, such as Entertainment Weekly and AllMusic, praised the album's contrast of melodic pop and distorted guitars with dark lyrics. PopMatters listed Actor number 26 on its list of the year's best albums.[27]

Commercial performance

[edit]

As of July 2011, Actor has sold 59,000 copies in US.[28]

Singles

[edit]

The first single released was "Actor Out of Work" that April.[29] It featured "Bicycle" as a B-side. The music video for "Actor Out of Work" was premiered April 10, 2009 on Spinner.[7] In it, Clark auditions a series of actors who begin sobbing in front of her.[30]

The video for "Laughing with a Mouth of Blood" features Clark with comedy duo ThunderAnt as owners of a feminist bookstore.[31]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks written and arranged by Annie Clark.

Actor – Standard edition
No.TitleLength
1."The Strangers"4:05
2."Save Me from What I Want"3:35
3."The Neighbors"3:31
4."Actor Out of Work"2:15
5."Black Rainbow"4:11
6."Laughing with a Mouth of Blood"3:02
7."Marrow"3:24
8."The Bed"3:43
9."The Party"4:05
10."Just the Same but Brand New"5:24
11."The Sequel"1:54
Total length:39:09
Actor – iTunes edition
No.TitleLength
8."Oh My God"4:29
9."The Bed"3:43
10."The Party"4:05
11."Just the Same but Brand New"5:24
12."The Sequel"1:54
Total length:43:34
Actor – Amazon edition
No.TitleLength
12."Bicycle"3:19
Total length:42:23

Notes

  • On the album’s vinyl release, "The Sequel" is moved to the end of side A, following "Black Rainbow".

Personnel

[edit]

Musicians

Production

  • John Congleton – production, recording, mixing
  • Annie Clark – production, additional recording
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Scott Solter – additional recording
  • Annabel Mehran – photography
  • Lever and Beam – management

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2009) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[32] 161
U.S. Billboard 200[33] 90
U.S. Alternative Albums[33] 20
U.S. Independent Albums[33] 9
U.S. Rock Albums[34] 48

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "St. Vincent, 'Actor' (4AD)". Spin. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  2. ^ "St. Vincent - Strange Mercy". Clash. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  3. ^ "St. Vincent, 'Actor'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  4. ^ "St. Vincent Strange Mercy". Slant. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Album review: St Vincent". NME. 28 April 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  6. ^ "St. Vincent: Strange Mercy (4AD)". Under The Radar. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Ayers, Michael D. (April 22, 2009). "Acting Out". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 16. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  8. ^ Rao, Priya (April 20, 2009). "St. Vincent's Grand Ambitions". Women's Wear Daily. 197 (83). Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  9. ^ Pinnock, Tom (January 2015). "Album by Album: St Vincent". Uncut: 54.
  10. ^ "Actor by St Vincent reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Reviews for Actor by St. Vincent". Metacritic. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  12. ^ Phares, Heather. "Actor – St. Vincent". AllMusic. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  13. ^ a b O'Neal, Sean (May 5, 2009). "St. Vincent: Actor". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on May 8, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  14. ^ Eells, Josh. "St. Vincent: Actor". Blender. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  15. ^ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (May 6, 2009). "Actor". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  16. ^ Mackay, Emily (April 28, 2009). "Album review: St Vincent". NME. Archived from the original on June 23, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  17. ^ a b Perpetua, Matthew (May 5, 2009). "St. Vincent: Actor". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  18. ^ "St. Vincent: Actor". Q (275): 131. June 2009.
  19. ^ Rosen, Jody (May 1, 2009). "Actor : St. Vincent". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 9, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  20. ^ Suarez, Jessica (May 2009). "Dark Sweet Lady". Spin. 25 (5): 92. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  21. ^ "St. Vincent: Actor". Uncut (145): 103. June 2009.
  22. ^ "New York Pazz And Jop Albums". The Village Voice. 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  23. ^ "New York Pazz And Jop Singles". The Village Voice. 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  24. ^ Klein, Josh (December 17, 2009). "The Top 50 Albums of 2009". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on September 26, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  25. ^ Wolk, Douglas (December 14, 2009). "The Top 100 Tracks of 2009". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  26. ^ "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 500-201". Pitchfork. August 17, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  27. ^ Huff, Quentin (December 17, 2009). "The Best 60 Albums of 2009". PopMatters. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  28. ^ "Most Anticipated". Billboard. Billboard. 30 July 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  29. ^ "St. Vincent Announces New Album: Actor". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 8 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  30. ^ Ryzik, Melena (May 7, 2009). "I Like Things That Are Unsettling". The New York Times: C1. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  31. ^ Baron, Zach (February 4, 2010). "New St. Vincent Video: 'Laughing With a Mouth of Blood,' Featuring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein". The Village Voice. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  32. ^ Chart Log UK – Chart Coverage and Record Sales 2009 and Special Single-File Version. Zobbel.de. Retrieved on 2010-11-30.
  33. ^ a b c St. Vincent, Billboards.com, May 23, 2009
  34. ^ St. Vincent, Billboards.com, May 23, 2009
[edit]

Actor at MusicBrainz (list of releases)

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