Actor (album)

Untitled

Actor is the second 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 first single released was "Actor Out of Work" that April. St. Vincent wrote the album using computer music application GarageBand.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
The AV Club	A- link
Blender	link
Drowned in Sound
Entertainment Weekly	A link
Paste	77% link
Pitchfork Media	8.5/10 link
PopMatters	7/10 link
Robert Christgau	Template:Review-Christgau
Rolling Stone	link
Spin	link
Tiny Mix Tapes	link

The album received wide critical acclaim. 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."

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; 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."

Other reviewers, such as Entertainment Weekly and Allmusic, praised the album's contrast of melodic pop and distorted guitars with dark lyrics.

Track listing

Compact Disc

1. "The Strangers" – 4:04
2. "Save Me from What I Want" – 3:35
3. "The Neighbors" – 3:30
4. "Actor Out of Work" – 2:15
5. "Black Rainbow" – 4:11
6. "Laughing with a Mouth of Blood" – 3:01
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" – 1:53

Vinyl

Side A

1. "The Strangers" – 4:04
2. "Save Me from What I Want" – 3:35
3. "The Neighbors" – 3:30
4. "Actor Out of Work" – 2:15
5. "Black Rainbow" – 4:11
6. "The Sequel" – 1:53

Side B

7. "Laughing with a Mouth of Blood" – 3:01
8. "Marrow" – 3:24
9. "The Bed" – 3:43
10. "The Party" – 4:05
11. "Just the Same But Brand New" – 5:24

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.

Singles

• "Actor Out of Work" (April 20, 2009)
  1. "Actor Out of Work"
  2. "Bicycle"
• "Marrow" (November 2, 2009)
  1. "Marrow"
  2. "Oh My God"

Sales chart performance

Actor debuted at #90 in the US on the Billboard 200.

Chart (2009)	Peak position
UK Albums Chart	161
U.S. Billboard 200	90
U.S. Alternative Albums	20
U.S. Independent Albums	9
U.S. Rock Albums	48