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{{Album ratings
{{Album ratings
|rev1=[[Allmusic]]
|rev1=[[Allmusic]]
|rev1Score={{Rating|4|5}} [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jxfyxze0ldde link]
|rev1Score={{Rating|4|5}} [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1544765|pure_url=yes}} link]
|rev2=[[The AV Club]]
|rev2=[[The AV Club]]
|rev2Score=A- [http://www.avclub.com/articles/st-vincent,27535/ link]
|rev2Score=A- [http://www.avclub.com/articles/st-vincent,27535/ link]

Revision as of 00:06, 13 December 2010

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.[1] St. Vincent wrote the album using computer music application GarageBand.[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link
The AV ClubA- link
Blender link
Drowned in Sound
Entertainment WeeklyA link
Paste77% link
Pitchfork Media8.5/10 link
PopMatters7/10 link
Robert ChristgauTemplate:Review-Christgau
Rolling Stone link
Spin link
Tiny Mix Tapes link

The album received wide critical acclaim.[3] 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
  2. "Laughing with a Mouth of Blood"  – 3:01
  3. "Marrow"  – 3:24
  4. "The Bed"  – 3:43
  5. "The Party"  – 4:05
  6. "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.[citation needed]

Chart (2009) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[4] 161
U.S. Billboard 200[5] 90
U.S. Alternative Albums[5] 20
U.S. Independent Albums[5] 9
U.S. Rock Albums[6] 48

References

  1. ^ "St. Vincent Announces New Album: Actor". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  2. ^ "Annie Clark Acts Out for Second". Billboard.com. 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.
  3. ^ Actor reviews at Metacritic.com. Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
  4. ^ Chart Log UK – Chart Coverage and Record Sales 2009 and Special Single-File Version. Zobbel.de. Retrieved on 2010-11-30.
  5. ^ a b c St. Vincent, Billboards.com, May 23, 2009
  6. ^ St. Vincent, Billboards.com, May 23, 2009
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