Strange Mercy is the third album from artist Annie Clark, who sings under the name St. Vincent. She was whimsical and poppy on her debut Marry Me (2007), then dark and acerbic on her second album, Actor (2009). Throughout this musical journey, Clark’s lovely voice has guided us into at times murky territory.

In Strange Mercy, Clark creates vast soundscapes punctuated by sharp blasts of distorted guitar. Baroque pop also comes through in her innovative use of stringed instruments and complicated layers of sound. Clark’s singing is gorgeous and reassuring, even as her dark fantasy seeps through in the dense orchestral arrangements and otherworldly background vocals.

The album opens with “Chloe in the Afternoon,” the story of a quick sexual encounter, where Clark’s voice is a bit thinner, her delivery slightly breathless. An early single off the album, “Cruel” is a sweet, gritty tale of objectification, reinforced by the grim but comedic music video directed by Terri Timely, in which Clark plays a wife stifled by family life.

“Cheerleader” finds Clark playing an unhappy partner in a relationship, or perhaps an unhappy player on the world stage. It starts off quiet and demure, but as the character’s expresses resolve (“But I-I-I-I-I don’t wanna be your cheerleader no more”) the guitar rushes in to reinforce her.

In “Dilettante,” Clark’s character has been left behind in a relationship, and is straggling after another’s success. The guitar over the beautiful synth chords at the very end is enough to keep me coming back to this song over and over. Next, “Hysterical Strength” starts off with a quiet but frenzied riff, drops briefly into synthesizer, and finally becomes even more frantic as guitar and percussion join at the end.

Overall, the album is excellent and proves that Clark is still willing to push musical boundaries as she experiments with different orchestrations and ways of telling stories.

St. Vincent is one of those artists who might require multiple listens before she becomes truly accessible. Her music is gritty and dreamy all at once, sometimes cerebral, and always lyrically clever. Immerse yourself in her work, and you won’t regret it.

Strange Mercy is out now from 4AD Records.

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Article first published as Music Review: St. Vincent’s Strange Mercy on Blogcritics.

Painted entirely in Photoshop with a WACOM tablet. This thing took several weeks of work, probably 35-40 hours altogether.

I’m very excited about this film, and you should be, too. Here’s the synopsis:

Roark Comptons was once Hollywood’s biggest agent, living the life, and loving every minute of it. Then, he lost it all. Can Roark adjust to normal life? Or will he fail again? Find out in… Roark Comptons: The Motion Picture.

Visit Singletree Productions for more information.

You should check out her performance on yesterday’s David Letterman:

And then you should probably enjoy her acoustic session with Spin Magazine, complete with Tom Waits cover:

And then watch her grim but humorous music video for “Cruel,” in which she finds herself swept up into and literally buried by family life:

Strange Mercy will be released this September.

I think this is a great track — brooding, dramatic, dark.

I like “Fear and Loathing” much better than a more recent video for “Part 2, Radioactive.” “Radioactive” isn’t bad, it’s just that it has a more generic dance feel and reminds me of the 90s. I’ve listened to it a couple of times, and I guess it doesn’t sound as fresh or original as I would like.

I loved the quirkiness of her first album. The mixture of symphonic elements (strings, bells) with synth and pop on many of those songs was unique and interesting. It seems she’s trying to make herself a bit more accessible now and is sticking to mainly electronic sounds for her new songs. That’s fine, I just hope nothing is lost in the process.

Her new album should be released this October.

An open letter to Bert Keeter

Dear Bert:

I’ll be honest, you were my favorite in episode 1. I loved that you surprised everyone and actually designed something that was cute and awesome. I was happy for you and looked forward to what you would do throughout the season. But when you came into episode 2 with nothing but negativity, my opinion of you instantly soured.

Fast forward to episode 5 — and I don’t think I have ever disliked a Project Runway designer more than I dislike you, Bert.

You are insufferable. You cannot collaborate with anyone. You don’t care about anything but yourself. You have no regard for others’ feelings. I understand we’re watching a show where editing can play a big part in how we view you, but no one can put words into your mouth. You told Josh M. to “drop dead” this week. Over a sewing machine. Was that really necessary? (Josh M. is also a bully, so the fact that I am on his side here should tell you something, Bert.)

Everyone hates you, Bert! Look, there’s proof:

Bert, you make me want to punch things. You make me not want to watch this show. Your behavior on the runway this week — I couldn’t believe that you stood there laughing in your teammates’ faces, openly gleeful when they were criticized, celebrating in others’ failure –

You. Are. The. Worst.

I can’t wait for you to get kicked off the show.

No love,

Jo

***

This week the designers created looks for Heidi’s New Balance line. The winning look was to be sold as part of the line. Team leaders were decided in a footrace.

Yeah. It makes complete sense.

Cecilia decides she is DONE in the beginning of the episode, so she leaves, and the race commences. Olivier falls and then passes out briefly — no big. Bryce, Anthony Ryan, Viktor, and Josh M. are declared winners and team leaders. The leaders form teams of three (Bert is picked last) and get to work. Josh C. comes back to fill in for Cecilia. Hooray!

There is a good deal of drama on Josh M.’s team when he calls Becky’s clothes “dowdy” and says that she doesn’t really need to design anything. Becky retreats into the bathroom for a good cry, then Anya and Josh M. find her and manage to reconcile slightly.

And of course, Anthony Ryan and Laura have to deal with Bert, who putters around doing nothing and mumbling obscenities. He forgets Anthony Ryan’s name. “It takes me a long time to remember their names because they’re not that significant.”

Have I mentioned he’s the worst? Because he is.

The winner: Viktor

AND Josh M.

BUT Anya’s dress is getting sold.

However that works.

You’re out: Danielle

Next week, the designers work with children, and Bert hopefully gets cut.

No, not Tim, you guys. Though that could have been awesome…

Nina Garcia! This was a new for Project Runway, since Heidi has always been the client. Heidi likes everything and is willing to let the designers go wild, while Nina is way picky. This forced the designers to rein themselves in significantly. Nina needed the outfit to be day-to-night. She needed it tailored, streamlined, classy with an edge. “I do not like voluminous clothes. I do not like lots of pleats. I do not like loud patterns or colors.”

HOKAY, no problem, then!

Most of the drama resulted from Nina’s interviews with the designers. She was not afraid to say no, and she did, repeatedly, with gusto. “Do we have a plan B?”

A lot of the designers had trouble creating an outfit for a corporate environment. Anya picked out a horrid mustard-colored fabric that she had to rush to dye after Nina saw it. She made a jumpsuit that was cute, yes, but I don’t think was appropriate for Nina, or for an office.

Bert was quiet for the most part this week. Good. Stay in your corner, Bert.

We had some last-minute drama when a couple of the designers decided to help others finish. Cecilia pitched in for Julie, and Laura helped Anya. This ruffled Viktor’s feathers — he equated it to cheating. Honestly, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. They weren’t giving help with designs, just with finishing touches.

The bottom three: Julie, Cecilia, and Danielle

Julie and her weird coat-dress got kicked off. That was okay, I guess. She seemed kind of lost. Cecilia admitted after finding out she was safe that she wouldn’t have minded being kicked off, which left the other designers aghast.

The top three: Viktor, Kimberly, and Anya

Kimberly’s gold top and tailored pants ended up winning, which meant Nina wore it to work and was photographed in it for taxi-top ads.

Next week! Another team challenge? The designers have to run around a track for some reason? Olivier passes out? OH NO.

What… exactly… is going on here?

Anyway. For the most part, the teams managed to work together with minimal drama. There were no huge arguments about design and direction, and work was divided equally. Everyone was happy! Except for Bert and Viktor. (And Bryce and Fallene, but to a lesser degree. We’ll come back to that in a second.)

Viktor displayed obvious disappointment at being paired with Bert, which may have been justified because Bert was a lazy butt last week. The fact that Viktor was so vocal about it wasn’t the most grown-up thing to do, sure. But he at least tried to move forward with the work, while Bert didn’t do anything to try to prove him wrong. Instead he chose to nitpick on the historical accuracy of their dress (Mae West never wore pants, something about Queen Victoria? NOBODY CARES, BERT). I think he says things just to hear himself talk. Their partnership went steadily downhill. I’m sure many catty conversations were left on the editing room floor.

The second team to suffer a major breakdown was Bryce and Fallene’s.

Well, it was mainly Fallene.

You guys, Fallene can’t cut a pattern on grain. ON GRAIN. OMG. GRAAAAAAIN.

She failed to put together a bodice for their Gothic ballerina outfit, so Bryce had to scramble to make some sort of tank top. Fallene pinned some feathers together for a headpiece. Bryce was actually pretty levelheaded through this whole thing and never took out any frustration on Fallene. He just talked behind her back.

SHE CAN’T CUT ON GRAIN, GUYS.

Meanwhile, angels and trumpets heralded the union of Dream Team, Anya and Olivier, but they were pretty boring. They designed in their quiet way and turned out something less than astounding.

After their single workday, the models and designers headed to their first outdoor fashion show! The press and a crowd of onlookers were in attendance. Also, Kim Kardashian.

Top Three looks: Laura and Anthony Ryan, Kimberly and Becky, Cecilia and Danielle

I mean, I guess these are the best looks. They’re at least the not-as-bad looks. I liked the blue chiffon on Cecilia and Danielle’s, but hated it paired with the beige pants and hairdo.

Laura was this week’s winner. Hooray for feathered shoulder pads! That look is very in for fall, according to Tim Gunn.

Bottom looks: Joshua and Julia, Bert and Viktor, Bryce and Fallene

These looks are bad. Bad and strange. Weird matador! Ugly curtain-dress! Tulle nightmare!

In the end, Fallene got the boot, even though the judges liked her headpiece, her only real contribution to the outfit.

Next week, the designers have a new client — Nina Garcia. GASP. What could possibly go wrong?

This reminds me a bit of Mumford & Sons, in the way the song starts off muted and raw, but builds into an intense, rocking tune full of strings and layered voices. “Sofia” is the first single from Laura Marling’s most recent album, A Creature I Don’t Know, which will be released this September.

If you’re unfamiliar with Marling’s work, I would recommend giving “I Speak Because I Can” and “My Manic and I” a listen.

Last week, Rafael and his high-waisted nightmare got booted, while Bert and his fresh little dress came away the winner.

This week, the designers visited a pet store to get supplies for their new outfits. Tim warned that the designers shouldn’t take the easy route and get materials that were just like fabrics. Lots of dog food, leashes, and “doggy wee-wee pads” were purchased. Bert hemmed and hawed and did some lazy shopping, complaining that this was not the kind of challenge he enjoyed.

Back in the workroom, Laura made a “cone skirt” and attempted to cover the clear plastic where it revealed too much. Cecilia thought she might try to glue dog food directly to her bodice — mmm mmm, kibbles ‘n’ bits. Thankfully she switched over to hamster bedding.

Ew.

“This is not fashion. This is like, trashion,” said Viktor.

Bert. What the heck are you doing? You’ve obviously got talent, but you’re throwing together an ugly black tube dress. Where’d you even get that fabric? Bert. Don’t crash and burn. I was pulling for you.

Meanwhile, “more is more” Joshua basically threw everything he could at his dress. Except around the top, which early on consisted of a lone dog toy. Yikes.

Later, the arrival of the models elicited mass panic. Many designers had to scrap pieces or completely revamp their designs.

Believe me, Laura, my face did the same thing when I saw Bryce’s wee-wee dress.

Viktor gave one of the best reactions just before hitting the runway: “Oh my Lord of the Rings.” I’m gonna start using that.

Altogether, it was not as scary as it could have been. I was glad that Laura pulled it together. Also, I think I’ve decided I love Joshua McKinley (the not-bald Joshua) just because he’s so fabulous.

My personal favs: Danielle, Joshua M., Anthony Ryan. I can easily see myself wearing Danielle’s outfit. I love the color on Josh’s. And I really respect the amount of detail on Anthony’s.

In my opinion, the worst design was Bryce’s wee-wee pad mess… Fallene’s design I actually didn’t mind so much, even though the judges ripped her apart for being boring and choosing those colors. But I love autumn, so.

This week’s winner: Olivier.

You’re out: Joshua C.

While I understand that Olivier’s look is modern and might photograph well, I was with Heidi on this one. I would have picked Anthony Ryan’s birdseed get-up over the hamster-bed skirt and sheep-wool top. Olivier’s dress was more of an art piece than a fashion statement, I think.

Next week! Team challenges. Models on stilts. Apparently Bert becomes an even worse person.

Dang it. I really liked Bert in week one.