SOUNDTRACK: ST. VINCENT-4AD Sessions (2011).
When I was looking up something about St. Vincent I happened upon this 4AD Sessions recording. Eviddently the audio was included on reissue of Strange Mercy, but there was also this video available.
She plays four songs from Mercy in an interestingly configured and lit studio (the visuals are so very 4AD).
Shot at Shangri-La Studios in the heart of the Brooklyn film and photography district in Greenpoint, the session was recorded with Annie’s new band, Daniel Mintseris (keys), Toko Yasuda (moog) and Matthew Johnson (drums). Given St Vincent’s transgression from the underground to the pop spotlight over the course of three studio albums, it’s somewhat fitting that Shangri-La host the session having initially earned its name as a secret spot known only through word of mouth.
The first song is “Chloe in the Afternoon” which opens with synths and Annie’s voice. It’s interesting that her latest album seems so un-guitar heavy, when in fact, the guitar never really dominates her songs. Except when it bursts forth at choice moments. Like on this one, when it is fuzzed almost beyond recognition. The drums are sharp raps as Annie sings her vocals. Then comes the almost angelic chorus “Chloe in the Afternoon.” I love watching (and hearing) her smile as she sings it and the delicate guitar (almost inaudible) that accompanies it. The song end with a rocking guitar solo (this is before she had her signature guitar made.
“Surgeon” opens wt synths and what sounds very unlike a guitar (the video confirms that a guitar is at least playing along with the synths). It’s a quieter song. When the guitar formally comes in it’s my favorite St. Vincent guitar part–up and down sliding chords followed by a nifty little riff. It all comes and goes so fast and it’s awesome. I love seeing her play it “live.” After a couple of instrumental breaks and a repeat of the chorus, Annie takes a wild echoing guitar solo–she totally wails and the keys create a wavery bass line.
“Strange Mercy” is slower with a pretty, sympathetic melody. The middle section features a neat guitar solo (oddly processed but cool-sounding). The middle section with the great sounding guitars and verses about “dirty policemen” just confirms the greatness of this song.
“Year of the Tiger” is a smoother song which also ends the album. It’s got terrific buzzy guitars throughout. I this love the way she sings the “Oh America, can I owe you one” with particular venom.
St. Vincent’s music often sounds like a studio concoction, so I love seeing her duplicate it live. And I’m really looking forward to the upcoming Austin City Limits show she recorded.
[READ: October 10, 2017] “Likes”
This is the story of a man trying to communicate with his 12-year-old daughter.
She has an Instagram account and he is trying to learn more about her by following it–since she’s not very talkative.
But her account is a puzzle–an ice cream cone, a shop window, the dog, an earlobe.
He had been spending a bit more time with her lately because she had been going to physical therapy. He felt responsible for her inheriting his bad joints–runner’s knees, Achilles Tendonitis. The therapist was very friendly and Ivy seemed to be open with her although he could never quite hear what they were talking about.
Some days her silence was mysterious, other days it felt full like an organ about to burst. During one of these silences, he said, you can talk to me whenever you are ready. She said “Can I curse?” He said she could. She then explained that she has no friends. She cut him off before he could protest saying that she is everyone’s second choice. At the end of the paragraph, the narrator wonders,. “Why hadn’t she cursed?”
She was encouraged to do exercises at home, but she wouldn’t and he couldn’t get her to do them.
His wife does appear eventually, telling him not to internalize their daughter’s behavior. Practice wearing a neutral expression. When he finally felt that he could ask her what she needed she said she just wanted to go home and watch You Tube. (Oh my, this sounds familiar).
All of this is shadowed by election coverage of the disastrous 2016 election. This feels unnecessary in this story. And frankly it kind of outweighs the story itself. Mostly because we all know about it and how fucking horrible it was . It immediately casts a pall on the story. But in the story the three of them are watching debates. Mid-debate she flees the room and he says “so much for current events.” Although to me, those debates taught you nothing about anything expect that trump was a bigger asshole than any of us knew.
After the election the whole family had a hard time getting up. He actually planned to stay in bed. When she asked if she could skip school he agreed. But she came into the room a few minutes later fully dressed saying “I thought you were joking.”
His wife seems to think that the girl’s Instagram account is all about her color palette
As the story comes to an end she talks about the success of a particular You Tuber. “I know you don’t like it when I talk about You Tubers, but …it’s really honest…shes 23 and is buying her first house. She can’t wait for this girl’s book to come out “Come on, it’s reading.”
The ending is metaphorical–a way for Ivy to physically express how her dad feels most of the time. But the bummer thing is the story doesn’t really end. I guess it really can’t.
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