St. Vincent News!! Ongoing Thread For All Things St. Vincent- Will Be Updated As Needed

As someone who liked the first 4 albums, but not Masseduction, is MassEducation worth a listen?

 

If you hate the 2018 release "modern production" will really like this album. Plus she put the whole thing on youtube.

 

I think this is absolutely awesome, the songs take on a whole new life, and it really shows and exposes Annie's incredible vocal talents.

Thankfully, for such a stripped back recording, the vinyl pressing is awesome with pretty much zero surface noise or issues.

 

No/Yes

 

A remarkable work of recording and sound in Annie's voice/vocals was made here. Live & intimate.

 

The stripped down approach works really well for some songs, not so much for others. Nice to have the alternate experience though.

 

Absolutely love it. It has made me reevaluate some of the songs. Some compositions really shine through in this set up.

 

I got the LP. Both the music and the pressing are superb. Her vocals are showcased in a way that has rarely been done before, certainly not to this extent. This may easily become my favourite St. Vincent album.

 

Being a Kate Bush fan and liking the first four St Vincent offerings

Most definitely


I had a hard time initially liking Masseducation due to the backing electronica
Really came to love it as one of her most complete albums

The full band versions took it up a notch

The intimacy of her first album Marry Me really resonates with me
Acoustic settings like Paris is Burning

This new stripped down Education of the Masses setting with some very creative piano backing and fragile intimate vocal articulation is wonderful

What Annie can't do

 

Obvious of observations here but am feeling a whole lot of Tori Amos-ness on this, and no, not just because there's a piano...spirit-wise there is just some serious channeling going on for sure and I know Annie's an admirer of hers. Not aping/mimicking - AC is too much her own artist for that - but no way the arrangement/presentation/vocalization is not informed more than just a wee bit by early Amos on a fair number of these tracks.

I love this. Always so great to hear an artist's reinterpretation/reworking of her/his own work...whether we're hearing it before or after the more commonly-known version of the work, it's always just such a revelation hearing how one got from A to B (or vice versa). The creative wheels turning on display for us to see/hear - whether it all *needs* to be hanging out there for public consumption is certainly worthy of debate but to me? What a privilege.

 

<---- likes the electronic sound of 2017's Masseduction. "Sugar Boy" is glorious, Moroderian brilliance. That being said, I'm sure that these new stripped down versions will be interesting to hear.

For what it's worth, I was a fan of Bob Dylan's Self Portrait before the Another Self Portrait release caused a reappraisal of that period.

"Temporary Secretary" is also one of my favorite Paul McCartney tracks.

 

here is a pitchfork review
St. Vincent: MassEducation Album Review | Pitchfork

rolling stone review
Review: St. Vincent’s Stark ‘Masseducation’ – Rolling Stone


I really enjoy the stripped down versions and I'm glad Annie didn't add any of her own instrumental talent to the songs.

It is interesting that they recorded this back in 2017 - 2-3 takes.
Perfect timing to bring this forward now.

This recording is impeccably done with minimal microphones and capturing room dynamics and space. The vinyl is really moving, fully resolving the piano overtones and Annie's delicate vocals.

Thomas Barlett's piano really resonates, her voice shows contrast between the softest whisper and a commanding peak.

Annie's vocals are so majestic in this setting.
Extended lines in places. Emotional overtones..

The sequencing of the songs allows things to grow

Smoking Section is no longer the subdued ending and sounds must more uplifting.
I really enjoy how Hang on Me is the closer - when it opened and set the tone of the original.
Especially since one has been hanging on her every word throughout.

The piano in most places is understated, sparse or light arpeggios.
On few songs - Los Ageless and New York (less effectively) does the piano carry the melody.
That is left for Annie.

Several songs - Savior, Smoking Section, Pills & Masseduction feature the piano in a strong lower register with sparse notes during the slow reflective moments.

The faster piano arpeggios of Sugar Boy, swirling piano of Fear the Future and sparse emotional parts of Los Ageless contrast nicely. Young Lover sounds triumphant in it's apex in this piano setting.

Pills is a hard song to capture that hypnotically catchy chorus effectively . Love how Annie extends the words "brain to the vein..etc" in the verses. The outro to Pills is wonderful as ever, the piano cascading downward, stop, then the majestic buildup - naked eloquence here.

....You and me, we're not meant for this world


what a luscious treat

Thank you Annie

 

Young lover is just magnificent on the new album.

 

Jimmie Kimmel last night

 

Brilliant version

 

Anyone in/near NYC, get on this Friday!!! I am sick sick sick that I can't make it back to my former stomping grounds for this.

St.Vincent at BAM Harvey Theatre Nov. 20

 

Why no more comments on this one??? Easily one of the best of the year and an absolutely devastating artistic performance by Annie. Simply breathtaking.

 

too busy being engaged and Educated

 

sorry

the Masses are too busy being Educated

 

The October Austin City Limits performance hits youtube

Band and evolving backdrop visuals

 

Wow, that's fantastic. Thanks for the link.

This time she's even allowed to use adult words again. Nice!

 

I wish she'd grow her hair out again.

 

Glad to hear that this is being included on Sheryl's new album...love this song!
Guess they're already working on something else together