Sophomore Supernova: St. Vincent, 'Actor'

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ANNIE CLARK made a big solo splash in 2007 with her debut, "Marry Me" (yes, it was meant to be an "Arrested Development" reference) under the name St. Vincent, and only the most observant of fans recognized her from The Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens' musical entourage. It's not every year that a female artist makes top-10 lists with little to her name except a great voice, but Clark didn't have any problem breaking through. Her songs are consistently gorgeous, crystal-clear yet unexpected, sleek yet folksy.

Her second album, "Actor" (4AD), doesn't know the meaning of the term "sophomore slump." Lovely and winding but never boring, it continues the multi-instrumentation motif — complete with all the dips, twists and turns — present in "Marry Me," but expands slightly on a welcome rock sensibility. While the light moments are still light, the guitars are little fuzzier, the lines a little less cleanly drawn. The collection of unconventional background sounds is still there, but they're a little more obscured beneath stronger melodies.

The album kicks off on a high note with "The Strangers," a bouncy yet brooding tune with a mesmerizing, 1920s-era chorus of "Paint the black hole blacker, paint the black hole blacker," and introduces recurring noisy feedback and lively "Peter and the Wolf" themes. The whole project at times seems Disney-ish in its aims, soaring with its whimsical orchestral arrangements and painting scenes that you really want to see brought to life in animation.

The first single, "Actor Out of Work," is the most structured track, and Clark's miracle-working voice saves the tune from its harsh, demanding beat. Percussion drags a few other tracks down, too, namely "Party," which is too pretty for such a rhythm and could do with more meandering vocals and less snare-tapping. When she decides to go all in, though, Clark doesn't do it halfway: The forays into dark riffs and chaotic noise paint just a vivid a picture as the light woodwinds do. Innovative, graceful and more interesting with each listen, "Actor" demands a place among 2009's best.

Stream the entire album here, or listen to "Marry Me."

» Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW; Fri., May 22, 9 p.m., $15; 202-667-4490. (U St-Cardozo)

Written by Express' Afton Lorraine Woodward.
Photo by Annabel Mehran