Review / 200 Words Or Less
St. Vincent
Marry Me

Beggars Banquet (2007) Graham Isador

St. Vincent – Marry Me cover artwork
St. Vincent – Marry Me — Beggars Banquet, 2007

Those familiar with Sufjan Stevens or The Polyphonic Spree might recognize Annie Clark for her accompaniment to their most recent tours and discs. Earlier this year the multitalented indie rock darling released her first solo LP under the stage name St. Vincent. Like the aforementioned bands, Clark pushes forward her fair share of quirks in the triumphant debut that is Marry Me, with songs like "Jesus Saves, I Spend" and "Human Racing" leaving the listener pleasantly bemused. Contrarily the album's piano ballads work to highlight the songstress' beautiful voice and songwriting ability. While lacking in some of the pop sensibility that make many her genre's female contemporaries so successful, St. Vincent utilizes a wide variety of instrumentation to create a distinguishably unique sound. A dryly dark and romantic collection Marry Me easily fits among the best albums of the year, and promises great things for the blossoming musician.

St. Vincent – Marry Me cover artwork
St. Vincent – Marry Me — Beggars Banquet, 2007

Recently-posted album reviews

Dealbreaker

New Sides
Late Again Records, Toll Free Records (2026)

Dealbreaker popped onto my radar as part of a package tour with Pro Wrestling, who cold called me with a Penske File namedrop. This story is a bit of a Canadian roundabout, but their methodology worked: I listened to their music and dug it enough to review it. And I'm mentioning it because, at times, Dealbreaker reminds me of The … Read more

The Library Is On Fire

Degeneration Elegies
The Abyss, Ltd. (2026)

There’s a certain kind of band that never quite fits the moment they arrive in. Sometimes too jagged for one scene, too melodic for another. The Library Is On Fire were one of those bands in the early 2000s, hovering somewhere between indie-punk urgency and power-pop instinct without fully settling into either. On Degeneration Elegies, their first full-length in over … Read more

Nicole Alexis

Mirrors & Smoke
Independent (2026)

There’s a fine line between stripped down music and so stripped back that is sounds empty. On Mirrors and Smoke, Nicole Alexis lands comfortably on the right side of that line, delivering a debut EP that leans into simplicity without losing its emotional weight. Built around acoustic arrangements and minimal production, the EP feels intentionally close. It feels like these … Read more