St Vincent on Graham Norton... Bizarre but good!

Danielsguitars

I thought it was pretty shit tbh
Does she dress like that to stop people switching off, I watched whilst listening to something else on my headphones 

Legionreturns

It's a good job we don't all like the same things eh?  

Funkfingers

Jalapeno said:

Vocals (and image) heavily influenced by PJ Harvey.

One obvious point of reference has to be Dry/Rid Of Me era Polly Harvey. All those aggressive guitar tones and lyrics on the theme of failed relationships. 

Veganic said:

I am on the fence. I like the dissonant guitar work but the songs don't seem that strong. 

Peej is unlikely to ever be acclaimed for guitar virtuosity but this does not matter much because she writes songs that, for the most part, would withstand being stripped down to a solo acoustic guitar and voice arrangement.

Direct comparison in 2017 is somewhat unfair. One artiste is in the process of establishing a career, the other did all that twenty five years ago.

mikem8634

Legionreturns said:

It's a good job we don't all like the same things eh?  

Quite right, well said It's also a good job we don't all resort to the same tired, old, dismissive BS.

Like you St. Vincent has only really just figured on my radar and after your endorsement I dug a little deeper.

If Bowie can appreciate SRV and the more esoteric and avant garde end of things then I think that's a pretty good benchmark for the value of diversity in guitar playing. I'm just happy people still see it as art and try to push the boundaries in their own personal ways. Annie is an idiosyncratic voice, with a solid technical grounding and a will to deconstruct some convention. I applaud that.

stickyfiddle

I'm not sold on her live performances but the last 2 albums, particularly "St Vincent", have been great.

jonnyburgo

For me she's kind of like Sonic Youth in that, I feel as though I should like her but then I think it has no soul, it's just arty rich kids wanking, too studied and self conscious for me, big retro sunglasses worn indoors kind of vibe.

prowla

Well, it was more interesting than a lot of stuff, but I don't think I could listen to a whole album.

Iamnobody

I think she’s a good performer and has some decent tunes. I like the choreography and the fact that everything is worked out in detail. 

I wouldn’t listen to her every day - but as someone who likes a range of different artists and styles I like what she’s bringing to the table.

I remember this Jools Holland appearance from couple of years ago. I couldn’t make my mind up at first, after a few watches though I settled on liking it/her.

https://youtu.be/VmnhY9Smj3M

paulnb57

I expected to dislike St, but there are aspects of her music I really like......refreshingly different

usedtobe

Not for me, ta...

tampaxboo

i think she's a non-guitar players idea of an innovative guitarist.

but when you play you realise that she plays proficiently but she's hardly the messiah. same old same old, but stylishly repackaged for radio 6 hipsters.

AlexC

Regardless of whether people like the music or not - she's hardly a 'new' artist. Been recording for ten years and now promoting her 5th album. Her Musicman signature guitar is a sonic and build innovation, not just body shape. Most of what she does is actually synth lead, not guitar based. She sounds nothing like PJ Harvey. Can the comparison between every woman under 40 who sings and plays an electric who is slightly 'alternative' to Polly Jean be knocked on the head, please.
As for originality... By about 1990 most contemporary music becomes variations on what's gone before. Nature of the beast. Perhaps some technology will break through and change everything, but it hasn't happened yet. Here's hoping, eh?

ICBM

AlexC said:

Her Musicman signature guitar is a sonic and build innovation, not just body shape.

In what way? It looks pretty conventional to me, apart from the body shape. It uses conventional guitar woods and has conventional pickups and hardware.

AlexC said:

She sounds nothing like PJ Harvey.

PJ Harvey was literally the first thing that came into my mind when I heard her. And yes, I'm well aware of other female artists.

I don't disagree that she can play. So what? So can Kaki King, for example - and I would say she is much more innovative in technique terms too.

I don't dislike her or her music - I just don't get the accolades for being so original and different.

earwighoney

AlexC said:

Regardless of whether people like the music or not - she's hardly a 'new' artist. Been recording for ten years and now promoting her 5th album. Her Musicman signature guitar is a sonic and build innovation, not just body shape. Most of what she does is actually synth lead, not guitar based. She sounds nothing like PJ Harvey. Can the comparison between every woman under 40 who sings and plays an electric who is slightly 'alternative' to Polly Jean be knocked on the head, please.

I'm fairly sure being compared to PJ Harvey would be seen to be a compliment.  

I don't think her music sounds like PJH for the bits I have heard, but I'm sure she has a multitude of different influences - one of the videos above to my ears belies a Moloko/Roisin Murphy sound of sorts. 

AlexC

@ICBM My post wasn't aimed at you specifically, just a general observation. Obviously you know your guitars, but I'd never seen the three mini humbucker configure before. And apparently the switch set up is a bit odd too. I'm going on this (see clip) but I've never seen one of these guitars in the flesh and never played one. I'd love to try one out though. Is she considered innovative? If so, then I agree with you that she isn't. But - as I said - what is now? Anyhow - this guitar review is interesting, I think.

ewal

Completely neutral on her music, although I like to see artists do something a bit different to the norm. As for the Norton appearance I thought it was a very well designed advert for her music and her guitar - even the silhouettes behind her were waving her guitar about. All  in keeping with the rest of the Norton show - one big plugfest from start to finish for product that really doesn't need the publicity.

Grumpyrocker

Not my cup of tea musically. But admire her spirit and style. Good luck to her, especially pissing off TGP.

ICBM

AlexC said:

@ICBM My post wasn't aimed at you specifically, just a general observation. Obviously you know your guitars, but I'd never seen the three mini humbucker configure before.

Gibson Firebird VII...



There's also the Firebird X, which *is* quite innovative - just not in a good way! I'd take the St. Vincent every time .

Loobs

carlos said:

Ass at playing the guitar, but since when did playing the guitar well sell records? Especially these days.

Great comment. 

AlexC

@ICBM Haha! I'm convinced. Both on the guitar and the PJ reference!