Actor is the second album by musician St. Vincent, released by 4AD

4AD

4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...

 on May 4, 2009, in the United Kingdom and a day later in the United States. The first single released was "Actor Out of Work" that April. St. Vincent wrote the album using the computer music application GarageBand

GarageBand

GarageBand is a software application for Mac OS X and iOS that allows users to create music or podcasts. It is developed by Apple Inc. as a part of the iLife software package on Mac OS X.-Audio recording:...

.

Reception

The album received wide critical acclaim. Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...

 gave the album an 8.5/10 rating and a "Best New Music" tag, praising the concept and describing the sound as "melodic and controlled, conjuring abrasive textures that nevertheless have a clean, meticulous quality that complements her immaculate arrangements."

The AV Club's review called the album a departure from St. Vincent's debut, noting an absence of "the coy, conventional pop winks of Marry Me

Marry Me (album)

Marry Me is the debut album by St. Vincent. The album was released by Beggars Banquet Records in the United States on July 10, 2007. It was released in the United Kingdom on September 3, 2007.St...

; even Actor’s lovelier moments come tinged with down-the-rabbit-hole danger." Clark has "found her own voice—and it's one you wouldn't want reading your kids any bedtime stories."

Other reviewers, such as Entertainment Weekly and Allmusic, praised the album's contrast of melodic pop and distorted guitars with dark lyrics.

Track listing

Compact Disc

1. "The Strangers"  – 4:04
2. "Save Me from What I Want"  – 3:35
3. "The Neighbors"  – 3:30
4. "Actor Out of Work"  – 2:15
5. "Black Rainbow"  – 4:11
6. "Laughing with a Mouth of Blood"  – 3:01
7. "Marrow"  – 3:24
8. "The Bed"  – 3:43
9. "The Party"  – 4:05
10. "Just the Same But Brand New"  – 5:24
11. "The Sequel"  – 1:53

Vinyl
Side A

1. "The Strangers"  – 4:04
2. "Save Me from What I Want"  – 3:35
3. "The Neighbors"  – 3:30
4. "Actor Out of Work"  – 2:15
5. "Black Rainbow"  – 4:11
6. "The Sequel"  – 1:53

Side B

7. "Laughing with a Mouth of Blood"  – 3:01
8. "Marrow"  – 3:24
9. "The Bed"  – 3:43
10. "The Party"  – 4:05
11. "Just the Same But Brand New"  – 5:24

The digital download available from the iTunes Store

ITunes Store

The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...

 comes with the bonus track "Oh My God". The American Amazon.com

Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...

 store offers an exclusive version of the digital download, with "Actor Out of Work" b-side "Bicycle" as a free bonus track.

Personnel

• Annie Clark - vocals, guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, arrangements, etc. (GarageBand)

with

• Hideaki Aomori - flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto, tenor & soprano saxophones
• Michael Atkinson - French horn, score consultant
• Daniel Hart - violin, sarangi
• Mackenzie Smith - drums
• Alex Sopp - flute
• Paul Alexander, William Flynn - additional bass guitar
• Jeff Ryan, Matthias Bossi, Aynsley Powell - additional drums

Singles

• "Actor Out of Work" (April 20, 2009)
  1. "Actor Out of Work"
  2. "Bicycle"
• "Marrow" (November 2, 2009)
  1. "Marrow"
  2. "Oh My God"

Sales chart performance

Actor debuted at #90 in the US on the Billboard 200

Billboard 200

The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

.

Chart (2009)	Peak position
UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...	161
U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...	90
U.S. Alternative Albums Billboard charts The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...	20
U.S. Independent Albums Independent Albums The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels...	9
U.S. Rock Albums Billboard charts The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...	48