St. Vincent album cover photo for “All Born Screaming”
image from Atwood Magazine, which also has a spotify playlist of the album linked to it

The first two groups I thought about for today’s prompt were Lucius and St. Vincent. Because I just saw St. Vincent on Colbert again, I went with the latter.

I wrote about St. Vincent in 2024’s Women Music March. Learn more about her HERE.

I had heard, “Broken Man,” one of the cuts from it, live on Colbert before but had never listened to the album, “All Born Screaming” before so listened to it tonight. I actually listened to it multiple times and looked at the lyrics while doing so.

All Born Screaming is her seventh studio album, released on 4/26/24, through her own Total Pleasure Records and distributed via Virgin Music Group. The album was self-produced and features musical contributions from several notable artists. It was preceded by three singles: “Broken Man”, “Flea” and “Big Time Nothing,” (all 3 of them very good!)

The album won 3 of its 4 nominations at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards: Best Alternative Music Album, Best Rock Song for “Broken Man”, and Best Alternative Music Performance for “Flea”. A Spanish re-recording of the album, titled Todos Nacen Gritando, was released on November 15, 2024, followed by a special Japanese edition with live bonus tracks. The album debuted at number 86 on the US Billboard 200 selling 10,000 pure album sales in its first week.

It is difficult to remember that Annie Clark is St. Vincent and not a band that is led by Annie Clark.

Personnel on just Hell is Near:
Annie Clark – lead vocals, synthesizer, bass; twelve-string guitar, acoustic guitar, electric piano
Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass, synthesizer
Rachel Eckroth – upright piano
Josh Freese – drums

Interestingly, another instrument noted is Annie playing theremin on track 9! The record also features contributions from Dave Grohl and Josh Freese of Foo Fighters, Cate Le Bon,Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint, Rachel Eckroth, Mark Guiliana, and David Ralicke of Dengue Fever.

After multiple listens, reading lyrics, and looking at info about the songs, the song I chose is, “Hell is Near,” the first cut. St. Vincent aka Annie Clark said about the song:

That was a song that if I didn’t bow before it, it just wouldn’t happen. I sang it 100 times. The chorus is bare … and I have to actually be there to sing it and for it to be real and not throw a bunch of ego or bullshit

I like the heartbeat drum intro, and her voice here reminds me of Loreena McKennitt. Then the bassline steps in and I’m reminded of Kate Bush. The haunting background vocals and instrumentation feels like a story that yearns to be told. The way it switches back and forth, between simple and lush, is compelling. As the song continues, I’m reminded of Mitski.

The lyrics are bright with vivid images, some brighter than others. It feels like someone who has been away has returned, changed, the same, full of hope.

“To begin to be still ahead”

The title suggests to me that a lot is riding on what happens next.

Hell is Near

Empty cup and a can full of marigolds
Half-burned candle, a picture pinned on the wall
Letters, records, and ash on linoleum
Signs of life, the beginning, the beginning
Our beginning, begin again

I was bare
And your word was still warm in my hand
I was bare
Wanted all under Heaven allowed

Snubbed out smoke in a pack from the Nowhere Inn
Water glass with the smudge of a lipstick stain
Box of nails, olive branch, and the holy ghost
Leave the rest, but come back for the marigolds
To begin to be, to begin to be
To begin to be still ahead

I was bare
And your word was still warm in my hand
I was bare
Wanted all under Heaven allowed

Give it all away, you give it all away
'Cause the whole world's watching you
Give it all away, you give it all away
'Cause the whole world's watching you
Give it all away, you give it all away
'Cause the whole world's watching you
Give it all away, you give it all away
'Cause the whole world's watching you 

Written by: Annie Clark
Album: All Born Screaming
Released: 2024

Source of info: wikipedia

Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. This week Jim wants us to choose a song from an album you had never listened to before suggested by Clive of Take It Easy. I want to thank both of these gentlemen. Jim for being our dependable and easy-going host of Song Lyric Sunday. Clive for the prompt, which got me crossing one album off of my list to listen to.

I also want to thank all of the folks who participate in Song Lyric Sunday. People who love music, who research songs to share that delight and also educate about song origins, tidbits about them, and share the reasons why they chose them. Maybe most importantly, thank you to the ones who take the time to listen to others’ choices and give impressions about them. It’s a wonderful community.

Happy Holidays!