her musical gifts. For all that's been said about her beguiling vocals and her knack for fearlessly creative compositions, what shines throughout St. Vincent's new Strange Mercy is Clark's guitar work. From the first bit of lip-curling guitar buzz in "Chloe in the Afternoon" to the freak-out riffs of "Northern Lights," it's clear that Clark has mastered her instrument in a way increasingly few in indie rock do. She manipulates and contorts and totally shreds on the guitar, creating a full arsenal of textures that provide the backbone of St. Vincent's third and best album so far.

With the aid of producer/engineer John Congleton, Strange Mercy builds upon the groundwork laid on her previous records: Marry Me, with its ornate pop songs, was more or less a laptop construction,down the hall," amid distorted bursts of wah-wah keyboards and militaristic snare-drum attacks. She tends to pepper her lyrics with violent imagery, but she often disguises it with a sweetly seductive voice and an alluring image.

Many of these songs tap into feelings of loneliness, alienation and the things left unsaid in a dysfunctional relationship. "I've had good times with some bad guys / I've told whole lies with a half smile," she sings in "Cheerleader," which begins as a sparse portrait of heartache before piling on noise with explosive fury.

What's most impressive about St. Vincent is that, after three albums, Clark continues to surprise and challenge. Strange Mercy almost feels like a culmination of her evolution, and while there's no doubt she'll keep making new music, it's difficult