Art Angels is one of my favorite albums of the 2010s. I haven't heard Visions, except for a couple songs, which I loved, so I do plan on getting that one. But since then, yeah, contrived is the perfect word for her.
I feel like the preference for Visions / Art Angels is just one of those divisions that is so subjective and will never be resolved, and that's fine. Most people feel very strongly about one of them and I haven't met many people who love both. I'm team Visions 1000% and I never listen to Art Angels anymore.
@blenoxsmith Art Angels was the first album of hers I heard, so I will always have a soft spot for it. It makes sense people who connected with Visions first would prefer that album, they're very distinct.
@kvetcha totally makes sense. After loving Visions so much, along with its heaviness and darkness, when I heard a happy poppy track like California from Art Angels I was so confused, and kinda sad she wasn't still making the sad stuff . Flesh without Blood and Realiti i dig though.
She's one of my favorite artists of the past decade and I love her last 3 albums. Visions and Art Angels were my #1s on their respective release years, and are 2 of my top 50 all-time favorites. The last one is not quite that but is still great. Her public persona has always been goofy but I kinda dig it (same goes for FJM). Whereas I'm totally turned off by whatever St. Vincent has been doing. Go figure!
The last two albums I didn't really enjoy save a track or two.
I try to separate listening to Visions from everything I see in headlines about her. I intentionally don't read articles about her.