Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
Aggressive rock track from St. Vincent's 2009 album Actor, written in one night with lyrics confronting deceit and fraud, characterized by complex melodies in C Major.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: intense, rebellious, reflective
Traditions: indie rock
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.
Sudden changes: present. This song uses surprise as a feature. For focus or background listening, it's likely to pull your attention away; for active listening, that's often the point.
Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.
Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.
Vocal style: dynamic vocals.
Where this sits in St. Vincent's catalog
We have 22 songs from St. Vincent in the library. Of those, 2 are rated Safe, 15 Moderate, and 5 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits above the artist average of 6.7, making it the #6 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
Other tracks from Actor
We have 3 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.
- Marrow — intense DR 8
- The Strangers — moderate DR 7
2009 context
Released in 2009. We have 218 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.4/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 2000s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-15. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Actor Out of Work"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Actor Out of Work" by St. Vincent?
"Actor Out of Work" by St. Vincent rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, moderate sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "Actor Out of Work" — what is its dynamic range?
"Actor Out of Work" has a dynamic range of 7/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.
Does "Actor Out of Work" have sudden or surprising changes?
Yes. "Actor Out of Work" uses surprise as a compositional feature. Expect unsignaled transitions.
What is "Actor Out of Work" best for?
In our library "Actor Out of Work" is recommended for: deep listening, emotional release, energy. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Actor Out of Work" released?
"Actor Out of Work" is from 2009, on the album "Actor". It appears in our 2000s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Actor Out of Work"?
We tag "Actor Out of Work" as intense, rebellious, reflective. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Actor Out of Work"?
The vocal style is dynamic vocals.
Should I listen to "Actor Out of Work"?
"Actor Out of Work" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.
Songs with the same DNA
layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
Safer alternatives with a similar feel
These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.
What this song means to people
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