CD of The Week

Lush was such an incredible debut for Snail Mail, and would be for any artist. For me, it was really the soundtrack of the summer in 2018. Super catchy songs with a sound that was not unfamiliar, but seemed new in this time and context. That album felt inevitable - it was being talked about everywhere. The jangly, clean, and fuzzed-out guitar tones and their balance and contrasts were remarkable. Lindsey Jordan’s lyrics were amazing and the narrative was so relatable. Unfortunately, I was pretty off Snail Mail on 2021’s Valentine. I definitely applaud the effort and the change in sounds, but it lacked what I had fallen in love with on Lush. Hearing the singles leading up to Ricochet, I was excited to hear from Snail Mail again.

The first taste of this new record was “Dead End,” which starts with a mid-tempo drumbeat and a catchy guitar lead. Jordan is at her poppiest she’s ever been, emulating early 2000s Liz Phair instead of the more 90s indie rock comparisons of Snail Mail’s past records. I love the “na na na” at the end, very tasteful. “Tractor Beam” has a similar vibe with its drum machines, but also with orchestration from a Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness track (which is not surprising since she covered “Tonight, Tonight”). Jordan may wear her influences on her sleeve, but it’s enjoyable.

“Light On Our Feet” does sound like a song you’d hear in a retail store, but one of the better ones. I think the mix is maybe a little high on the orchestration at times, taking away from the song. The second half of the record has the majority of highlights like “Agony Freak,” with its metallic guitar lead and rap-rock record scratches taken from a different part of the early 2000s. “Butterfly” is another standout: “I can’t take the pain away,” Jordan sings in the chorus beautifully. The guitar break to the end of the track almost sounds like a different song, not in a bad way. “Nowhere” harkens back to her debut and is a super catchy tune. I love the chord progression and melody of “Hell.” 

With Liz Phair and Avril Lavigne influences, I really think Snail Mail is in her pop-rock era and it's welcomed with Ricochet. It's a pleasant listen, I think levels above Valentine, and I’ll keep going back to it. 

Snail Mail is headlining The Fillmore this Thursday, April 16th with Sharp Pins opening.