Snail Mail / Lush

Lindsey Jordan is still a teenager (19 years old) who already at that age flirts with a certain popularity -her photogeny and taste for fashion has taken her to the pages of trend magazines such as V- and who lives her sexuality as naturally as possible, supported 100% by her family environment. But none of this affects his music under the name of Snail Mail (his homosexuality is confirmed in the use of genres of some lyrics, little more) of his own volition, which already shows his surprising maturity. A maturity that can also be seen in her compositions, extraordinarily solid and characteristic of an experienced artist, which stand out above the label "indie 90s" which, today, applies very well to its sound.
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Because if there is one thing this debut album by the Baltimore artist states, it is that its potential is above the nostalgic tic that refers to Sebadoh, Liz Phair or the Belgians Bettie Serveert -and that, on the other hand, to younger ears it will sound like pure effervescence; a question of perspective- and relates it, in some way, to contemporary projects such as Waxahatchee, Alvvays or Girlpool. Snail Mail has more to do with Fiona Apple (her great artistic reference), Lucy Dacus, Courtney Barnett and even with Kurt Vile (especially in the use of some guitars), while what stands out about her songs is not so much her style but her ability as an author.
"crying while devouring a big tub of ice cream"). Although, more than the rupture itself, in these messages addressed in a "direct" way to the second person, Jordan succeeds in portraying the evolution of his state of mind, from denial and initial tearing, through sadness and mourning to the recovery of self-esteem and, finally, saying goodbye and turning the page. Thus, he endows this 'Lush' with a drama that sustains the unity of the album over the hook of his songs. An aspect that Lindsey does not neglect either: 'Pristine', 'Full Control', 'Heat Wave' (not to be missed is his video set in the ice hockey he loved to practice and whose sexism he couldn't stand) and, above all, 'Golden Dream' are touched by his particular magic wand, some prodigious melodic twists that frighten any shadow of homogeneity (something that can always hold a record of strict voice-guitar-under-battery like this one).Let's Find An Out' (what a last verse!).) or that final 'Anytime' ('Intro', the beginning of the album, is a brief reprise of this theme, closing a circle), with a dramatic zenith halo taken from a Broadway musical classic, 'Annie' style. ,
All of this dressed up with lyrics that combine the explicit with hermeticism and, above all, displays a touching pathos (perhaps involuntary) with which it is impossible not to want to tuck her in and protect her from that "green eyes" that she has had such a hard time with. Although it gives the impression that it doesn't need it: its lyrics, even registering the own tantrum of those who don't want to be abandoned, shows a beautiful temperance in verses like "Quémalo cuando quieras / Lo que se ha perdido te pertenece / Alguien debería pagar por ello / Pero no sé quién" ('Let's Find An Out') or "Tengo todo el control / No estoy perdida / Incluso cuando se trata de amor / Incluso cuando se trata de desamor" ('Full Control'). Like the birth of a new artist that is, 'Lush' has some slight hesitation (monochorde sin, sometimes), but that reminds us that these are just her first steps and that the best of Snail Mail is yet to come.

Qualification: 8,2/10
The best: 'Golden Dream', 'Pristine', 'Heat Wave', 'Anytime', 'Let's Find An Out'
You'll like it if you like it : Waxahatchee, Alvvays, Lucy Dacus
Listen to him: Spotify