Lindsey Jordan aka Snail Mail’s recent album Lush was one of the most enthralling indie projects of the summer, a record that seamlessly takes into account the acute restlessness that suburban youth know all too well. The combination of Jordan’s pragmatic self-awareness and commanding guitar prowess makes for a genuine coming of age record, an honest take on kids who feel they are constantly going, yet not really going anywhere in particular.

Lead single “Pristine” is a standout track on Lush, encompassing everything I like about the album into a nice 5-minute package. In an interview with She Shreds Magazine. Jordan accredits her songwriting process to picking the initial melody first, then the backing track, vocal melody, and lyrics last. This is evident on Pristine as the initial driving force is the guitar melody. Jordan is a classically trained guitarist who frequently draws layered minor-chords from youth influences like Velvet Underground, Ought, and Sonic Youth. Sonic Youth in particular comes through as a heavy influence of the chord progression on “Pristine”, in a piece by Vice, Jordan admits she was listening to “Incinerate” as inspiration for the shifting melody. Much like “Incinerate”, the lead guitar is subtly changed for every verse of Pristine, which serves to propel the track forward without it falling flat on listeners’ ears.

Lush is a guitar-driven project through and through, so bass and drums serve as complimentary more than anything. A simple, percussive bass line and minimalistic drums is all this number needs.

The real success of “Pristine” to me though is the lyricism. The single addresses the raw pain of a first love and loss with just as much self-deprecation as it does sincerity. The use of the word “anyways” is highly effective. “Pristine, untraced by the world outside you, anyways.” It’s that subtle “anyways” that grounds a burst of sincere emotion in humility, as if saying “I feel really strongly about this person but at the same time I don’t want to look stupid.”  

Self-awareness is a key triumph of both the single and the record as a whole, whenever Lindsey feels her teenage angst is starting to seep through, she turns it into something to laugh at. When Jordan proclaims in a near-scream “And I know myself, I’ll never love anyone else” she doesn’t seem sad about it, almost laughing at how profound she feels. The wry maturity of Pristine finally peaks in the bridge, in the line “If it’s not supposed to be, then I’ll just let it be.” It’s a very honest statement, a poignant coming-of age realization that some things in life are just not supposed to work out, and that’s okay.

Snail Mail will be returning to DC on December 21st at 9:30 Club, buy your tickets here.