“Pristine” – Snail Mail

1

Nothing beats the solemn instrumentals and honest lyrics that the indie rock band Snail Mail has to offer. Lindsey Jordan, a Maryland native and recent high school graduate, is following up her self-recorded EP Habits (2016) with the release of her new single “Pristine” off her debut album Lush.

“Pristine” is a raw and relatable track. The song is heartfelt and emotional about the “other.” And yet, with the heartache and distress vocalized within the song, there’s a sense of maturity lingering throughout the experience. Though separating from someone you have strong interests towards is tough, the circumstances of the inevitable separation is accepted.  The repetition of the words “anyways” throughout the first two verses of the track mirrors the mental and emotional tug-of-war you’d experience when trying to convince yourself you’re over that person that you’re clearly not over yet. A familiar takeaway from “Pristine” is its longing for normalcy. The relationship that exists after the lustrous turmoil, if any is left, is all that matters – and there’s nothing that can be done to change the situation. All that is sought out for, at the end of it all, is some closure. 

“If it’s not supposed to be
Then I’ll just let it be
And out of everyone
Be honest with me
Who do you change for?
Who’s top of your world?
And out of everyone
Who’s your type of girl?”

To pinpoint why the title track is called “Pristine” can be tricky. Lindsey could still be maintaining her pristine condition, understanding well enough how she operates and how she won’t change for anyone. What’s pristine about the narrative of the song could also be the “other.” Her lingering infatuation with them will be unavoidable, where she would “see [them] in everything, tomorrow and all the time” because of how perfect they might have been. Nonetheless, all that might have been pristine was what they once were in the first place, in which Lindsey hopes to recoup some sense of emotional regularity with it all.

“We can be anything
Even apart
Out of everything
It doesn’t have to be this hard
I could be anyone
But I’m so entwined
And out of everyone
Who’s on your mind?
No more changes
I’ll still love you the same”

Snail Mail’s debut album Lush is set to release in June, with a full headlining tour scheduled around the nation. They’ll also be making two stops nearby; June 12th at the Black Cat (Washington, D.C.) and July 12th at the Parkway Theatre (Baltimore, MD) for their album release party. Tickets are available through Ticketfly. Listen to their single “Pristine” down below:

 

Photo Credit

Author

  • Shahin Rafikian

    Shahin Rafikian is a first-year graduate student in the Communications, Culture and Technology program. Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, he’s spent much of his time in the past few years living off of thrift shop finds, eating at AYCE restaurants, and going to a handful of concerts. His favorite artists at the moment are Billie Eilish, SOPHIE, Mitski, and GFOTY. He has an unhealthy obsession with PC Music artists/affiliates of the label, and regularly mourns for the loss of Charli XCX’s leaked tracks that will never properly see the light of day.

One Response

  1. Ackerman

    The article shows some burning issues and questions that should be discussed and explained.
    In addition, it’s essential to grasp within the detail.
    In the post, one can easily locate something fundamental,
    remarkably for him personally, something which may be extremely helpful.

    I am delighted with all the data I’ve just got.
    Thanks a lot!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *