Valentine is the second studio album by American indie rock musician Snail Mail, released on November 5, 2021, by Matador Records.
Background and writing Lindsey Jordan, known as Snail Mail, tried to begin writing material for her second studio album immediately after her debut, Lush (2018). However, she struggled to write because she was on tour and lacked opportunities for solitude. During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jordan returned to her parents' home in Baltimore, where she began to start working seriously on Valentine. In November 2020, Jordan spent 45 days in a rehab facility in Arizona, an experience she references directly in "Ben Franklin".
According to Snail Mail's Twitter, Jordan stated: "Making this album has been the greatest challenge of my life thus far. I put my entire heart and soul into every last detail. Thank you for sticking with me and trusting me, as I turn the page into the new chapter of The Book of Snail Mail."
Music and lyrics Guitar.com described the album as sounding like a "blend of barbed anti-romance and winsome indie-rock". The album contains elements of hip-hop and yacht rock. It also contains sentimental ballads. The album's instrumentation also employs string sections, drawing comparisons to the Beatles "at their most introspective and austere" from Entertainment Weekly.
Paste referred to Valentine as lyrically a "soundtrack to the trials and tribulations of being a slightly more seasoned though still sensitive twenty-something."
Critical reception
Valentine received critical acclaim upon release, earning a Metacritic score of 88 out of 100 and the 'Best New Music' certification by Pitchfork. Olivia Horn of Pitchfork wrote that Jordan "flirts with pop—sharpening her hooks, reaching for the synths and strings", in contrast to the "limited possibilities of a three-piece rock band" on her previous album Lush. Horn rated the album 8.5/10, stating that Jordan's songwriting was "dazzlingly sharp and passionate". In a review for NME, El Hunt wrote that "Jordan's songwriting is as astute as ever, and her exploration of love here is set to a rich palette of explorative strings and synths", rating the album 5 stars out of 5. Editors at AllMusic gave the album 3.5 starts out of 5, with reviewer Marcy Donelson arguing that while Valentine represents a "bold musical step" for Jordan, it nevertheless "leaves some of her distinctiveness behind". Writing for Slant Magazine, John Amen also rated the album 3.5/5, concluding that "If Lush presented a snapshot of a particular mindset, a woman trapped in a psychological limbo, Valentine captures the blurry nature of an inquiry still in progress."
Accolades +Critics' rankings for Valentine Publication Accolade Rank Entertainment Weekly The 10 Best Albums of 2021 Paste The 50 Best Albums of 2021 Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2021 NME The 50 Best Albums of 2021 Rolling Stone 50 Best Albums of 2021 Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 2021 The New York Times: Lindsay Zoladz Best Albums of 2021 USA Today: Patrick Ryan 5 Best Albums of 2021
Track listing All tracks written by Lindsey Jordan.
Personnel Credits are adapted from the Valentine liner notes.
Musicians Lindsey Jordan – vocals; guitars Alex Bass – bass Ray Brown – drums Alex Farrar – keyboards Katie Crutchfield — backing vocals on "Ben Franklin" Kaitlin Grady – cello on "Light Blue" and "Glory" Stephanie Barrett – cello on "Mia" Jocelyn Smith – viola on "Mia" Kim Ryan – viola on "Mia" Liz Stahr – viola on "Mia" Adrian Pintea – violin on "Mia" Anna Bishop – violin on "Mia" Ellen Riccio – violin on "Mia" Jeannette Jang – violin on "Mia" Meredith Riley – violin on "Mia" Treesa Gold – violin on "Mia"
Production and artwork Brad Cook – producer Lindsey Jordan – producer Alex Farrar — engineer; mixer Tina Tyrell – photography Alexa Lanza – styling
Charts + Chart performance for Valentine Chart (2021) Peakposition US Billboard 200 61 US Alternative Albums 7 US Independent Albums 10 US Top Rock Albums 6
References
External links