Snail Mail Drops 4th Album ‘Ricochet’: Here’s What We Think So Far

With three singles dropped ahead of the album’s March 27 th release, we can make a decent guess as to what ‘Ricochet’ has in store for us. Whereas ‘Lush’ leaned heavily into the rough and abrasive side of indie rock, ‘Valentine’ departed into more of an expansive synth-filled yet still rocking project. ‘Ricochet’ (based on what we know so far) is a mix of the two, it tends to focus a lot on layers and texture, prioritizing building a solid groove over any immediate hooks, though I suspect many fans will come back again and again to many of the slow-burners on display in this project.

“My Maker” feels nostalgic, bringing me back to a time when I listened to Snail Mail and many similar bands quite frequently. This track takes you for the scenic drive but never feels boring or overstays its welcome. The pocket and straightforward rock groove that it falls into is hypnotic and makes the switch to a more swung afro groove all the more satisfying and impressive. “Dead End” and “Tractor Beam” feature great 1-bar riffs that jump out of the gate running with some very memorable verses. Both really give off the impression of summer rock, but are timeless in their own way. In a little blast from the past, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly who their influences are, if anything specific. But these tracks are sure to be the perfect match for the changing of the seasons as we start taking more cruises around town with the windows down.

When this article comes out, the album will be released, so make sure to give the whole thing a listen!