Courtney Marie Andrews’ last two albums, 2020’s Old Flowers and 2022’s Loose Future, brimmed with catchy melodies and accessible phrasing, setting a new bar for the singer-songwriter. With her latest sequence, Andrews continues to court the all-mighty hook, her vocal deliveries more nuanced than ever, her lyrics exemplary revealing: Valentine is her most entrancing set to date.
Within the first thirty seconds of the first track, “Pendulum Swing,” Andrews demonstrates her emotional and technical range. “Man, I love a—” she starts, then launches into a higher-pitched and operatic “heart with one foot out the door.” Shimmery acoustic guitars, a droney piano part, and anchoring percussion are precisely blended. The tensions present through the album – ethereality/earthiness, clinging/letting go, persistence/acceptance – are potently introduced.
