Album- Pure Heroine
Artist- Lorde
New Zealand singer songwriter Lorde is an artist that just
catapulted into the mainstream in 2013 with her hit song Royals. If I am honest
with you, I still haven’t really jumped on board with the Lorde craze that is
seemingly sweeping the world, but I can see why people like the singer with her
distinctive voice and minimalist style. So in reviewing Pure Heroine I aim to
see whether I should actually really love this artist, whether she is worth all
the hype, or whether actually she is just someone who has just managed to
become a craze and doesn’t really deserve it.
Track 1- Tennis Court
Opening track Tennis Court is the records second single and
finds the singer lyrically tackling the space between an innocent time and her
newfound fame. The lyrics are sharp and feel smart in the way that she
highlights the way that society is a bit desensitised now, whilst she also
highlights that she does what she does because she simply loves it. The song
features a simple vocal performance with Lorde giving us quite a witty style to
her vocal. Production wise the song features a cool blend of snappy electronic
instrumentation with a trip hop flecked rhythm that is fun to listen to, and so
this track starts the record off nicely.
3.5/5
Track 2- 400 Lux
400 Lux finds the singer giving us femme fatale styled pop
in which she sings of this person picking her up once again and loving the
environment and the life that is all around her. The song acts like more of
sweet love song that can tap into the blissfulness of youth, with the title
referencing the sunset/sunrise and so perfectly summing up the beauty that acts
as the essence of the song’s lyrics. Vocally Lorde is a little more languid
with this track and definitely shows off the youth that shrouds her artistry to
great effect. With the fuzzy bass and the crackling pop quality of the
production there is an atmospheric tone to this track that feels wonderful and
kind of joyous to listen to.
3.5/5
Track 3- Royals
The singer’s breakout hit, Royals is a song that originally
featured on the singers The Love Club E.P. The song is an electronic based
track that is minimalist and which is infused with a hip hop style, with the
singer also being influenced by American singer- songwriter Lana Del Ray. Lyrically
Lorde focuses on what is the opulent life of many pop stars and highlighting
the nonsense and darkness of this luxury, with Lorde also focusing on the
simplicity of her life growing up. Once again the singer really shows how
lyrically provocative she can be and how she is a really sharp lyricist at such
a young age, whilst the song is really elevated by the singers lilting vocal
style and the lush harmonies in the chorus. Producer Joel Little does a great
job with the finger snapping groove and toe tapping bass, and so Royals is a
track where you can really hear why people love it and why it deserves the
success it has had.
4/5
Track 4- Ribs
Beginning with this haunting, ambient opening, Ribs is a
potent track that vocally for me really shows the singers appreciation of Lana
Del Ray. The song is lyrically passionate and finds the singer growing up and
becoming a bit more mature, whilst also highlighting that the singer is
starting to face more grown up problems.
What is interesting about the song is the way that it builds in pace and
intensity, with the singer vocally sounding both exhausted and becoming more
frantic as the song progresses. The production also matches this feeling with
the harsh bass and swirling electro rhythms creating this bubbling sound that
shows that this is a girl who understands that life brings problems, and she
allows you to really connect with her, as both the artist and listener are
ultimately just human and vulnerable.
3.5/5
Track 5- Buzzcut
Season
Buzzcut season is a quite melancholic affair that has a
tropical paradise style. Once again the singer is really sharp and powerful in
her analysis of the issues of the world, as she plays the role of a girl trying
to remain blissfully ignorant to the disasters that are going on in the world
and which the news constantly broadcasts. The minimalist production with the
piano beat and clattering instrumentation creates an airy, atmospheric feel to
the track that perfectly matches the idea of blissful ignorance, whilst vocally
the singer is really strong as the layered style creates this air of innocence,
and Lorde portrays herself as being really attached to the message of the song.
3.5/5
Track 6- Team
Third single Team sees Lorde once again tackle the issues
she observes within contemporary pop culture, this time referencing the put
your hands in the air style of a lot of today’s popular music. The song also
focuses on the idea of people from smaller cities being united in experiences
and being disconnected from bigger, more well-known cities. The song is smart
and also changes up the album a bit as the production utilises more synths and hand
claps that almost give the song an arena ready feel. Furthermore, the singer’s
vocals are also nice and a bit different, with the chorus having a lovely
layered style but also showing off a higher element of the singers range. Team
may focus on the problems of the popular, but it also stands on its own as a
beautifully composed, catchy pop song.
4/5
Track 7- Glory and
Gore
With a title like Glory and Gore you would expect this song
to be a dark affair, and Lorde doesn’t disappoint. Here the singer focuses upon
society’s obsession with violence, with the singer fitting into this dark role
of a person who is a victorious gladiator. The dark qualities of the song are
really intriguing, and vocally Lorde is really smart as she creates this
smooth, simple vocal style that is moody and layered in a way that perfectly
brings out the sentiment of the song. The snappy beats of the production
creates a simple but frenzied sound that sits well with the tracks dark
elements, and with the heavy bass drum used in the bridge, this is a song that
works well as a whole package.
3.5/5
Track 8- Still Sane
Lorde goes back to looking at her rise to fame with Still
Sane, whilst also addressing the concept of working and playing. Lyrically the
song is strong as the singer almost makes it seem like we are seamlessly
entering into her thoughts and her processing of her life, whilst the vocal
style is great as the smoky tone of Lorde’s performance is nice, rich and
impactful. Little does a great job with the production in keeping things
slightly vibrant in places with some snappy beats, but in other places things
are much more subdued, and the singer’s voice and lyrics really have the impact
that they deserve.
3.5/5
Track 9- White Teeth
Teens
White Teeth Teens finds Lorde talking of the imperfections
of teenagers and how they present themselves, providing another smart
commentary of life and also nicely showing off her age a little with her
subject matter. Vocally at this point this singer’s smooth, quite haunting style
is very identifiable, but on this occasion the vocal doesn’t have the same kind
of effect on the listener. However the production is great in terms of the
blend of military style drum beats with echoing background vocals and slightly
tinny percussion, creating this cool doo wop style that adds some great
diversity to the record as a whole.
3.5/5
Track 10- A World
Alone
Final track A World Alone is a powerful way to end the
record, in that the song is backed by this dance beat that commands your
attention. The production just has a snappy tone that keeps you invested throughout,
and which nicely flows in a way that allows the lyrics to be more prominent in
places, but which makes you just want to dance in a state of euphoria on other
occasions. The lyrics focus on this kind of love tale in which Lorde expresses
feelings of so many things being wrong in life, but there is that one person
who you can escape with away from people’s judgements, even if that
relationship is doomed. It is a really interesting concept that is styled into
a catchy song, with Lorde giving us a vocal performance that is youthful and
fun and which taps into the passionate, euphoric element to the lyrics.
3.5/5
Final Review
Pure Heroine is a really good album that is sophisticated
and is much more interesting than some of today’s music. Even at her young age,
Lorde is already a really great lyricist, with her songs being great in terms
of the critiques she makes about society. Her vocals are distinctive and
interesting, whilst producer Joel Little works wonders with the minimalist
style of the production that combines a range of different influences and which
just creates an intriguing style for the singer that commands your attention,
with the album also really working well as one coherent piece. In listening to
Pure Heroine I finally feel that I understand the hype around Lorde, and now I
can see that she deserves her success.
9.5/10
Best Track- Team
Worst Track- 400 Lux
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