Thursday, 23 January 2014

Lorde- Pure Heroine Album Review


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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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