Lorde stuns with album “Pure Heroine”

By Samantha Pinsky
Staff Writer

Musically, “Pure Heroine” is a drug that is more than worth being hooked on.

Although it lacks variety, up-and-coming singer Lorde’s debut album, “Pure Heroine,” lives up to its addictive title with thoughtful lyrics founded on the young artist’s distinctive maturity.

Born Ella Yelich-O’Connor, Lorde is a 16-year-old singer-songwriter from Auckland, New Zealand. Her music is reminiscent of that of Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding with its soft, playful quality.

Lorde’s EP, “The Love Club,” was released in 2012 and stood as number one in the New Zealand charts and later topped the U.S. top 100. She is currently finishing her tour throughout the United States.

The charm of “Pure Heroine” stems from its minimalistic background music, which is often paired with hand snaps to mimic acappella songs. The setup allows for the majority of the listener’s focus to be placed on the talented singer’s vocal and gives the album a calm and pleasant feel.

One of the most appealing aspects of the album is its insightful lyrics that express Lorde’s mature outlook, despite her young age. Throughout her album, Lorde provides commentary on the life of the modern teen, which revolves around materialism, partying and relationships. This cynical content distinguishes her from other popular artists of today, who encourage illicit activities, brilliantly demonstrating the young artist’s maturity.

This denouncing of materialism of society is most evident in “Royals” by referring to the overpriced cars, watches and liquor that reflect the superficiality and gluttony of today’s society. She accepts that she “didn’t come from money,” yet is still able to enjoy life, poking fun at the childishness of her peers, such as Ke$ha and Birdy.

The album’s only downfall is its lack of variety among the tracks. Their similar tempos, melodies, and vocals make it difficult to determine when one song ends and the next begins, which turns out to be more boring than skillful.

Ultimately, “Pure Heroine” is a success and suggests that there are many more beautiful works to come from the young New Zealander songwriter.

“Pure Heroine” was released on Sept. 27 and is available digitally and in retail for $9.99.