Lorde, born Ella Yellich-O'Connor, is only a month away from turning 17, but you would never suspect as much since her debut single "Royals" was so subtle in both its production and lyrics, it couldn't help but to conquer the global market. A song like that doesn't come along that often, and neither does an artist like Lorde, as her debut full-length "Pure Heroine" proves all too well. Besides "Royals", there are many other cuts here that build off the same stripped down template, such as the opener "Tennis Court" or the magnificent ending triptych of "Still Sane", "White Teeth Teens", and "A World Alone". The latter song crystallizes Lorde's execution and approach; a mix of Ellie Goulding's indie-tronica and Lana Del Rey's cinematic hip-hop beats. For a 16-year old, Lorde doesn't seem all that eager to prove that she's a serious or complex artist, but rather, she lets her melodies be, accessorizing with a few drum machines and synths. This is in sharp contrast to the high-wire EDM acts that have dominated 2013, and it could not feel any more welcome. There may be a virtual absence of guitars or live instruments, but "Pure Heroine" is still wondrously humane, building percussive effects from hand claps, snaps, layers of vocal, anything except a standard drum set. The abstract productions flow from track to track, and the words keep everything moving at an appropriate pace. Most often, these ten tracks are centered around alienation, most obvious in "Royals", but is also presented in more not as subtle ways. The opening line of "Tennis Court" is a good example ("Don't you think it's boring how people talk?"), but what's more giving are the song titles themselves. "A World Alone" is a standout not only because it basically gives away the nature, sound, and attitude of the song, but it also captures Lorde's intentions impeccably. She may not be the social outcast that "Pure Heroine" paints her as, but it's particularly impressive how an adolescent girl can dig below the surface, exposing emotions that we all experience but never acknowledge. Besides her writing prowess and knack for sonic details, her voice is a thick, smoky thing that grounds these songs. An unfortunate side effect of this, however, is that it's the only thing about this record that reveals Lorde's age. She may have talents far beyond her years, but she simply sounds a bit too young for songs like these, especially when she purposely warps her diction to give off an illusion of age. This may wear on through repeated listens, but with the abundance of hooks and conviction here, you can easily overlook this minor flaw. Otherwise, "Pure Heroine" is a tightly sealed 37 minutes of knock-out punches; not one bad apple in the bunch. More, please.
Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. Tennis Court 2. 400 Lux 3. Royals
4. Ribs 5. Buzzcut Season 6. Team
7. Glory and
Gore 8. Still Sane 9. Whit Teeth Teens
10. A World Alone
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