Album Review - Lorde / Pure Heroin

It Lorde's life was the movie Pretty in Pink you could easily picture her as Andie mocking the likes of Ke$ha and Miley Cyrus.

"I'm kind of over getting told to throw my hands up in the air
So there
I'm kinda older than I was when I rebelled without a care
So there"

She delivers empowering teen angst in a witty voice that is easily relatable to adults.  Maybe its because that a wit like that is usually reserved for adults that have the luxury of hindsight.  Imagine Morrisey without the whining and you have Lorde.

"I've never seen a diamond in the flesh
I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies
And I'm not proud of my address,
In a torn-up town, no postcode envy"

Had this album came out in the mid 80's it would have been filed under Goth somewhere near the Clan of Xymox.  And I do not mean that in a bad way.




But it is the 2010's and it is now mainstream.  It speaks to a whole new group of moody teens...and adults.  A group of people that are smiling on the inside instead of the outside as they give a big 'Fuck You' to the other side of the tracks.

 "We live in cities you'll never see on screen
Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run things
Living in ruins of the palace within my dreams
And you know, we're on each other's team"

Lorde is Ella Maria Lani Yelich-O'Connor.  The moody grooves she delivers give you the feeling that the is older than she is.  She is 17 and still lives with here parents in New Zealand.  And she doesn't like to smile. 

 

 While secluded in the Studio in New Zealand with Joel Little they recorded ten perfect tracks.  When the record company gave a collective 'Meh' she plucked five of the tunes from the recording session and placed them on Soundcloud as The Love Club EP.  Before everyone knew it it topped Spotify and iTunes overthrowing Miley Cyrus.

With its success out came the full length album, Pure Heroin.  Which is her way of covering her shy sensibilities with Bravado.  I guess Kanye West does have some influence.

Beyond the tracks that get played on the radio (Royals, Tennis Court, Team) there are plenty of other, ambient and insightful tracks.  Seven more to be exact.  I could almost hear Robert Smith singing over the music for 'Buzzcut Season' during The Cure's Disintegration years. 

Do yourself a favor and give it a listen.  Many listens.  Let it come to you and do not just write it off as teen rebellion.

You may even smile.

Don't hurt yourself.  Lol. 

See you when the needle drops!

Fran

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