Pure Heroine
At just 16 years old, New Zealand pop singer Ella Yelich-O’Connor—d.b.a. Lorde—captured the top of the pop charts with the smart and wise-beyond-her-years single “Royals,” where she trashes modern pop and hip-hop’s obsession with materialism in favor of a world of love, friendship, and ideas. It’s the best Morrissey song he never wrote. Her earlier *The Love Club EP* primed audiences for what they’d be hearing, but nothing could prepare one for the actual excitement of her debut album’s best cuts. Lorde’s co-conspirator/producer/writer Joel Little ensures that songs like “Tennis Court,” “Ribs,\" and “Buzzcut Season” never lose their way. This is sharp, inspired pop music that knows how much fun it can be to play up to type and then spin things on their heads for a new conclusion.
On her debut album, 16 year-old New Zealand singer-songwriter Ella Yelich-O'Connor, aka Lorde, has fashioned herself as a correspondent on the front lines of elegantly wasted post-digital youth culture and working-class suburban boredom. Pure Heroine is a collection of throbbing, moody, menacingly anesthetized pop.
Auckland, New Zealand’s pop sensation Ella Yelich-O’Connor—stage name Lorde—first signed a record deal at age 13, and it wasn’t long before it began to pay dividends in confidence for the young talent. Last year’s The Love Club EP spawned the worldwide hit “Royals,” meaning the now 16-year-old singer can tout both a…
The New Zealander's debut Pure Heroine is a superlative positioning statement and as much of a game changer as its creator.
She’s smart, opinionated and an exciting new voice in modern pop. But the New Zealander’s debut doesn’t quite live up to the hype
"Don't you think that it's boring how people talk," Lorde hypnotically intones as Pure Heroine, her wildly anticipated debut opens on the confessional "Tennis Court."
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Album review: Lorde, 'Pure Heroine'. The New Zealand newcomer delivers an amazing debut album, featuring the hits 'Royals' and 'Tennis Court'
Lorde shows unusual restraint on her refined and minimalist debut, writes <strong>Killian Fox</strong>
Pure Heroine is an almost raw set of vignettes mostly powered by Lorde’s modest, affectation-free performances.
We all know how it started: a young, aspiring musician is spotted by a wise industry type who notes the incredible talent she has on display, signs her to...
<p>Ella "Lorde" Yelich-O'Connor, at just 16, could be a whole new pop archetype, and her songs are great, writes <strong>Caroline Sullivan</strong></p>