You have probably heard the song “Royals” on the radio lately – with its stunning vocal harmonies and percussive background, the song has gained immense popularity and reached the number one spot on Billboard’s top 100 chart. From the sheer success of the single, it would be hard to believe that the song was written and performed by a sixteen-year-old—but that’s exactly who Lorde is. Breakout singer-songwriter Lorde, whose given name is Ella Yelich-O’Connor, released her debut studio album in the U.S. on Monday, Sept. 30. After the quick popularity of her radio single “Royals,” the album, entitled “Pure Heroine,” has been highly anticipated, and those looking for something similar to the single will find a few tracks they like on this album. That being said, the album does feel a bit one dimensional and may leave the listener hoping for something more.
As a whole, the album focuses on vocals and harmonies rather than instrumentals. Much like “Royals,” the majority of the tracks feature a minimalistic background instrumentation that emphasizes percussion and lacks a cohesive melody. “400 Lux,” the second song on the record, seems to have only a simple droning in the background. Though the simplicity of the instrumentals is most likely meant to force listeners to focus on Lorde’s vocals, at times it actually draws the attention away from her voice. Plus, the word “instrumentals” may actually be inappropriate here, as each track features electronic accompaniment rather than acoustic. The synth beats and often thumping bass give the album a bit of a dance pop vibe, with repetitive bass lines throughout.
Yet it is undeniable that the vocals are well-developed and well-executed. This is most evident at the beginning of “Ribs,” which opens with beautifully layered harmonies and builds into a more fast-paced track, the vocals soaring over the top of almost frenzied beats. “Buzzcut Season” is also vocally notable, as Lorde pushes her voice to its limits with an almost-belted chorus and then retreats into a sweet softness during the verses. Additionally, Lorde makes use of well-written harmonies throughout the whole of “Pure Heroine,” adding a bit more vocal depth to each track.
Lyrically, much of the album focuses on themes of teen culture. In the tracks “White Teeth Teens,” “Team” and “Royals,” Lorde critiques the superficiality and excess of her generation. In “White Teeth Teens” she sings, “I am not a white teeth teen / I tried to join but never did / The way they are, the way they seem is something else, it’s in the blood.” Within each of these tracks, Lorde separates herself from the rest of her generation, forming an “us vs. them” mentality that frames her as the better person.
Unfortunately though, other than the hit single “Royals,” none of the songs on “Pure Heroine” really stand out from the others. There are no significant changes in tempo or instrumentation, and though the vocals are always well done, Lorde has a tendency to write similar chord progressions and melodies, which causes the tracks to run together in the listener’s mind. In fact, thinking back on the album as a whole, it is difficult to pinpoint one track that was better or worse than any other.
For a first album (especially one written by a sixteen year old), “Pure Heroine” is an admirable attempt. From the success of “Royals,” it is obvious that Lorde has talent, but unfortunately on this record her talent has not been allowed to fully shine through. The minimalistic instrumentation and lack of variety on the album have drawn the attention away from Lorde’s amazing voice instead of highlighting it. Perhaps she will be able to surprise us in the future as she matures as an artist, but after listening to “Pure Heroine,” it seems that Lorde has a long way to go.
