96. LORDE / PURE HEROINE - APPLE MUSIC TOP 100 ALBUMS

I imagine there must be a lot of pressure when David Bowie nonchalantly hails you as “the next big thing.” That sort of praise might not mean much coming from anybody else, but this is David Fucking Bowie – a legend whose experimental career ranged from that of a poet to a rock superstar. So when it comes to talking about someone as unique as Lorde, he is one of the few people with the credentials to speak both commercially and artistically. 

This was my first proper listen to this album and I must admit: it is a slow burn. I ended up listening to it three times and found that it grew on me each time. The smokey delivery feels a little bit like a daze, slightly disoriented, yet sharply controlled. There’s power to the themes and concepts that Lorde works with here that are beyond her years (she was about 16 or 17 when she put this collection of songs together). The observations are youthful, but sound almost like someone reminiscing about their adolescence from afar while also still living in it.

More succinctly, this album feels like something from the shy girl in your English lit class would blow your mind sharing before slumping back into a corner desk.  

Albums like this are precisely why this list is a great case study. It would likely never land anywhere near my Top 100, but I can appreciate what it offers. And after a listen or two, I can come away with a stronger appreciation for the artist and the work that they do. This album is also notable for the way it set a standard for one producer, one artist format that would become the norm from future young artists like Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo. 

Would it fit into my Top 100: No, but respect.

Sleeper Track: The build on “Ribs” is superb. An emotional track that makes the most out of its sparse production and layers its vocals to a perfect effect, effectively communicating a connection with a friend that suddenly feels distant.