Why did I review this album? I was impressed with Royals,
so I took a chance on the album
Did I like it? Yes
Will I listen to it again? Yes because her voice and
style fascinate me. The beats are also very relaxing.
The album as a whole was a bit
self-righteous. Part of the reason Royals was one of my favorite songs last
year was its level of charm and wit. It was making fun of the formulaicness of
mainstream music (which I agree with of course). It was almost like a middle
finger to mainstream music (and a satire except it’s not written its sung) and
I loved it, But as you keep listening to the rest of the album she continually
feels the need to tell you how much she hates mainstream music and it started
to ware on me a bit. The funny thing is I agree with her, but there's something
to be said about subtlety. The reason why I enjoy conscious rappers such as Kendrick Lamar, Lupe Fiasco,J. Cole, and others is that they make their
own music but they don’t try to say that they're better than you because they
refuse to follow the norm. While Lorde never says I’m better than you, she
makes light of mainstream music so much she essentially is saying it.
I did like this album. She has
opinions about music, shares them, and doesn't apologize for it. I
can respect that. Also, most artist wouldn't dare make music
about the trivialities of her life, but she does and that gives the album a lot of charm. It’s a refreshing change
from typical albums and a fitting considering her disdain for mainstream music.
I am attracted to and amazed by
people that can do things that I can’t, and as I understand, she wrote the
whole album herself which is an amazing feat.
Also, her voice fascinates me because
I can't quite place where it belongs. It has elements of almost all the genres,
but doesn't quite fit into any of them. Somewhat like an Adele or Amy
Winehouse.
Because her voice is so unique at
the very least she'll be interesting to listen to and as she grows her writing
will improve and she'll probably learn a thing or two about subtlety,
A first album is supposed to
introduce the artist to the audience. Through that, the audience should learn
about the artist’s style. The album should leave the listener with a feeling
that the artist has potential for growth in future works. This album met those
requirements, so I thought it was a valiant first effort and will listen to her
future work.
My Favs
3. Still Sane
2. Team
1. Royals
Overall Rating: 73 with a recommendation to listen then decide
