Pure Heroine
by Lorde
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 1392 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,291 out of 1392
  2. Mixed: 45 out of 1392
  3. Negative: 56 out of 1392
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  1. Buubs
    Sep 30, 2013
    10
    This album is so amazing, Lorde explored a new sound, different from other Indie artists, and the result is Pure Heroine, all the songs are catchy, I do not get tired of hearing.
  2. samukahn
    Oct 11, 2013
    10
    I agree almost word for word with the pitchfork review, but I think they left out one important fact...it is absolutely impossible to stop listening to this album. My favorite albums of the last five years are "This is happening" and "It's Blitz." I don't think Lorde has quite yet achieved the sophistication of James Murphey's lyrics and production, but man, for pure addictive music, "PureI agree almost word for word with the pitchfork review, but I think they left out one important fact...it is absolutely impossible to stop listening to this album. My favorite albums of the last five years are "This is happening" and "It's Blitz." I don't think Lorde has quite yet achieved the sophistication of James Murphey's lyrics and production, but man, for pure addictive music, "Pure Heroine" is absolutely unmatched.… Expand
  3. alexanderab
    Oct 11, 2013
    10
    There shouldn't have to be reviews written for this album. Ella Yelich O'Connor, better known as Lorde, cranks out 10 masterpieces that show no weakness and will please the ears of pop music listeners. Her appeal is wide-ranging and intriguing.

    The overall theme of the album is minimalist, and the catchy alt-pop and tremendous songwriting displayed on the record is indicative of the    There shouldn't have to be reviews written for this album. Ella Yelich O'Connor, better known as Lorde, cranks out 10 masterpieces that show no weakness and will please the ears of pop music listeners. Her appeal is wide-ranging and intriguing.

    The overall theme of the album is minimalist, and the catchy alt-pop and tremendous songwriting displayed on the record is indicative of the potential Joel Little and Lorde have working together. Lorde's lyrics are thoughtful, mature, pleasing, and clever. Little's production fits the themes of the songs very well, and though he isn't Stargate when it comes to the beats department, he isn't DJ Mustard either. His production is good across the board.

    Every track stands out in its own way, but if I had to pick a few to listen to:

    Royals
    Team
    Tennis Court
    Bravado
    Ribs

    Yeah, I would have to pick half the album.

    I've already talked about the songwriting, but Lorde's voice is gold. She cruises through songs smoothly while displaying an impressive lower range that's both comforting and haunting at the same time.

    100% a must buy. The fact that she's 16 is just the icing on one of the sweetest cakes of 2013.    … Expand
  4. ThirdWorld
    Oct 18, 2013
    10
    This album is so good it is scary. From her anti-prom queen and anti-mainstream agendas to the simple yet very effective production this album is a masterpiece. Just by listening to it I feel like I know her, I can picture her town the characters in her lyrics very easily. And last but not least her vocals and very catchy choruses. This album shall be on a loop for a very longtime.
  5. unknown
    Oct 1, 2013
    10
    This album is probably the best of the year. Lorde is in a genre of her own and I don't think that she can be compared to any other artist out there today.
  6. maneville
    Oct 8, 2013
    10
    This album is so refreshing amongst all the other pop albums out today. Lorde adds so much depth to already unique beats through her lyrics. It is easy to listen to the album multiple times.
  7. Brosman
    Oct 10, 2013
    9
    The very simple and minimalistic beats mix extremely well with her voice. Its good to see someone singing from the heart and not conforming to the mainstream. Good to see pop is headed in a good direction.
  8. josephay
    Oct 11, 2013
    10
    truly a tremendous album! every song is so well produced and catchy and the lyrics are amazing. no reason not to buy this absolute gem. all 10 songs are awesome.
  9. diptadg
    Dec 7, 2013
    10
    Really really good....Almost surpassed my expectations.My friend suggested this album to me and I am grateful to him for it. The song 'Royals' is the most catchy song of the whole album. The other songs are also very good. Hats off to Lorde!!!
  10. ledoraa
    Jun 16, 2014
    10
    A suburban teenagers dream. Perfectly written, incomparable melodies and amazing fluidity.

    Ella Marija Lani Yellich O'Connor's (Lorde) debut album is amazing. There isn't a weak song in the 10 superb ones on the record. Her and Joel Little create magic!
  11. jdoyle
    Oct 5, 2014
    10
    Listening to this album, I noticed how nowadays people often create music that attempts to dictate how young people should be living their lives. Partying, socializing, and having fun. But the reality is that none of it is true. Lorde talks about the truth behind teenhood. Boredom, friendship, and fear. For some, this album may be hard to relate to. If you cant, the only you'll find hereListening to this album, I noticed how nowadays people often create music that attempts to dictate how young people should be living their lives. Partying, socializing, and having fun. But the reality is that none of it is true. Lorde talks about the truth behind teenhood. Boredom, friendship, and fear. For some, this album may be hard to relate to. If you cant, the only you'll find here is a nice voice with minimalist instrumentals. But there is so much more here than that. If you are very young, hold this off for a little while before listening to it. But for people who spent (or still spending) their teen years being bored, working, or worrying about the future, this is something that everyone should listen to.… Expand
  12. adhamhany
    Jan 11, 2014
    10
    I can't believe i didn't hear this album until today.

    Very smart lyrics. The minimalist music gives room for Lorde to showcase her singing, which is a pleasure to the ears. Not to mention that, in its own right, the music itself is pretty gorgeous.

    Of course, some tracks are forgettable. But the majority here is amazing tracks. This is easily one of the best albums released in 2013.
  13. MikefromAngus
    Dec 29, 2013
    10
    Very limit number of instruments, yet. The albums is amazing! The vocals are great, all tracks are good as well. Definitely, Lorde is the future of music!
  14. Yoshipie
    Dec 21, 2013
    10
    Pure Heroine is a display of 10 beautifully written and performed tracks; it is an artistic showcase of pure talent that you would not expect from a 16 year old. It is almost like as if Lorde invented a new sound, which is a major stand-out from other mainstream artists. Stand-outs are Royals (undoubtedly) and Tennis Court. Massive congratulations to Lorde for her recent success.
  15. 30la
    Dec 21, 2013
    10
    Simply a precious masterpiece.
    Every song grips in it's uniqueness and does not let go for a long time.
    A triumph for a newly discovered talent.
    All my hopes for Lorde to keep the level.
  16. Sendy
    Dec 8, 2013
    10
    A really, really new sound on the global music industry, Lorde is bringing us a really new level to alternative music (it's not pretty beat-y). The minimalistic sound that the album had may be a great choice for relaxing your minds. Especially per tracks:

    'Tennis Court' Pretty much pop and pretty much skater swag. '400 Lux' Unusual 'Royals' Only beats, bass, and Lorde 'Ribs'    A really, really new sound on the global music industry, Lorde is bringing us a really new level to alternative music (it's not pretty beat-y). The minimalistic sound that the album had may be a great choice for relaxing your minds. Especially per tracks:

    'Tennis Court' Pretty much pop and pretty much skater swag.
    '400 Lux' Unusual
    'Royals' Only beats, bass, and Lorde
    'Ribs' Sweet night techno-minimal.
    'Buzzcut Season' A perfect firefly pop.
    'Team' Kinda ironic, because the songs uses handclaps and the lyrics contain "anti-handclap'
    'Glory and Gore' Mini-rock.
    'Still Sane' Lana Del Rey
    'White Teeth Teens' Reminds me of Spain and Jake Bugg.
    'A World Alone' Next potential single.

    for the next chapter, it's pretty sweet if Lorde and Joel Little collaborate again.    … Expand
  17. lkaliba
    May 31, 2014
    10
    "Pure Heroine" by Lorde is just a fantastic album. Every song on this album is very relatable and songs that you can sing-along to, and Lorde's voice is just captivating.
  18. hobart_barista
    Oct 6, 2013
    7
    There is a general backdrop of claps, basic synths and vocal backups that make the album quite predictable. It almost feels they've just put different lyrics onto the same song.There is an odd sense of wisedom in the lyrics, despite the young timbre of the vocals. However the incessant self-referencing is somewhat unbearable.The music is generally minamilistic.
    Tennis court is a stand    There is a general backdrop of claps, basic synths and vocal backups that make the album quite predictable. It almost feels they've just put different lyrics onto the same song.There is an odd sense of wisedom in the lyrics, despite the young timbre of the vocals. However the incessant self-referencing is somewhat unbearable.The music is generally minamilistic.
    Tennis court is a stand out. Following that is 400 Lux. That slightly husky voice breaking from singing to speech and soft percussion and touches of electronica.

    Royals has more dynamicism in the vocals, but still that non-chalant percussion. The lyrics are fine. She's cracked the code to life, and she's not like other musos who constantly talk about diamonds and vodka. However, one would question that she talks about having no money. Sure bruh, sure. Don't look into it but it might come off as a little hypocritical It's definitely a song the audience can identifiy with though.

    Ribs has a beat to it, defo more electro. With mainstream lyrics it doesn't immediately stand out, but it's definitely on the stronger side musically, a break from the first three songs which have a similiar formula. The bridge in this dance song is particularly great.

    Buzzcut season has an army/war theme to it. Again the matter of friendship comes to hand. Her and her friend live in a ethereal journey, where everything is good. 'Reality is the one who wins, so join it' say the men. But they have other things on their mind. It has a generic, yet cool little beat to it. The vocals swell with the imagery.

    Team starts out with a good vocal intro, a bit of lyrical repitition and even vocal effects. yay. Then those claps come in again. She sings about growing up in a different world, and the unity of the people who have done this. Did they Control C V those synths? The verse and chorus are not too much different from eachother, inbetween is this little bit:

    'Dancin' around the lies we tell
    Dancin' around big eyes as well, oh...
    Even the comatose, they don't dance and tell'

    There are fightin words in Glory and gore, four hundred and thirteen of them. I'm beginning to feel as if their should be a label, Warning: References of self-references. This one talks about how they're gladiators and the audience lusts after blood between famous people, but the only reason they're famous is because they are in the ring...and they secretly love it. This is where my anger kicks in. From a lyrical stand point, this gets no rapport. I can't identify with this, not many can. To do this constantly is very annoying and not one of the hallmarks of any great writers, or many good ones even. To those who consider it a lyrical masterpiece, please consider.

    Still sane starts out with some soft bass, and finally a few hits on the ride. Uncreative keyboard eigth notes come in later. However the penultimate verse has some of the nicer percussion of the album.You can guess what the songs about, based on the title. They're still sane even after becoming famous. Cool man. In general the lyrics are bit less image-focused, more vague.

    White teeth teens- This is a stand out. It's nice to have a change of pace. It could be about dating or it could be about the cool group at school, and I'm more inclined to think the latter. It's a smidge faster and the drums come in not long after you press play and it just seems different. This along with the last track provide a different sound for the end of the album. I particularly like the outro, check it. There are some XX rhythmic vibes in the bass and kick.

    A world alone Slightly melancholy guitar starts. Then singing. Then it comes to life.The lyrics speak of a friendship amongst people who just talk. There is a starkness to the lyrics, but also love. A fav.

    Good: A few good hooks really make this album, mostly in Royals and Tennis court. The vocals are quite well done and nothing seems out of place within any of the songs.
    Bad: Their sound gets very predictable. I'm looking at you Synths, Vocals, and Percussion. Also there is fistfulls of melodrama that smack you in the face, I also hear Lana is abusive.
    Themes: friendship, anti-money, you're place in the world
    Favs: Ribs (although lyrics a little ho-hum) and a word alone, Buzzcut season also a five star rating.    … Expand
  19. manaphy
    Jun 13, 2017
    10
    As someone who listened to a lot of music, I am so shocked that Ella was able to write this album at such a young age, and have it be as timeless and masterclass as it is. I'm writing this in 2017, as this album still continues to influence society, with catchy hits like "Team" and "Royals" still being in the spotlight.
    While there's many elements that go into the perfect piece, but the    As someone who listened to a lot of music, I am so shocked that Ella was able to write this album at such a young age, and have it be as timeless and masterclass as it is. I'm writing this in 2017, as this album still continues to influence society, with catchy hits like "Team" and "Royals" still being in the spotlight.
    While there's many elements that go into the perfect piece, but the one that is most significant to me is the lyrics written by Lorde. The themes of this album will surprise you, covering areas of youth, growing up, mainstream media, and will invoke emotions throughout. Lorde will have you feeling empowered with songs like "Bravado" but will also have you in a state of nostalgia and vulnerability with tracks like "Ribs" and "A World Alone."
    Lorde is able to use her voice in a variety of ways, and the beats and synth's that her voice are layered over make it sound like liquid gold. She has an attitude in her voice when needed, but also a pure softness at other times. The way she harmonizes with herself in the background of songs like "The Love Club" and "400 Lux" is so unique and done so perfectly.
    Must Listen tracks: Buzzcut Season, Bravado, A world Alone, White Teeth Teens    … Expand
  20. paulwilsonlogic
    Jan 1, 2014
    8
    Despite her only 16 or 17 years old, Lorde has shown a piece of brilliant creativity. She could easily be the beginning of a new generation of adolescents that go directly to the core of the real music. The New Zeland girl doesn't hide her real desires about a change of a world full of "crystal, maybach, jet planes, islands or tigers on a gold leash". Sincere and genuine, there's no doubtDespite her only 16 or 17 years old, Lorde has shown a piece of brilliant creativity. She could easily be the beginning of a new generation of adolescents that go directly to the core of the real music. The New Zeland girl doesn't hide her real desires about a change of a world full of "crystal, maybach, jet planes, islands or tigers on a gold leash". Sincere and genuine, there's no doubt that Lorde won't give her arm to sprain. Although she's just starting and there's a lot of way to go, "Pure Heroine" will always be a peculiar piece of pop that our eardrums will always be disposed to listen to.… Expand
  21. Mab_987
    Oct 27, 2013
    9
    I should put a little disclaimer here: this review is gonna be a bit positively biased, because as annoyed as I am by it basically becoming a selling point for her, she's 16. And considering both that I'm her age and that I'm an aspiring musician myself, I can't help but be particularly happy about her sudden success. And aside from that, her mainstream breakthrough single Royals isI should put a little disclaimer here: this review is gonna be a bit positively biased, because as annoyed as I am by it basically becoming a selling point for her, she's 16. And considering both that I'm her age and that I'm an aspiring musician myself, I can't help but be particularly happy about her sudden success. And aside from that, her mainstream breakthrough single Royals is easily one of my favorite pop hits of 2013. It basically talks about being sick of the annoyingly recurring themes of excess & wealth that have plagued a lot of pop & hip hop music on the radio over the last decade or so. But one other thing I appreciate about it is how this sentiment is handled. This song could've easily been nothing but preachy & obnoxious pseudo-hipster drivel. But weaved within this bashing of music lacking substance & relatability is an admission that she'd love to be able to live that kind of lifestyle, but is just annoyed by these people feeling the need to brag about their possessions in the music they're selling to the masses. And now we have her debut album Pure Heroine, which could be one of my top albums of 2013 by year's end.

    Royals combines a lot of Pure Heroine's best traits. One interesting thing going on consistently musically is how sparse the production is. On a good majority of the album there's nothing in the instrumental mix but an electronic beat, an atmospheric synth & occasionally some self-backing vocals with great harmonies. I get how on paper for some people this might result in an album that's boring, monotonous & void of variety. Fortunately though, things are kept interesting by incredibly catchy melodies & various tempo changes from song to song. If anything this kind of minimalist approach helps to emphasize the album's main appeal, the vocals & lyrics. But again that's not to say there's nothing interesting in what's surrounding it. Ribs has a very creative structure, starting with an ambient minute-long intro before going into a back-and-forth switching between speeds Lorde sings some of the verses in, which helps bring out a mix of emotions in the lyrics being repeated. The thing to pull it all together is Lorde's great voice, which manages to gets the ideas being expressed across effectively without the need for obnoxious belting or showing off, which are common crimes in a lot of music where the voice is the main attraction. Not only that, but nothing here is forgettable, and there's never a filler moment in this concise, 10-track, 37-minute listen.

    Lyrically the main 2 themes being portrayed are biting social commentary & vivid thought processes in dealing with newfound fame. With the former, it's tackled from a few different angles. Aside from Royals & the similarly themed Team, there's tracks like Buzzcut Season and Glory And Gore, which talk about the mainstream news media's 2 opposite problems: covering pop culture & celebrity gossip instead of the real problems in the world, and exaggerating & exploiting these problems to the point where people watching either become paranoid pessimists or don't take these issues as seriously as they should. They're messages that contradict each other on the surface but make sense when you really think about it. On the more personal side of things you have tracks like Tennis Court, Still Sane & A World Alone, which detail Lorde coming to terms with her seemingly out-of-nowhere popularity. Now in most cases for me this would be questionable, since how can you talk about your big-time success on your debut album? But you have to think about the context; in New Zealand Royals was already #1 back in March, making her a very big deal in her home country by the time this album was being written. There's talk of getting on planes to tour, dealing with the pressures of scrutiny & criticism, and fearing that she'll end up just another trashy egotistical pop star. One other track worth specifically mentioning is White Teeth Teens, which details O'Connor's disinterest with being one of the perfect popular kids. Fortunately though, like “Royals”, it avoids the typical pitfalls of that kind of message. It doesn't portray these people as one-dimensional villains, but as just a different class she tried to & later gave up being a part of. And all of these themes get the messages across clear while never resorting to illiterate spoon-feeding.

    I can really say nothing negative about this album. It keeps a consistent & distinct sound while never letting tracks bleed together, the lyrics are sincere, on-point & relatable, and the best part is that her song is #1, which is just another sign, if not the defining one, of balance finally being restored on the pop charts in terms of quality. If you're into these traits & have an appreciation for great pop music with some electronic influences, listen to this ASAP.

    Top 5 tracks: Royals, Tennis Court, Still Sane, A World Alone, Ribs
    Score: 94/100    … Expand
  22. justachair
    Apr 30, 2014
    8
    Lorde is 16, though she definitely sounds older and more mature that most 30-year-old pop stars out there. Since "Royals" we knew this hipster twist on the rap and pop marriage would deliver an outstanding album, full of equally as catchy songs. Lorde delivered "Pure Heroine", a title that fits perfectly because the album feels like a drug: Eccentrically weird and psychedelic journeyLorde is 16, though she definitely sounds older and more mature that most 30-year-old pop stars out there. Since "Royals" we knew this hipster twist on the rap and pop marriage would deliver an outstanding album, full of equally as catchy songs. Lorde delivered "Pure Heroine", a title that fits perfectly because the album feels like a drug: Eccentrically weird and psychedelic journey through the mind of a real, down-to-earth teenanger. If that is what Heroine tastes like.
    The album opens with the "explicit" (I put it between punctuations for a reason) "Tennis Court", a song that already opens up for the lyrical masterpieces the album, as Pure Heroine is mainly beautifully composed. Sometimes, the marriage between the ironic poetry and the synth beats do not work ("Still Sane" and "400 Lux" are perfect examples. They are not bad, but they feel seriously under-produced in comparison to the other songs).
    Of course the anti-pop queen delivers killing phrases. "I am kind of over being told to throw my hands up in the air" she shouts at the ultra-catchy "Team", and guess what, I'm kind of over too! In "Glory and Gore" maybe, the album slips from the catchy into a more metal hip hop fusion of savvy "Ohhs" and filters.
    "Pure Heroine" is a unique debut album that doesn't play safe but doesn't excel in quality. Lorde, with her ominous vocals, delivered an album full of hipster propaganda, heavenly choirs and dark, gothic rythms ready to swallow like a pill. It is real suburban teenagehood, and it is as good as as it gets.    … Expand
  23. Markosvini
    May 4, 2014
    10
    ELA ESCREVE MUITO BEM, ELA E UM GÊNIO... CONSEGUI SE EXPRESSAR EM ÁLBUM COMPLETO E CHEIO DE HITS, NÃO QUE EU GOSTE DA SUA PERSONALIDADE... MAS ELA É UMA ÓTIMA ESCRITORA.
  24. Jamison12
    Apr 6, 2014
    8
    It might be considered cool to not like Lorde and be a "non-conformist' but in reality, Pure Heroine is a very well made album and proves Lorde's un-denying talent as a young artist. It's a nice stray from the generic pop music we all hate.
  25. camilosanchez16
    Dec 15, 2014
    8
    Lorde, Lorde, Lorde... Hay Lorde... eres sorprendente, sacas tu primer album y ¡WOW! nos demuestras lo madura y profesional que puede ser una chica de 18 años como cantante... Letras profundas y un pegadizo ritmo pop minimalistico, excelente trabajo!
  26. MovieGoer14
    Dec 1, 2013
    9
    Lorde's debut album "Pure Heroine" serves much more delighting messages than having sex and doing drugs and partying all the time. The one most impressive (from countless positive messages) is being yourself and don't hope for much than you have it could turn against you, like her most successful song that grabbed most of the critics and people "Royals". "Royals" was called as racy,Lorde's debut album "Pure Heroine" serves much more delighting messages than having sex and doing drugs and partying all the time. The one most impressive (from countless positive messages) is being yourself and don't hope for much than you have it could turn against you, like her most successful song that grabbed most of the critics and people "Royals". "Royals" was called as racy, stupid, weird, dumb. NO. It is actually very unique in style and rich on content. Not all of Lord's songs are perfect but they are either rated as "Really Good" "Different (in a good way)" or all of the above plus "Perfect". Pure Heroine is rather the album of the year.… Expand
  27. JacksReviews
    Oct 11, 2013
    10
    Easily the best album of the year, I found Lorde half a year ago when I listened to 'Royals' and got hooked instantly. Incredible artist, incredible music. A+
  28. DennisR
    Nov 16, 2013
    9
    I love her so much and this is a fantastic album!! Some songs sound the same but it's ok!! I love the raspiness that she brings out in her voice. She has a bright future ahead of her
  29. abhiroopsen
    Mar 29, 2014
    10
    Pure Heroine is the best record of the year, period. Each song, each rhythm, each lyric, an absolute masterpiece, and to think that Lorde is only 17 years old. Beyond the mainstream hits like Royals and Team, which are excellent songs by the way, the album contains subtler songs like A World Alone, which I think is the anthem for today's youth, and White Teeth Teens, which talks aboutPure Heroine is the best record of the year, period. Each song, each rhythm, each lyric, an absolute masterpiece, and to think that Lorde is only 17 years old. Beyond the mainstream hits like Royals and Team, which are excellent songs by the way, the album contains subtler songs like A World Alone, which I think is the anthem for today's youth, and White Teeth Teens, which talks about today's adolescents. A must listen to anyone who loves Pop or Alternative music. Let's see what Lorde comes up with next, and I'll be waiting at the edge of my seat.… Expand
  30. godwinkent888
    Feb 28, 2014
    9
    I love this album. Lorde is definitely one of my favorite musicians. Her voice is very relaxing and distinct and her songwriting is very expressive, although it may take some time to realize what she is talking about in her songs.
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Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Most Discussed Album of 2013
12
#12 Most Shared Album of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. cokemachineglow
    Feb 4, 2014
    90
    It’s the music here, not the sharp-toothed lyricism, which sets the record so far apart from the rest of the field.
    Read full review
  2. Q Magazine
    Nov 22, 2013
    80
    It isn't perfect but it adds up to an intimidatingly assured opening shot from a major new talent. [Dec 2013, p.108]
  3. The Fly (UK)
    Nov 1, 2013
    70
    Whilst Lorde’s world creates its own incredibly distinctive atmosphere, it feels accessible and open to maturing.
    Read full review
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