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. dan_mellark
    Aug 28, 2021
    10
    Pure Heroine captura de una manera muy buena lo que es la adolescencia; esta etapa tan complicada para muchos, donde las emociones pueden llegar a abrumarnos.
  2. vibi
    Jul 9, 2022
    10
    This album is something special. It has a true sense of identity paired with beautiful vocals. Perfect in every single aspect.
  3. SmellyJelly
    Sep 9, 2022
    10
    For a new artist, it is very talented to make such an album. Obviously, critics underestimated the album, and even the picky David Bowie said that she was "the future of music".
  4. georgetheod73
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    She was 15 when she started crafting this and the fact that it changed music forever has a lot to say about Ella's talent. 10/10 album
  5. 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
  6. stfuadam
    Feb 21, 2016
    9
    I always liked this album, but I'm only now coming to truly appreciate it. I really can't believe she was only 16 when this came out. A cohesive, engaging album.
  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. 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
  9. Carlsdil000
    Oct 25, 2013
    9
    Very interesting, very likable, Lorde makes her mark with this album. Very mature and serious, these songs are nice to listen to if you want a relaxing time. These songs have a deeper meaning to them than most of what is released these days. In a world full of hits and misses, this album is definitely a hit.
  10. jordanjaprice
    Oct 2, 2013
    9
    Lorde is still very young, and so, yes, there are some oversights, but I am so incredibly impressed by the imagery and the mood she lays down so easily. Disturbed suburbia, too-good-to-be-true bland teenage years. What a specific thing, but it's such a triumph. Buzzcut Season is my favourite.
  11. JudgeMathew
    May 18, 2014
    9
    It's the album that the music industry as required for a long time...while it's musically not all that impressive, it's definitely the image and views of Lorde which put the majority of the music industry to shame with the lack of talent and creativity which has been spread like wildfire for the last fifteen to twenty years. Lorde is the Marilyn Manson of the new age, just not with theIt's the album that the music industry as required for a long time...while it's musically not all that impressive, it's definitely the image and views of Lorde which put the majority of the music industry to shame with the lack of talent and creativity which has been spread like wildfire for the last fifteen to twenty years. Lorde is the Marilyn Manson of the new age, just not with the attempts of offensiveness.… Expand
  12. 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
  13. marcmyworks
    Nov 13, 2013
    9
    Probably the best album of 2013. Lorde's sound can not be matched as she proves at 16 she is a true original. Download: Glory and Gore, Team, Tennis Court, 400 Lux.
  14. matthewdeane12
    Mar 20, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. After hearing Royals, and with all the hype surrounding this release, I had to give it a listen. And I can proudly say it is now one of my favourite albums of all time. From the awe-inducing minimalist hip-hop production and her bold vocals to the catchy and captivating lyrics this album is full off and the fact that Lorde is still only a teenager really left me completely dumbstruck. The only thing I can say about this album is LISTEN TO IT!… Expand
  15. 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.
  16. BobMerril
    Apr 6, 2014
    9
    This album is my first review on Metacritic. The composition of this album is clever and clear. Her voice cuts through the instrumentals and electronics. I thoroughly enjoyed this CD from start to finish. One of those albums to close your eyes and shut out the world or put in the car and roll the windows down. Most of these songs are very catchy and you will find yourself singing orThis album is my first review on Metacritic. The composition of this album is clever and clear. Her voice cuts through the instrumentals and electronics. I thoroughly enjoyed this CD from start to finish. One of those albums to close your eyes and shut out the world or put in the car and roll the windows down. Most of these songs are very catchy and you will find yourself singing or humming one or two of them. There isn't a song on the album that I didn't enjoy.

    That being said it's not perfect. There are times where the bass punches a bit too much for my taste. Also, her voice may not appeal to all comers. She has a breathy and airy quality to her voice which has been heard before. Some lyrics flow better than others and at times if you listen carefully you can notice that they echo that she still is just a teenager.

    For a debut album this is a strong release. I look forward to hearing what comes next from Lorde. If you are on the fence based on what you've heard on the radio, she is definitely worth a listen the entire album through.    … Expand
  17. Jubilarian
    Apr 12, 2014
    9
    This album is very surprising at how excellent it is compared to other "Pop" artists today.

    When first hearing Royals, I thought that Lorde was another person who had one hit and slowly lost their popularity. But as more singles came out, I knew that she was different and unique. So I took a chance and bought this album. Boy, did I make a good decision. The theme of this album is    This album is very surprising at how excellent it is compared to other "Pop" artists today.

    When first hearing Royals, I thought that Lorde was another person who had one hit and slowly lost their popularity. But as more singles came out, I knew that she was different and unique. So I took a chance and bought this album. Boy, did I make a good decision.

    The theme of this album is actually about going AGAINST the pop machine and artists who are popular because of their looks. The songs in this album are addicting, some highlights are Ribs, White Teeth Teens, and The Love Club.

    If you like alternative music or anything like that, this album is a must for you. I am excited to see what Lorde puts out next.    … Expand
  18. Lower
    Oct 16, 2015
    9
    A juventude poética. Esse é o semblante do "Pure Heroine". Refrescante, porém obscuro na medida. Um som diferente, um álbum sólido do começo ao fim, onde mostra a sua proposta e não tem medo de concretiza-la.
  19. RichCritic
    May 9, 2014
    9
    I love his voice very skillful, very good songs and a good pace, very good to be still very young Lyrics, Est album is great Although you name two ways, and very simple cover a little more effort would have been improved.
  20. ThingThatReview
    Jun 30, 2014
    9
    This album is great. All (except two) songs on this album are flawless. Lorde has explored a new side of pop music and I'm a fan. I could listen to this all day - and I do.
    The best songs are : Ribs, White Teeth Teens, Buzzcut Season, Bravado and Royals.
    I love Lorde :)
  21. calvinkurniawan
    Oct 27, 2014
    9
    Lorde made her debut with the critically-acclaimed number one hit "Royals" and had impacted, and simultaneously challenged the pop mainstream culture with her work that is not only amazing sonically, but also lyrically, at a very young age. This platinum-selling and Grammy-award winning record depicts Lorde and her friends's life in New Zealand, her criticism, and thoughts of pop culture,Lorde made her debut with the critically-acclaimed number one hit "Royals" and had impacted, and simultaneously challenged the pop mainstream culture with her work that is not only amazing sonically, but also lyrically, at a very young age. This platinum-selling and Grammy-award winning record depicts Lorde and her friends's life in New Zealand, her criticism, and thoughts of pop culture, which shows honesty rarely seen before in this era, and therefore, is reaching a new plateau for the pop world.
    9/10    … Expand
  22. AngelJCervantes
    May 27, 2016
    9
    Songs like "Tennis Curt", "Royals", "400 Lux", "Glory and Gore", "The Love Club" and more, are really hard to get them out of the head. I hope something much better in her next work.
  23. CharlieBetterIs
    Jan 2, 2016
    9
    Pure Heroine é um dos melhores álbuns de 2013. Ele é espetacular. Quase todas as músicas desse álbum são perfeitas, só tendo algumas bem "mais ou menos".

    Pontos altos: A World Alone, Glory And Glore, Tennis Court
    Pontos baixos: Biting Down, Swingin Party, White Teeth Teens
  24. joethealien
    Oct 8, 2017
    9
    Lorde shook the entire pop industry with her earth-shattering debut single Royals. consisting of a minimalistic beat, a catchy chorus, haunting harmonies and profound lyrics, Royals was the ultimate "step it up y'all" to fellow pop musicians.

    it could very well be argued that no other mainstream musician on today's charts possesses the brilliant poetic/lyrical consistency of Lorde. at    Lorde shook the entire pop industry with her earth-shattering debut single Royals. consisting of a minimalistic beat, a catchy chorus, haunting harmonies and profound lyrics, Royals was the ultimate "step it up y'all" to fellow pop musicians.

    it could very well be argued that no other mainstream musician on today's charts possesses the brilliant poetic/lyrical consistency of Lorde. at 16, she released both The Love Club EP (which includes Bravado, which I like to think convinced Bowie to call her "the future of music") and this stunning debut.
    the album starts with another delicious slice of humid, minimalist art pop, entitled Tennis Court. the album only gets better and better, with each new song feeling like a rush of cool air permeating many a teenager's hoodies as they leave their favorite smoke spot. 400 Lux and Buzzcut Season are immediate highlights, showcasing Lorde's talent for translating youth, angst and the zeitgeist into glittering, timeless bangers. one of the most refreshing details about this record is that every single song is as good if not better than the first single. there is so much to love about Lorde, and from here on out, her sharp lyricism and knack for creative melodic direction only gets better. a true pop icon in the making.    … Expand
  25. SumitSumbria
    May 4, 2016
    9
    Lorde states "We live in cities you'll never see on screen / not vert pretty but we sure know how to run things" in the song "Team" With a profusion of wonderful tracks "Royals" and "Team" in particular, this is one of the most essential albums of the 2010s decade. She creates "a different kind of buzz."
  26. orengue
    Sep 1, 2017
    9
    Very good start for a debut album, back in 2013 i remember hearing Royals in the radio, it was my jam, but then Team and Tennis Court got a place in my heart. It is very catchy and honest, really good
  27. tevin_pa9551
    Jun 24, 2017
    9
    In early 2014, I thought of Pop music for some reason to check for from 2013. Lorde happened to be one of several artist/bands that had a stellar debut. Her pop music when listening to it doesn't come off a catchy, it seems as if the lyrics drive for people to keep singing a verse or a memorable chorus. A song that made me wanna listen to here was "Glory and Gore" because of the showIn early 2014, I thought of Pop music for some reason to check for from 2013. Lorde happened to be one of several artist/bands that had a stellar debut. Her pop music when listening to it doesn't come off a catchy, it seems as if the lyrics drive for people to keep singing a verse or a memorable chorus. A song that made me wanna listen to here was "Glory and Gore" because of the show Vikings on A&E. This album has a good sense of being different and by her being 15/16 around the time of making the album you would think she would go the bubblegum pop route of the late 90s. This isn't that and she for sure stands out. Her cadence and how she attacks a record is definitely rap influenced but not a stab to discredit that. For her lyrics matter to her, and for me that also makes this album a listen for people outside the Lorde circle.

    Favorites: Tennis Court / 400 Lux / Team & Glory and Gore.    … Expand
  28. sasscardigan
    Jul 25, 2017
    9
    La clásica vieja Lorde se refugia en este álbum. Con algunas canciones, el gusto fue espontáneo, con otras no tanto, pero la estética y lírica de Lorde es algo que se destaca mucho en este álbum. Las letras de Pure Heroine son mucho más profundas y poéticas que las repetitivas en Melodrama, por ello creo que este álbum guarda un sentimiento muy especial. Para cualquier persona que pasó laLa clásica vieja Lorde se refugia en este álbum. Con algunas canciones, el gusto fue espontáneo, con otras no tanto, pero la estética y lírica de Lorde es algo que se destaca mucho en este álbum. Las letras de Pure Heroine son mucho más profundas y poéticas que las repetitivas en Melodrama, por ello creo que este álbum guarda un sentimiento muy especial. Para cualquier persona que pasó la adolescencia y no se sintió identificado con las letras de Lorde (Escuché Ribs en mi peor momento y me ayudo muchísimo) creo que simplemente no entendió de todo de qué trataba.… Expand
  29. hornysoul
    Sep 24, 2018
    9
    "Pure Heroine" é um trabalho muito bom feito por Lorde e pelo seu produtor e uma "pequena" prova do talento de Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor. As letras de Lorde são pensativas, maduras, agradáveis e inteligentes. Sem dúvida, um dos melhores álbuns de 2013.
  30. sulli
    May 27, 2019
    9
    pure heroine its such a paradise for musical production, all the musics complete themselves, Lorde did an amazing work selecting them in the middle of you highest pitch of fame with “Royals”.
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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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