Ella Yelich-O'Connor may be the greatest thing to happen in music in 2013. Just a couple months ago no one had any idea who she was, and now her name is on every music lover's lips, even reaching #1 on the iTunes chart. Lorde is just a sixteen year old from New Zealand, but she has the entire world awaiting her every move. She has brought a new dimension to pop music that has been sorely missing, mixing a darker pop sound with lyrics that are beyond her years. The album is definitely one of the best of the year, bringing a fresh breath of air to the pop scene. Lorde definitely has a huge career ahead of her, but as to the best album of the year? We'll just have to wait and see how she stacks up to all the pop divas who are releasing their albums in the coming months...

1. Tennis Court - 9/10

Starting off the album is the second single 'Tennis Court' which was my favorite Lorde song until 'Team' was released last week. It's still her signature sound, but has a much poppier sound to it. It elevates Lorde's darker sound to produce a very satisfying result. Check out the full review HERE.

2. 400 Lux - 8/10

This one slows things down a tad, with a booming fog horn type sound in the background. This actually reminds me of the green light theme in The Great Gatsby, mimicking that eerie vibe and adding Lorde's alluring vocals. I also detect a slight hip-hop beat in the background, giving it that extra oomph.

3. Royals - 7/10

'Royals' is the song that propelled Lorde into the limelight, and it fits right at home on this album. The song is far from being my favorite of hers, but it's got that very different sound to it that makes it stand out. Check out my full review HERE.

4. Ribs - 9/10

This is a song that has had much buzz ever since she performed it at her debut show in NYC. 'Ribs' deviates from the hip-hop undercurrent of the former tracks and moves into a more electro-pop sound. It has a very ethereal lightness to it, sort of reminding me of Enya mixed with Lights at times. The song gets progressively bigger and Lorde's vocals swell, producing a very satisfying result. I really like this one.

5. Buzzcut Season - 10/10

'Buzzcut Season' has one of those choruses that I die for where the beat almost all but drops out, and then as she continues singing it builds and powers through. The song is very percussion driven with a sort of steel drum sound backing her vocals. I think this is the most powerful track so far with probably the best chorus. Everything about this song is perfect. A sonic orgasm.

6. Team - 10/10

When 'Team' was released last week, I almost lost it. I think this is the strongest of the three singles because it is much more mainstream pop than anything else she has released, and I can see it blowing up radio. The chorus is so catchy and you just want to sing along with it. It's also such a pretty melody. Read my full review HERE.

7. Glory and Gone - 10/10

Right off the bat, Lorde plays with her lower register which is so rich and full of grit, grasping the listener from the first note. This track has a hard beat, mixing eletro-pop with some hip-hop creating an awesome shoulder rolling jam. It's dark, captivating, eerie and gritty. I. Love. It. Is it bad I can see her in a snapback and harem pants in the music video?

8. Still Sane - 8/10

With 'Still Sane' we take the hip-hop beats that Lorde has played around with and subdue it a bit with her magical ballad-y prowess. Sometimes the beat drops out and reminds us of 'Royals' before it picks back up and hearkens back to '400 Lux'. It's the best of both worlds. And this one is really all about the lyrics. Just listen.

9. White Teeth Teens - 7/10

Not another track on the album sounds like this one which is awesome. The song has a bouncy feel to it, almost a carnival-ish/marching band sound to it, making it one of her more upbeat offerings. But then it drops out at times and has that ominous feel which has permeated the entire album. This is a mixture of sounds, but it hasn't quite won me over.

10. A World Alone - 8/10

To end the album, we get an up-tempo that has a more traditional pop feel to it, but that still retains Lorde's signature sound. At times it sounds really feel good, but then it gets very somber and dark. Lorde is a master at confusing the listener, but in a good way. I never quite know how to feel about a song. Anyway, it's a light note to cap off what has been a fantastic album.


Tracks to Check Out: 'Buzzcut Season', 'Team', 'Glory and Gone'

Overall Rating: 8.5/10