Lorde album has redundant arrangements and lyrics, despite some bright spots
8/26/21 by Sam Lillianthal
Every Lorde album provides a new sound and vibe, and in this respect, “Solar Power” is no different. But does a new sound or vibe still result in quality? “Pure Heroine,” which was, at its heart, a teen album, and “Melodrama,” a near-masterpiece of electropop art, set a high bar for Lorde’s discography, so there was a lot of hype around her newest project. “Solar Power” is inspired by Lorde’s 2019 trip to Antarctica that gave her time to reflect and relax and features lyrics about escaping into nature and criticizing the fake reality in which some people live.
Sometimes trippy, sometimes folky, Lorde’s third studio album definitely has its ups and downs. The arrangements, as well as the lyrics, can be redundant, which makes “Solar Power” the worst out of her three albums by a mile.
Bright spots are still to be found on this album though, such as “Fallen Fruit.” This track emphasizes climate change and the environmental issues that the Earth faces. Lorde’s beautiful vocal harmonies are abundant throughout the record, but “Fallen Fruit” takes the cake. The song also features a surprising mood switch with a psychedelic guitar solo. These elements keep the song refreshing sonically, unlike other songs on the album, like “Dominoes,” “Big Star” and “Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All),” which become repetitive very quickly and feel uninspired. The opening song “The Path” begins fantastically with cool, atmospheric acoustic guitar and more of Lorde’s luscious harmonies until the chorus and hook hit with a thud, starting the album on a mediocre note.
The lyrics on the album sometimes become redundant but other times are really strong. “Oceanic Feeling,” the last song on the record, discusses Lorde’s mother, brother and father. She incorporates images of splitting tabs with “her lover” and silver chains that “levitate when you’re kick-flippin’.” “Mood Ring” also has fun lyrics satirizing people that do things to connect to the world even though it is superficial. “The Man With the Axe” attempts to be a beautiful love song but the lyrics can’t reach the emotional heights the song entails. “California” also has a neat message about leaving the fake California lifestyle behind but the words become stale very quickly and overstay their welcome. The title track, “Solar Power,” is full of unoriginal melodies, but the line where Lorde sings “I’m kinda like a prettier Jesus” is still great, though.
Speaking more on that song, the final chorus of Lorde chanting the title comes off bland even though it is undeniably catchy. The positives are that it fits into the theme of the album really well and sets the blueprint for the album sonically. Overall, though, the song grows worse over time.
The album never veers too far away from acoustic guitars and quaint rhythms. Sometimes the sound gets too grating and hurts the album, but other times Lorde switches it up with exciting results.
The best song on the album is “Stoned at the Nail Salon.” The electric guitar backing Lorde’s wonderful voice gives the song a peaceful vibe with a lot of wisdom, too. Its lyrics describe Lorde trying to mature as she sings, “But it’s time to cool it down / Whatever that means.” “Stoned at the Nail Salon” is the most intimate song on the album and definitely the highest in quality.
“Solar Power” is neither great nor awful. While some songs sound refreshing and feature amazing songwriting, others fail to stand out or achieve a meaningful message. Songs like “Fallen Fruit” work amazingly while songs like “The Path” fail to live up to Lorde’s skills as an artist. It lands itself on a middle ground of intriguing territory that may divide fans for years to come. For now though, “Solar Power” is just an OK album that is still worth checking out if you are a fan.
Rating: 2.75/5
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