Inyourearmusicemporium

Reviews:

After hearing the opening song "Bravado" on Lorde's debut EP, The Love Club, it'd be easy to mistake Ella Yelich-O'Connor for a seasoned tunesmith from the American South, one who carries a heavy heart that's been ravaged by careless men over time. But in truth, Lorde recorded these songs as a 16-year old Kiwi championed by the likes of Perez Hilton and Grimes.

Her youthful exuberance is only somewhat more evident in the following single "Royals", which balances her seemingly timeless knack for songcraft with a sophisticated pop savvy that most people over 30 can't find without collaboration. Lorde needs no collaborative hacks -- she writes and sings her own songs. The confidence in "Royals" and the financial fantasies of "Million Dollar Bills" pulse and pump with the sultry R&B pomp of a Beyonce hit, save for production that's slightly more confectionary.

Even when she sings in her higher vocal range about teenage politics, Lorde carries herself with the grace and poise of someone like Beth Orton. This artist is truly one of the breakout artists of 2013 and will continue to be so next year.