By: Tatiana Reyes
After a four-year hiatus, Lorde is finally back with her third studio album Solar Power. Something fans will notice is the strict departure from the sound that she created on her previous album, Melodrama. The dark and heavy pop production that was present on Melodrama has been traded for a light, airy, and more stripped back pop sound. The opening track, “The Path”, sets the tone for the record by setting a mellow, acoustic sound against a three-part harmony. Throughout the entire album, the feelings of summer are a common theme. In the album’s title track, a bouncy acoustic guitar part paired with a lively percussion part totally encapsulates the summer sound. Huge music geeks like me may have also picked up on the similarity of sound between “Solar Power” and George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90.” Overall, I rate this album a 7/10. Solar Power is one of those albums that get better for people the more they listen to it. Hopefully, listeners can appreciate the summer sound and the new direction Lorde seems to be going in.
