Lorde - Virgin (June 27, 2025) • Page 10

“David” is just as intense and crushing as I expected based off of the clips I heard, wow what a closer. First listen I really enjoyed this, hadn’t heard the singles previously but for those who did and weren’t optimistic, I don’t think any of the 3 were on par with the best songs here

 

Could not help myself and set the VPN to Auckland to give this album a spin. Here’s my very bite-sized, off the cuff review/reaction:

It’s really fucking beautiful the way that Lorde was able to work with Jim-E to recreate the feelings of the stories she’s sharing with us in a sonic format. Like, every single note felt like it was mechanical and still organic — like a machine recreating a memory. I am absolutely blown away.

 

Hahaha I KNEW I was forgetting something huge that was out tomorrow. I was like, “wait, there’s no way that Wavves has me feeling this much anticipation…”

 

Current Affairs is so good.

 

Very excited for this.

 

Shapeshifter is top tier

 

Album is very good

 

Cool album, groovy, intense. Understated, but powerful, destined to be a grower

 

Yeah there are some real gems throughout on this but ‘David’ really cemented it for me. What a way to end the album.

 

oh my

 

I saw that…yikes

 

I sort of feel like that could have been kept between private parties honestly? Or at least not put out quite like this, I do feel bad for her though and hope she is in a better place outside of the relationship.

 

Just to add a little context for those who smartly avoid Tik tok (unlike me), this is a Tik tok trend that has been going on for a while using that one part of Man of the Year and posting screenshots or story’s regarding bad exes, so it’s not like she just randomly made that. The timing of posting it is obviously interesting, but given how social media works for (or against) independent artists, I’m not judging her for it. I have more thoughts but don’t wanna derail the thread too much, will just say that this Tik tok led to me also finding out Jim-E Stack stole a riff from Clairo a few years back and released the song after she politely asked him not to+has been accused of stealing from smaller artists previously

 

Ah, that is good context to know, thanks!

 

Shapeshifter

 

Lorde Releases New Album Virgin: Listen and Read the Full Credits
full credits, Justin Vernon guitar and bass on “David”

 

That chorus on Broken Glass, that's my shitttt

 

Just finished

Yea I think this is pretty great. But I also see it getting somewhat middling reviews from critics seeing it as a "Melodrama-lite" as it shares the most DNA with Melodrama of her past albums while still doing its own thing, which is a shame. The biggest critique I have of it is that the song composition/structure is fairly similar for a fair amount of songs on it, but I really don't mind. I was really going into this more wanting her voice and lyrics after the singles given, and I got that. I really like the almost diary-like nature of it, which she fully said was her intention making it so I think she did well with it.

 

I do feel like a Melodrama comparison is just lazy TBH, this album is so different from that one in almost every single way

 

I still think “Melodrama” is her masterpiece, but this feels like it’s more of a sonic piece like “Pure Heroine.” Like no leaps in genre like “Melodrama.” It also doesn’t feel like it has any huge desire to be on Top 40 radio.

Still, very good album.

 

only listened once, but this is a beautiful album. definitely some understated gems like @irthesteve pointed out - looking forward to spending more time with it!

I think my favourite song atm is Favourite Daughter

 

Favourite Daughter really stood out to me too. hate to be that guy but if that was the first single instead of What Was That (which I still think stinks) this would have been way more on my radar

also really adore Clearblue

 

Nothing stood out to me on first listen but it was pleasant. Don’t think she will (or wants to) ever capture the commercial Top 40 success of her debut.

I know got shit for the sonic departure of Solar Power, but after this record I can’t see returning to this sound again, excited to see where she might go.

Also that MDMA line is just so dumb and clunky in What Was That. Reminds me of when Madonna did the MDNA reference for her album, so cheesy.

 

This album is an artist definitely doing what they want. Feels like The kind of record that some people will call her best in like 10 years. It’s good.

 

The end of “Shapeshifter” is so good.