#460 Lorde, 'Melodrama' (2017)

The second album to be released by Lorde when she was all but 20 years old. Following the breakthrough success of her debut album, she took some time off, travelling between her native New Zealand and New York. Reeling from her first heartbreak, she wrote this record, encapsulating the feelings of young love and break ups. It earned her #1 chartings in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It also garnered her a Grammy nomination for Album Of The Year.

This album cemented Lorde as one of the great new pop stars of our time amongst contemporaries such as Taylor Swift. This album is, ironically, a joy to listen to from start to finish. Piano-based melodies combined with electronic beats and synths and produced by pop powerhouse, Jack Antonoff. This album was a statement and instantly became a modern pop classic. While filled with so many great songs, my favourite song on the record of the stark balad, ‘Liability.’ It’s always reminded me so much of Mott The Hoople’s ‘All The Young Dudes,’ although most people I’ve spoken to can’t hear it (written by David Bowie, a major influence of hers). Can you? Can’t wait to hear what she does next.

#rs500albums

#459 Kid Cudi, 'Man on the Moon: The End of the Day' (2009)

#461 Bon Iver, 'For Emma, Forever Ago' (2008)