Lorde * Pure Heroine [New CD]

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.