In an interview Lorde described her third release as her ‘weed album’, but to me it reads more like a ‘I discovered weed since moving to California and have since made it my whole personality’ album. It begins strong with ‘The Path’, a funky 60s folk offering reminiscent of Sheryl Crow’s 00s take on the genre, but moves into a whole lot of filler, the only highlight being literal cicadas recorded in NZ over lockdown 1.0.
‘Stoned at the Nail Salon’ is another genuine highlight, a melancholic wind chime number comparable to Melodrama’s ‘Liability’. ‘Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All)’, although bearing a laughable moniker, provides a bit of Haim-esque 2000s pop groove, but the second half of the album is nothing short of boring. Most of my listening experience I spent waiting for the beat to drop. I tried to listen to the album three times in an attempt to be unbiased and ‘Mood Ring’, a groovy satire of wellness culture, is the only other tune I don’t consistently skip. Even so, it’s hard to figure out if she’s evangelising the yoga and smoothie world or making fun of it.
