When Lorde burst onto the scene in 2013 with "Royals," I was hooked along with everyone else. It was immediately clear that the New Zealand teenager was a unique and genuine talent. Lorde's debut, Pure Heroine, showcased an extra literate high school poet laureate with a decidedly anti-teen attitude. The aptly titled Melodrama is still clearly Lorde, although it marks a departure toward a more intimate, heartfelt style.

While Pure Heroine was a takedown of the trappings of fame, Melodrama is a much more introspective record. If Lorde's first record was an exploration of what she didn't want to be, her new album is her way of firmly expressing who she is and owning it, flaws and all. It would be way too simplistic to call this a breakup album because it's so much more. It's a diary-like examination of her inner self, rather than just the mourning after the end of a relationship. The concept is the aftermath of a party.

Musically, the record is also a substantial shift from her debut. The sound is more stripped down and minimalistic, relying on piano, guitar, and Lorde's impressive register. The lead single, "Green Light" is an anthem to be reckoned with about wanting it all, but the whole record is packed with gems. "Hard Feelings/Loveless" has a big focus on self-care, and the end is a sharp swing into Lorde at her sassy best. "The Louvre" captures the bittersweet nostalgia of the never-to-return times with an ex.

None of the songs on the record can be defined by a single emotion, and the heady complexity is part of what makes it so great. It's great to see Lorde really come into her own.