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Virgin is Kiwi singer-songwriter and Charli xcx lookalike Lorde’s fourth studio album, which came a four years after 2021’s Solar Power. I think it’s fair to say that there were a lot of expectations for Virgin to perform well considering the at best middling reception to Solar Power. 

I myself have always been rather indifferent towards Lorde. I know all her big hits sort of just by being aware of the general space of modern female singer-songwriters that Lorde has made a name for herself in with her signature indie singer drawl and melancholic lyrical stylings, but I haven’t actually really sat down to listen to a full album of hers until Virgin. 

So perhaps it’s because of my complete lack of expectations for the album, but I ended up getting a nice kick out of of this record. At its best, the album is a cohesive, deeply personal musing on Lorde’s personal insecurities in the aftermath of the deterioration of a long term relationship carried by dynamic production, my favorite highlight being the track “Favorite Daughter”, where she dives into her complex but still loving relationship with her mother and her deeply rooted need to be validated. It’s a moving track that shows a lot of self-reflection without feeling melodramatic (pun intended), helped by the layered chorus and the building energy of the song that brings lyrics like “Everywhere I run, I’m always runnin’ to ya” to life – one that I feel poignantly encapsulates my own feelings on parental relationships.

Virgin is undoubtedly a lot more restrained instrumentally and vocally than the maximalist presentation of Melodrama. But I appreciate the restraint, such as in the closing track “David” where Lorde lets the song build before erupting into heavy reverb, creating a sort of release with “Am I ever gon’ love again?” repeating as the track gradually fades. 

At it’s worse, Virgin can feel a bit singular in it’s style. It’s a lot of run-on lines over a very similar beat with the same heavy reverb to emphasize certain lines. That is to say, I felt like lyrically-speaking, Virgin is Lorde’s best and most cohesive work, but the majority of the tracks ended up leaving a very similar impression for me. For example, the lead single “What Was That” is lyrically a very personal musing on the absence that comes after a break up, but with the muted instrumental and Lorde’s signature run-on drawl, it can feel like talking over music, which reduces the track’s overall impact. 

Still, I enjoyed Virgin for the time being. I don’t really see myself coming back to this album a whole lot in the future aside from a couple tracks, but it does hold up as a positive development in Lorde’s overall career.

Best Track(s): “Favourite Daughter”, “David”

Rating: 7.0/10