The viral cover of Lorde’s Virgin, which features an X-ray of her pelvis, promised that this would be an album in which she lays herself bare - and it’s this vulnerable yet simultaneously powerful songwriting that allows Virgin to shine. The electronic production, reminiscent of her sophomore album Melodrama, provides a punchy soundtrack that allows her words to land with force. She sings of self exploration, of the transition from innocence to experience, and this often dives deep into her relationship with her body. It’s a frank yet compassionate dissection of Lorde in a way that never feels self-indulgent - rather, it’s like a collection of poetry on the modern female experience. LT

Universal