Lorde released her sixth album, “Solar Power,” on August 20. The album’s big hits include the title track, “Stoned at the Nail Salon,” “Mood Ring” and “Dominoes.” The album features the minimalist harmonies and subdued sound that “Pure Heroine” had. “Solar Power” also involves the ukulele and attempts to create a soft sound in all songs. Though it is this soft, minimalist tone that Lorde is known for, it made “Solar Power” an album that is almost easy to forget. Only three songs stood out to me as ones that are challenging the ways in which we think about music.

The title track was the biggest hit of this album — and rightfully so. Lorde performed this song live in Central Park, on The Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert and on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Essentially, this title track is the light, minimalist beach tune that the summer needed, encouraging people to go down to the beaches and enjoy summer. Its music video, released in June by Universal Music Group and Universal Music New Zealand Limited on Youtube, depicts Lorde and various groups of people having fun in the sand and relaxing on the beach.

Coupled with another music video, “Mood Ring” seems to comment on the cult-like trends of the ’70s. Trends shown in the video include book clubs, aligning chakras and crystals and group meditation. There is not one mood ring in the video, but I did enjoy seeing a group of women come together to star in a music video. Additionally, this video focused heavily on nature. In one scene, the ladies can be seen passing around pieces of bark with leaves and mushrooms growing. In another scene, the viewer can see potted plants against and shadows of plants on the wall. What’s more, all the people featured in the music video are wearing green.

Though it doesn’t have a music video, “Leader of a New Regime” seems to be the most inventive song on the album. This song is tenth in the lineup and is only a little over a minute and a half in length. To me, the harmonies in this song are reminiscent of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Both are in multiple-part harmonies and ascend and descend the music scale quickly. More specifically, Lorde seems to address the resemblance to Queen’s harmonies. For example, she says, “Won’t somebody, anybody, be the leader of a new regime?” The articulation of this verse reminds me of the lyric, “Can anybody find me somebody to love?” Essentially, this song seems to be a more modern take on Queen’s technique.

“Solar Power” is certainly a successful album. Currently, Lorde and her management team are selling tickets for her Solar Power tour happening in 2022, which starts in Lorde’s country of residence, New Zealand.