Lorde, Stoned at the Nail Salon | Track Review 🎵

Alternative pop artist Lorde shines once more on “Stoned at the Nail Salon,” the second single from her third studio album, Solar Power.

“I

love this life that I have / … But I wonder sometimes what I’m missing…” After a four-year hiatus, 🏆 Grammy-winning alternative pop artist 🎙 Lorde (Ella Yelich O’Connor) has returned! O’Connor follows up her critically acclaimed 💿 Melodrama with 💿 Solar Power (August 20, 2021). O’Connor killed it on her promo single, 🎵 “Solar Power”.  Once again, she’s on fire on the second advance single, 🎵 “Stoned at the Nail Salon”.

“Stoned at the Nail Salon” sounds as chilled out and mellow as its title suggests. This is a prime example of a song that floats along. Lorde gives us subtle but beautiful vocals from the start.  Her tone is warm and chill; appealing.  On the pre-chorus, I love the layered vocals, which helps keeps “Stoned at the Nail Salon” intriguing (“Well, my blood’s been burning for so many summers now / It’s time to cool it down, wherever that leads”).  On the chorus, she sings with more oomph, yet never forces things. 

“‘Cause all the beautiful girls, they will fade like the roses
And all the times they will change, it’ll all come around
I don’t know
Maybe I’m just stoned at the nail salon
Maybe I’m just stoned at the nail salon, again.”

As far as the production (Lorde and 🎛 Jack Antonoff) things are minimal and spare.  While Antonoff keeps things simple, this simplicity bodes in O’Connor’s favor; it allows her voice to shine.  As far as the theme, O’Connor reflects on getting older – relatable to everybody.  I love how she poetically tackles the topic. 

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Final Thoughts 💭 

Once more, Lorde excels! “Stoned at the Nail Salon” keeps things simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bore.  Minimal it may be, O’Connor and Jack Antonoff make sweet music together once again. Solar Power should be epic.

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🎙 Lorde • 💿 Solar Power • 🏷 Universal Music New Zealand Limited • 🗓 8.20.21

[📷: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay, Universal Music New Zealand Limited]

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