The Best Albums of the Decade, Ranked

36. Lorde, Pure Heroine, (2013)

Lauded as the album of the year for 2013 by The New York Times, The Mercury News, and The Herald Sun, Lorde’s debut album helped her to cement a place at the peak of pop music. Just 16 years old at the time of release, this songstress from New Zealand received widespread praise for her mature and sincere reflections on being a teenager in the modern age.

Lorde’s hit single Royals remains her standout performance on this album and deservingly so due to its raw take on excess and wealth as well as its catchy hook. This song appeared on a number of lists for song of the year, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Huffington Post, and Time. Ultimately, Pure Heroine sold 1.4 million copies in 2013 and two million copies in 2014, with sales being boosted by Lorde’s emphatic performance at the 56^th Annual Grammy Awards.