Lorde disappeared for a bit. In 2013, with the release of her first album at age 16, she became the type of mega popstar that only needs one name. Seven years, another album, and two international tours later, she retreated home to Auckland, away from the paparazzi. Her time on the beach and off social media has resulted in a third studio album, Solar Power, co-produced with Jack Antonoff. The 12-tracks are softer and slower than her previous work—more guitars, airier vocals. Her inspiration has shifted, too. In her first album, Pure Heroine, Lorde sang about parties and money and fame. She still sings about all of that—“Goodbye to all the bottles, all the models. Bye to the kids in the lines for the new Supreme”—but she’s less cynical, more retrospective. Now her lyrics are concerned with nature, and she’s opted to sell the record in a way that’s environmentally sustainable. The album comes in a plastic-free box with a download card that includes two exclusive bonus tracks. —J.D.