Album- Born to Die
Artist- Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey has seen her star sore musically in the past
few years, moving firmly on from her independent label release debut that was
released under her actual name Lizzie Grant back in 2010. This second studio
album was a worldwide success, and the singer is enjoying further success in
2013 with the release of her Great Gatsby soundtrack contribution ‘Young and
Beautiful’. Yet whilst a lot of people seem to love Del Rey, is she actually as
great as it seems? Or is her music a bit too much of the same stuff that is
simply repeated?
Track 1- Born to Die
The album’s title track and opening song is a dramatic pop
track that is described by the singer as a ‘homage to true love and a tribute
to living life on the wild side’. The lyrics have a gently apocalyptic quality
with Del Rey and her man being in this powerful but ultimately it would seem
doomed relationship. The melodramatic quality of the track means that it grabs
your attention, with the singer exuding glamour within her vocal performance.
The song is also strong vocally in the way that we are shown both the deeper
and higher levels of the singer’s voice that gives the song this loved up,
really powerful flair. The production has a nice glossy quality with the
whipping strings and simple backbeat having this smooth quality that means we
really listen to the lyrics, and so this is a strong song to start the record
off with.
3.5/5
Track 2- Off to the
Races
Off to the Races originally featured on the singers debut
set and is really different to the previous track, with the song finding the
singer employing a rap vocal style, where the singer comes across as both a
vintage woman and a simple RnB girl. The lyrical content is a bit crazy and has
this freak show quality where the singer is seemingly dependent upon this one
person. The quirky sensibilities of the track are appealing and intriguing,
with the vocal style showing different sides of the singer with ease and making
the records beginnings more arresting. The track also the dramatic swirling
strings that the previous track had with this heavy bass and hip hop beats that
adds to the eclectic flavour of the song and further commands your attention,
even if you end up by the end just thinking what was going on their?
3.5/5
Track 3- Blue Jeans
Both an A side and B side from the record at some point
before becoming the third official single, Blue Jeans is a song that has a
powerful vintage sheen about it and finds the singing employing some hip hop
tones with baroque pop. The hip hop influences are confirmed within the lyrical
content, and the down tempo pop ballad follows the same vein of as Born to Die
in terms of that forever ideology, as Del Rey sings of how her man is the
perfect fit, and so she wants him to stay, as she will love him till the end of
time. The song has an arresting quality in the way that chorus goes into the
higher registers of the singers voice to give the song this ethereal quality
that makes the whole track that more powerful. But the best thing about this
song has to be the production, with the hazy guitar strumming blending nicely
with the minimalist hip hop beats, and the rock quality of the bridge leaves us
with a powerful final chorus.
3.5/5
Track 4- Video Games
Del Rey’s debut single and her breakout hit, musically video
games is a deep pop ballad that was inspired by one of the singers
ex-boyfriends. The lyrics find the star in the role of a girl who still loves
her boyfriend, despite the fact that she is ignored by him in favour of video
games. The song has a deeper vocal performance and maintains this haunting
level of intensity throughout the song that makes each word feel more potent.
The vocal also feels so smooth and glamorous but at the same time very
vulnerable, and so shows that she is a great artists as she does really touch
you emotionally. The simplicity of the songs production with the piano and
pizzicato strings is also touching in its own way, and so by the end if you do
not feel the tiniest bit emotional after this song then you should go back and
listen to it again.
4.5/5
Track 5- Diet
Mountain Dew
When I read the title of this track I expected things to be
a little bit weird, and indeed the song is more different compared to last few
tracks in terms of the more chatty vocal style, hip hop sensibilities and kind
of light tone that is produced. The song finds the singer asking if her beau
thinks they will be in love forever, whilst also speaking of how she wants him
even if he is not good for her. The lyrics are a little weird but the quirky
and hard to decipher quality of the song actually makes it appealing, although
I do think this song suffers a little from too much repetition. The twinkling
notes of the piano melody and simple drumbeats give the song this steady hip
hop groove that once again is strong in the way that it allows the vocals and
lyrics to stand out and really make more of an impact on the listener. However
the vocal performance here is a bit either you will like it or not, as the
light tone is nice but after a while can come across as a little annoying.
3/5
Track 6- National
Anthem
Serving as the records fifth single, National Anthem is one
of the chattiest of the tracks on the record and has a trip hop and alternative
hip hop style that is cool and powerful. The song finds the Del Rey telling us
of this great guy who has heaven in his eyes, and she wants to be part of his
love story where he calls her his metaphorical national anthem. The concept is
intriguing and powerful, feeling influenced by some of the presidential affairs
and loves of the past. The track feature a great vocal from Del Ray with a
style that feels like we are really close to the singer, whilst the chorus has
this crowd singing together quality that makes this a track that is sure to be
great when performed live. The heavy bass and beats changes the record up again
and adds this dark but snappy quality that makes this record engaging and
appealing.
3.5/5
Track 7- Dark
Paradise
Like the title would suggest, this is another tune where we
find the singer in a bit of emotional state. The song follows a familiar
lyrical concept in terms of singer telling this guy that no one compares to
him, even though he is a bit of a bad boy. The song has slightly more of fast
paced quality than some of the other pop ballads which makes it feel a bit
different and gives the song this sense of urgency. However the song suffers
lyrical in terms of the repetition of the lyrics. The vocals have a slighter
tone and don’t feel as dramatic as some of the other ballads, but the change is
nice as it gives the song a slightly more familiar pop feel that makes the
record diverse, and is still powerful in its own way. The tracks production is slightly
heavier, with string and piano melodies that feel a little 80’s influenced.
Critics have negatively viewed this song as a sub-par ballad from Del Rey, but
I actually think the more simple pop energy of the track is a nice change,
whilst the song still has that signature Del Rey flare, and the track also
gives the record this sense of diversity.
3.5/5
Track 8- Radio
Radio is the most straightforward indie pop ballad from the
record that features the singer in her typical woe be me mode. The lyrics of
the song focus on how the singer feels like she is complete now she has found
this person, and simply asks to be loved whilst she is on the radio. The track
has a simple lyrical quality but is complex in the way that she could be
referring to finding a specific person, or she could be referencing the fame
that she has long sought for. It is a interesting concept that is made catchier
by the vocal performance, as the track features the singer dipping and rising
within her vocal range to create a nice contrast within the song, with the
chorus having this light quality that gives the singers this cute persona. The
track also features a simple sound with the steady bass and light strings and
guitar, and so this is a simple pop ballad that still retains this great level
of intrigue in terms of the lyrics.
3.5/5
Track 9- Carmen
Released as a promotional single in select European
territories, Carmen is a song that according to the singer features a 17 year
old main protagonist who suffers from substance abuse, which draws similarities
with the singers personal life as she suffered from a drinking addiction in her
late teens. The song lyrically focuses on the story of a doomed woman forced to
sell herself on te street. The song lyrically has this deep emotional pain, and
the darkness of the song does have this almost personal quality that makes this
a more potent song. The track once again finds the singer giving us a vocal
performance that is slow and weary, but the song also goes into more of a child
sing song vocal that makes the song feel more potent. With the production
featuring stirring strings, delicate piano melodies and simple drum machine
beats, this song is purely an emotional track that acts nicely as an example of
how the singer seems to almost effortlessly move you in some way.
3.5/5
Track 10- Million
Dollar Man
A collaboration with songwriter Chris Braide, Million Dollar
Man features the singer glamorously giving us a vocal and track that feels a
bit like a James Bond theme. The song features a simple drum machine driven
bass and echoing siren like noises that make the song feel like a cinematic
track that is really powerful. Lyrically the track focuses on Del Rey telling
us of her love for this man who is suave and seems like he’s worth a lot of
money, but yet she is heartbroken. The lyrical concept is powerful and simple,
but the lyrics do suffer from a bit too much repetition. However the vocals of
the track have this pure glamorous quality that is very powerful, and so this
song is still very impactful.
3.5/5
Track 11- Summertime Sadness
Becoming a surprise rock and dance charting hit in the US
through the use of remixes, Summertime Sadness serves as a single in a number
of different territories. The track is a trip hop ballad that finds the singer
in her typical woeful mode. The song finds the singer telling her beau that she
is love with him, and will be in a state of sadness when he goes. It is once
again a cool concept, but the songs lyrics become repetitive and a bit
redundant. The track also finds the singer giving us a vocal that at this point
we know she can do really well, and so the song loses some of its magic. The
punchy hip hop quality of the bass gives the track standout energy to the
sound, but the use of strings is a typical Del Rey quality, and so by this
point the record feels like it needs to come to a conclusion.
3/5
Track 12- This Is
What Makes Us Girls
Final track This Is What Makes Us Girls is a final indie pop
ballad from the singer that is focuses on youth and partying. The songs lyrical
content has this prominent quality, and so the song would sound out of place on
a teen indie film focused on a group of girl. The narrative quality of the
lyrics is cool and will be good for some listeners as it will feel relatable.
The singer also gives us a vocal that feels useful in her use of the higher
ranges of her voice, but the vocal overall has a stylish quality that now feels
classic Del Ray. With the songs production featuring this dark guitar melody
and dramatic sounding strings, the sound is powerful but doesn’t feel unique,
and so this a good but not great way to end the record.
3/5
Final Review
Lana Del Rey has given us a glamorous and mournful record
that is emotionally powerful and has this all-round unique energy. The singers
voice has a smooth a potent quality that feels like she could bring the emotion
out of any song, whilst the lyrical concepts and execution feel both relatable
and personal and really impact the listener. The album is hindered a little bit
by lyrical repetition and a sound that becomes too familiar with the last
couple of track, but the singer does incorporate different styles into her
work, and so for the most part this is an engaging record that deserves the
recognition and success it has achieved.
8/10
Best Track- Video
Games
Worst Track- Diet
Mountain Dew
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