Lana Del Rey absolutely killing it with her new song, “Love”. This is the kind of positivity and good vibes the world
Tag: Lana Del Rey
Honeymoon by Lana Del Rey
From the moment I first heard her previous album, “Ultraviolence”, I was hooked. Honeymoon then became my most anticipated album of 2015.
And I was not disappointed.
From the moment the first strings on the title song began, I could feel that this was going to be another unforgettable dive into the cinematic, haunting world of Lana Del Rey’s music. In fact I recommend listening to this album for the first time in total darkness on your own if you can.
This isn’t required, but it really helped me to absorb the music as much as possible.
Melancholy
The melancholy of her previous album is still present but feels more upbeat this time around. You can hear this notably on the album’s first single, “High by the beach”.
Not that melancholy is a bad thing at all – some of my favourite music is just that – what I’m trying to get at is that her unique sound is still there, but she’s taking it into new places.
She’s an artist who isn’t afraid to push her voice to the front and centre – often making her sound vulnerable and alone.
This is demonstrated perfectly in “Terrance Loves You”. This is minimally backed through the opening verses, and builds to a soaring chorus, still managing to stay somehow minimal – just herself, piano and strings.
Well I lost myself when I lost you
From “Terrance Loves You”, Track 3.
But I still got jazz when I’ve got the blues
I lost myself and I lost you too
And I still get trashed, honey, when I hear your tunes
The sound of the album
She often harmonizes with herself backed by minimal, reverbed instruments – pianos and light strings. This helps create that unique world I mentioned earlier: haunting; cinematic. Saying that however there are plenty of uses of light drum beats in this album – often when building to the climax of a song, never just for the sake of having a drum beat.
The melodies throughout this album are gorgeous too. The pan pipe sounding intro to Salvatore is a great, hypnotic example of this, which she replicates vocally for the chorus.
Ah-ah-ah-ah, Ah-ah-ah-ah, Cacciatore.
From “Salvatore”, Track 10.
Ah-ah-ah-ah, Ah-ah-ah-ah, Limousines.
Ah-ah-ah-ah, Ah-ah-ah-ah, Ciao Amore.
Ah-ah-ah-ah, Ah-ah-ah-ah, Soft ice cream.
My favourite song on the album would probably have to be 24. It’s a crowning achievement on a great album, which show’s off something that I’ve been saying for a while – if she wanted to, she could write one hell of a bond song.
In fact Spectre has recently been released – the 24th bond film. Coincidence? Or is this a cheeky wink from Miss Grant? I’d like to think the latter.
In Conclusion
If you’ve never listened to a Lana Del Rey album before, this is as good as any to start with. My personal favourite of hers overall is probably still “Ultraviolence”, but this album also has a couple of my favourite songs of hers.
If you have heard her previous albums and are yet to listen to this one, wait no longer. You wont be disappointed.
What are your favourite songs of Lana’s? Let me know in the comments below.
Just stayed up to listen to @LanaDelRey‘s new album Honeymoon at moment of release. And my gosh it was worth it!
After much refreshing of my music streaming service of choice, she has arrived…
I really can’t wait for Lana Del Rey’s new album, ‘Honeymoon’. If the singles are anything to go by, its gonna be frickin awesome.
Its finally come to the episode of American Horror Story I’ve been waiting for — Jessica Lange’s cover of Lana Del Rey’s Gods and Monsters.
Can’t wait.
Who the hell curates an album labelled ‘The Greatest Female Voices’ and doesn’t include Lana Del Rey? But they do include the bloody Corrs!?!
If someone would like to buy me Lana Del Rey’s deluxe edition of Ultraviolence that would be swell.
Just found out that Grimes is supporting Lana Del Rey on the Endless Summer Tour. If I could afford the plane fare I’d be straight over there.
If I could take only one album with me to a desert island, it would be Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence.
Here’s one for you to listen to: Lana Del Rey ‘Big Eyes’
Lana Del Rey in Tropico
Playground — Lana Del Rey
Dave’s top albums of 2014
Five albums that stood out to me in 2014. All have been on repeat at work, home and in my car.
Lana Del Rey: Ultraviolence
If you were to tie me up, gag me and stick me in a remote location for the rest of my life — and I could only listen to one album again — it would be this one. Every single song on this album is golden. When you start the album, you enter into a dream-like world — a boundless world of raw emotion and energy. The album feels almost ethereal — as though you are walking in the abyss being sang to by an angel.
Stand out tracks for me include: Ultraviolence, West Coast and The Other Woman.
As an aside, I encourage you to buy the Deluxe Edition of this album – if only for the song Black Beauty. Black Beauty is one of my favourite of all of Lana’s songs. The transition from The Other Woman into Black Beauty, is one of the best song transitions I’ve ever heard.
Why Black Beauty wasn’t included on the regular album release, I have no idea.
Lorde: Pure Heroine
I first heard of Lorde when Weird Al Yankovic released his song “Foil” — a parody cover of Lorde’s “Royals”. My next taste of her music came from the Trailer for Assassin’s Creed Unity. The song was a cover of “Everybody wants to rule the world” by Tears for Fears — and is phenomenal.
Her music isn’t like anything I have really heard before — she is her own thing. Her music and stage presence are up there with all the greats. I have since listened to this, her debut album, on repeat for the past two or three months and it never tires.
Stand out songs include: Tennis Court, Royals and White Teeth Teens.
Cherlene: Cherlene (Songs from Archer)
Archer is one of my favourite TV series of recent years. Fans of the show will know that series 5 of Archer — named “Archer: Vice” — was a temporary departure form the usual back drop of fictional intelligence agency ISIS.
During “Archer: Vice” Cheryl/Carol took on the new name of Cherlene, and was pursuing a career in outlaw country music. To my surprise, the songs that were featured throughout the show were compiled into this album. And before you think it’s just going to be a gimmick album, let me tell you it is not.
This is a genuinely good country album and can be enjoyed by anybody regardless of whether they have seen the show or not.
Stand out songs include: Danger Zone (a duet with Kenny-frickin-Loggins), Cherlene’s Broken Hearts and Auto Parts, and Eastbound and Down.
Foxes: Glorious
I came across Foxes through a Google Play recommendation. At first listen it didn’t strike me as something I would enjoy. But I gave the album a chance. And I’m glad I did. Glorious is an energetic, thoroughly enjoyable, synthpop album from start to finish.
It brilliantly mixes thumping pop anthems with haunting soundscapes — all tied together by this woman’s amazing voice.
Stand out songs: Let go for tonight, Night Glo and Echo. Also if you plan on getting the Deluxe Edition you will hear a live version of Clarity, which is worth getting just for that song.
Kacey Musgraves: Same Trailer, Different Park
This album was a recommendation by Andrew Clarke, along with four other albums. This one stood out to me above the rest and has since recharged my love of country music.
Every song on this contemporary country album is a gem and I never tire of listening to it front to back. You can easily get lost in the stories and faultless melodies of Same Trailer, Different Park.
I should mention that this album was actually released in 2013. But since it’s so damn good — and I heard it first in 2014 — I decided to include it anyway.