Lana Del Rey seemed to blast out of obscurity and enter our lives in a viral frenzy with her first track release ‘Video Games’. Flooding our twitter and social network sites, the question remains, is her music actually any good or simply a fluke? The debut album from the American singer/songwriter certainly holds promise, but can it live up to the hype?
After the disappointment of ‘Lana Del Rey – A.K.A Lizzy Grant’ and its disappearance from iTunes the singers seemed to vanish from our airways before coming back with a transformed on stage persona and some serious inspiration. Taking influence from Kurt Cobain and Britney Spears it becomes clear that the content of the album is going to be hugely diverse. ‘Born To Die’ is the first track off the album and also happens to be the album’s title. This song is a beautiful heartfelt classic, complete with authentic orchestral opening which combines to become a subtle masterpiece. There are occasions where the vocals can be strained and emotive again linking back to her sincerity, similar to Chris Isaak’s vocals in ‘Wicked Games’. If you are looking for a happy upbeat tune, Lana Del Rey does not offer this, the lyrics are far darker and the music far more complex. This is certainly a sincere anthem inbuilt with layered synths and echoing to create a luxurious piece a definite contrast to its successor ‘Off To The Races’ which is very different to all other tracks the album offers. A noticeably different take on her already darker tone, Gangsters, diamonds, swimsuits and passion are all uncovered and she sings a complex narrative of whole hearted, dangerous love and the life of a gangster’s moll. A heavy and distorted guitar make up for the absence in positivity with a seemingly hip hop underside.
‘Diet Mountain Dew’ is a far more subdued sweet track, again portraying a message of broken love, a theme I am coming to realise is very suited to sultry songstress. It is an intense piece complete with a piano and guitar backing combining an epic yet understated contrast. Early on, a similar hip hop tone is echoed in ‘Off To The Races’ and alters the song completely. The demo is far more subdued and twee, perhaps this upbeat version appeals to the audience more and offers respite from the bittersweet sting of love that all the other tracks provide. The heavy snare and rock guitar bring alter the tempo to create an alternative urban track, something different to what we would expect from Lana Del Rey. ‘Blue Jeans’ the third track on the album is a fusion of old school rock, blues and country guitar tones. The song begins with a slow and gospel sounding riff with a religious appraisal echoed behind the many layers of music, beautifully mastered with a very southern undertone. Originally a B side to video games, I fear this has been seriously undervalued and the hype of ‘Video games’ has masked it. This track is a delicately written and her seductive and sultry vocals are shown off at their best. This is a very original and melancholy track showing both desperation and the true effects of consuming love.
The critically acclaimed ‘Video Games’ sombre yet sweet provides a different take on music entirely. A very rough and naive track that invites its audience into an almost twisted dark and subdued Disneyland with less magic and far more reality. Simple chords, harps and violins early on combine to create a piece that relies on lyrics and a musical euphoria that capture the audience “It’s you, it’s you, it’s all for you…” relate back to its almost obsessive, teenage nature. A low and rhythmical hum exhibits her sincerity and depression. ‘This is what makes us girls’ is the final track on the album and at first listen makes the audience question, is she encouraging the youth of today to ditch their friends for a fleeting crush? Teen drinking, causing trouble and going against the law are the very peculiar themes of this song. I think this is possibly the weakest song on the album. A low whispering almost transpiring into rap, the sweet sixteen period is reflected upon from what appears to be a younger side of Del Rey. This is the final track on the album and in my opinion, a mistake.
Miss Del Rey has certainly made a bold statement with ‘Born To Die’, combining sincerity with a seductive innocence in the most expressive way she can. Considering the extensive hype and press this album received I am undecided as to whether it delivers all that was promised. One thing I am sure of is that it certainly has the potential to grow on you. So be warned Lana Del Rey is coming for your soul with the intention to convert you to her intense world of dark beauty.
