So anyone that knows me knows just how much I love the ever sultry singer Lana Del Rey and how much I have been anticipating her third album titled "Ultraviolence", which was released just earlier this week.
Like most people, Lana first came to my attention when she burst into the pop world with her beautiful raspy vocals on her smash hit second album, "Born to Die". As a massive fan of the old/vintage Hollywood style that Lana incorporated into her cinematic styled videos I was immediately enthralled by this new talent. Not to mention Lana's voice is one of the most haunting I have heard for a while and quite frankly cannot be compared with any other artist on the scene right now.
2012's "Born to Die" was an album of Siren songs about a dream unfulfilled and had an idea of 1950's romanticism. "Ultraviolence" still sees Lana use her hauntingly raspy vocals to portray her gloomy, depressing lyrics but this album also portrays Lana's more absorbing and matured music as "Ultraviolence" sees the singer move away from the pop friendly tracks that you heard on "Born to die" and shed her Lolita image as it embraces a much more darker and menacing atmosphere and lyrics......and it works perfectly.
The tone and atmosphere is pretty much set as the album opens with "Cruel World" which is a slow six and a half minutes where Del Rey dances on the funeral of a relationship as she sings "I shared my body and my mind with you. That's all over now. I did what I had to do. I found another anyhow". Her soft voice croons over a slow thumping beat.
From there on the album takes on a much more dramatic production than "Born to Die" could ever live up to, with songs such as the title track "Ultraviolent" which is about an abusive relationship with Lana singing softly and sadly "He hit me and it felt like a kiss". Yes of course the subject of violence within a relationship makes you twinge but overall this song is probably one of the best tracks on the album as it is well produced in the way it is smart yet also tragic as Del Rey sings "I can hear violins. I can hear sirens".
Another track which in my opinion is a pivotal moment for Lana embracing her more darker side is "Sad Girl" as the opening lyrics to the song are "Being a mistress on the side it might not appeal to fools like you" shows Lana unapologetic for taking on a married man and effectively portrays what she thinks of women who don't agree with her.
Overall I personally feel as though Lana Del rey has created an absolute cinematic masterpiece of an album. It's not your average pop album that will be released on the market and that makes Lana stand out from the rest of her peers within the pop industry at the moment.
Vocally and lyrically I feel as though this is an accomplished piece of work for Lana Del Rey as her already powerful voice reaches notable highs and also reaches impressive lows throughout the whole album.
Another factor that makes "Ultraviolence" so good is that it is a brave, unapologetic and intense album that features very few radio friendly tracks and this is what the music industry has been missing for quite some time right now. A female artist to come along and not be afraid of who she is and embrace her darker nature without feeling the need to sugar coat any of her gloomy lyrics to appeal to appeal to a wider audience. "Ultraviolence" is a punch at her critics who shrugged of her work without recognizing her talent, and she feels no remorse. "Ultraviolent" also sees Lana finally recognise who she is as an artist and become more comfortable within her own skin and the whole album feels like her own honest American dream.
Overall rating: 9/10
Loved tracks: Cruel world, Ultraviolence, West coast, sad girl, fucked my way to the top.
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