When Lana Del Rey emerged on the music scene last year, with her excellent single “Video Games” and its attendant, sensation-causing video (24 million hits on YouTube), the music press went into spasms of delight, heralding her as the “next big thing.” Since then, they have cooled considerably and launched vitriolic attacks on her perceived authenticity, which really is a case of seriously missing the point. This is pop music after all, and an artist has the right to change his or her persona like the rest of us change our shoes.
Putting all the hype and controversy to one side, what it all comes down to in the end is: how good is the record? Lana Del Reys’ Born To Die turns out to be very good indeed, even if not groundbreakingly original. With its slow, crunchy beats and lush orchestration, musically it’s reminiscent in places of Bristol’s finest Massive Attack. Producer Emile Haynie has worked with Ghostface, The Roots and Kanye West, so his hip hop credentials are impeccable. Lana Del Rey knows how to weave a good story, and populates her songs with doomed teens fueled with drugs and alcohol on the road to destruction. She is a very atmospheric singer, slipping through various styles as she takes on different characters in the songs. Standout tracks are, of course, “Video Games,” the title track and “Summertime Sadness.”
SoundCloud preview of the full album:
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Lana del Rey at SONAR
Posted by Roger Cowell February 27, 2012 20:18:46