Hard News: Review: Lana Del Rey, 'Born To Die'
230 Responses
First ←Older Page 1 … 6 7 8 9 10 Newer→ Last
-
DexterX, in reply to
Wicked.
-
Danielle, in reply to
after her first record, she didn't really write much worth a damn
Pffft. I admit that Whip-Smart isn't too memorable in comparison with Exile, but it's still solid, and no one ever gives whitechocolatespaceegg the time of day - it was unexpectedly really good.
But yeah, after that, she's on her own. Yikes.
-
Steve Barnes, in reply to
Badalamenti/Lynch-like influence
Everything is derivative of Badalamenti/Lynch, even stuff written years before. When you hear a phrase from almost anything they worked on I find it evokes a feeling that any composer that had used similar phrasing meant it to feel like this. Spooky.
-
Matthew Littlewood, in reply to
I think you've touched on why so many serious reviewers are having trouble with the record; they're expecting it to be something it's not. I'm more inclined to hear it as a series of grand pop productions that I won't be listening to for ever. I think you've nailed it in observing that its strengths are also its weaknesses.
The excellent Kitty Empire's review manages to unpack a lot of her contradictions while tackling a lot of the flack she's received head on. It's certainly worth a read. Essentially, KE's review picks up on the distant feel to the record.
And yeah, the Lynch/Badalamenti influences are all over the record- LDR's even mentioned in interviews that she was "inspired" by the infamous "Bang Bar" scene in Fire Walk With Me ( perhaps the most nastiest, most unhinged scene, from Lynch's nastiest, most unhinged film). Which makes sense: Born to Die doesn't have the pure dreamlike pull of Lynch's best work (e.g. Blue Velvet or Mulholland Dr), but it does have the juddery, cluttered feel of his "flawed but interesting" work (e.g. Fire Walk With Me, Lost Highway) -
Incidentally, does anyone else notice any similarities between Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd? Indeed, the parallels are fascinating. LDR has been smothered in a tidal wave of contradictory hoopla and (ultimately dull and pointless) questions about her "authenticity"; Abel "the Weeknd" Tesfaye has refused all interviews, thereby cultivating his persona by ommission.
The Weeknd is more obvious in his influences- his music is essentially a monumentally slowed-down and aggressively compressed take on modern "RnB"- but nearly all the lyrics seem to be from the point of view of the sort of "fuck 'em and leave 'em" bad boy that LDR's songs are so obsessed with.
I think he's a similarly flawed artist- lyrically, it often crosses the line between upfront to just plain unpleasantly misogynist, and the music can be similarly overwrought- but he's just as fascinating.as LDR. It'd be interesting to hear the pair do a duet.
-
Sacha, in reply to
these boots are made for walking
-
Ian Dalziel, in reply to
Incidentally, does anyone else notice any similarities
between Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd?Guessing you probably don't mean this Weekend...
formed by Alison Stratton from welsh wonders - Young Marble Giantsand then, just for fun, there's Everything But the Girl...
-
Ha! Good shout! Weekend were/are indeed a fine, underrated act, while Colossal Youth is, of course, a classic. Regarding Tracy Thorn, really like her voice, but often feel she's at her best singing for other acts ("Protection" etc).
-
Great job internet!
The Hadron Collider of hype: Lana Del Rey meets The Hunger Games
-
Just the facts, Fairfax fail...
For an Entertainment Editor, Stuff's Jule Scherer looks a little amateurish, her on-line Lana Del Rey album review consistently spells her name as Del Ray (at least the heading and caption sub got it right, but why not fix the rest?) - One wonders if Scherer even looked at the cover of her free review CD, this ain't rocket science, just transcription... -
philipmatthews, in reply to
She also invents a genre called "hop hop" ...
-
JacksonP, in reply to
Regarding Tracy Thorn, really like her voice, but often feel she's at her best singing for other acts ("Protection" etc).
I fell in love with her here. Admittedly unpolished, but perfect in every other way, IMhO.
-
Ian Dalziel, in reply to
the game's afoot...
She also invents a genre called "hop hop" ...
I missed that, something for the more modern bounder perhaps...
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
I fell in love with her here. Admittedly unpolished, but perfect in every other way, IMhO.
A Distant Shore is one wistful, melancholy gem of an album.
Mind you, I like her and Ben's housey-housey stuff too.
-
While we're on this tip, Tracey Thorn's Love and Its Opposite album is a wonderful, bleakly humorous examination of middle-aged drift:
-
Some of it sounds better on my crappy car stereo than it does through the big speakers at home
Get a good car stereo. That goes for all you music freaks. Don't let wubwub loving bogans be the only ones who get to hear their music as the technology gods intended.
-
linger, in reply to
She also invents a genre called "hop hop" ...
a clear sign that the reviewer's a bunny.
-
James Butler, in reply to
Get a good car stereo. That goes for all you music freaks. Don't let wubwub loving bogans be the only ones who get to hear their music as the technology gods intended.
The technology gods never intended for music to be listened to in a tiny metal box with a pink noise generator at the front. Good car stereos are a waste of time. Choose for your journey music which sounds good on a crappy stereo.
-
linger, in reply to
pink noise generator
means you need something at a higher octane
(e.g. Bee Gees) -
James Butler, in reply to
means you need something at a higher octane
(e.g. Bee Gees)Tell you what my car does need: Autotune </coat>
-
Sacha, in reply to
meaningless songs in very high voices
-
Listening to LDR now. Pleasant, well-produced pop. Not Earth-shattering, but listenable. Undemanding. Would be good in a car.
-
@James: Well played, even on a car stereo.
@Sacha: Ah, well, that would be these guys:Rather than, say, these guys:
(Kenny also did several other similar skits. One I haven’t been able to locate yet was a practical demonstration of the predictable “inhale helium until desired octave is achieved” line.)
-
Sacha, in reply to
all in the best possible taste
-
BenWilson, in reply to
The technology gods never intended for music to be listened to in a tiny metal box with a pink noise generator at the front.
You're confusing the technology gods with the music gods, from whom the technology gods are stealing worshippers, and they most certainly did intend for that divine sound to be cranked into their tiny technological boxes.
Good car stereos are a waste of time. Choose for your journey music which sounds good on a crappy stereo.
But I use random play because I'm concentrating on driving. It all sounds good (by which I mean the quality of the sound is good, sometimes a small amount of equalizing is needed). If I don't like it, <next>.
Post your response…
This topic is closed.