Just last week, Lana Del Rey released her new album, Ultraviolence. You can have a listen to it above via Spotify.
The album certainly follows in the tradition of 2012's Born to Die but is definitely more mature and stripped down. Ultraviolence is filled with folky pop songs and is sure to please fans of Lana Del Rey's music.
The title track is exactly what one would expect from Del Rey with it's bluesy chorus and melancholy lyrics. "West Coast," the first single from the album, is a jazzy musical tribute to California. "Shades of Cool" and "Brooklyn Baby" have an acoustic, 1960s feel and definitely mirror the singer's earlier hits like Born to Die's "Ride."
Ultraviolence also has several songs that are filled with explicit lyrics, nods to hipster Brooklyn, and drug references i.e. the angsty "Fucked My Way to the Top" and "Money Power Glory." While the album is certainly more mature, these two songs wonderfully capture the "Be young, be wild, be free" motto that Lana has come to be known for. Fans will also be happy to finally enjoy the high fidelity version of the previously-leaked "Black Beauty."
My personal favorite from the album would be "Old Money" which sounds very similar to the 1960s hit, "What is A Youth" by Nino Rota (featured in the 1968 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet). Now whether or not this similarity was intentional or not remains to be determined but "Old Money" is a solid, melodic piece that should not be overlooked. "The Other Woman" is equally as beautiful and is very jazz-influenced, with its saxophone accompaniment and Del Rey's crooning vocals.
While Lana Del Rey already has a well-established fan base it is refreshing to see that she is still taking chances with her music. No two songs on this album sound alike and as a listener you can tell that Del Rey takes inspiration from a wide assortment of musical styles and artists.
You can purchase Ultraviolence on iTunes. For the latest information, music, and videos from Lana Del Rey be sure to visit her Zumic artist page.