Review: Over the course of her last few albums, Lana Del Ray has evolved into a significant chronicler of 21st century American life, with sharper-then-ever lyrics accompanied by fittingly haunting, downbeat and bittersweet musical arrangements. Blue Bannisters, which like so many albums released this year was written and recorded during lockdown, continues in a similar vein to its predecessors, with Del Ray's fragile, melancholic vocals being accompanied by ghostly synthesizer chords, striking piano motifs, drowsy aural textures, simmering strings, gentle guitars and occasional rhythmic nods to trip-hop. It's more bittersweet than intense, but undeniably a creative response to the most testing of times. Considered in those terms, it's a hugely impactful and entertaining album.
Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
Sweet
A&W
Judah Smith Interlude
Candy Necklace (feat Jon Batiste)
Jon Batiste Interlude
Kintsugi
Fingertips
Paris, Texas (feat SYML)
Grandfather Please Stand On The Shoulders Of My Father While He's Deep-Sea Fishing
Let The Light In (feat Father John Misty)
Margaret (feat Bleachers)
Fishtail
Peppers (feat Tommy Genesis)
Taco Truck X VB
Review: Despite the production being beset with problems - not least the theft of her laptop, which contained all of the demo versions of the songs - Lana Del Rey's ninth studio album has been widely praised by critics, with many claiming that it's her most mature and fully-realised set to date. It's certainly an impressive set of songs, with the American artist's usual cinematic sound being expanded via nods to Americana, gospel, trap and string-laden folk. In her words, it's self-consciously 'spiritual' in tone, with Del Rey's delivery of her lyrics - notably more thoughtful and weightier than some of her previous work - being particularly impressive. This Japanese edition boasts an Obi-strip and slightly tweaked artwork.
Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
Sweet
A&W
Judah Smith Interlude
Candy Necklace (feat Jon Batiste)
Jon Batiste Interlude
Kintsugi
Fingertips
Paris, Texas (feat SYML)
Grandfather Please Stand On The Shoulders Of My Father While He's Deep-sea Fishing
Let The Light In (feat Father John Misty)
Margaret (feat Bleachers)
Fishtail
Peppers (feat Tommy Genesis)
Taco Truck x VB
Review: Lana Del Rey is back with a title that promises to intrigue, 'Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?"' If her previous works are any indication, we can expect a hauntingly nostalgic exploration of life in California, where the artist grew up. With her velvety voice and dejectedly poetic lyrics, Del Rey has made a name for herself as a modern-day bard of the West Coast. This release is sure to add another chapter to her musical saga, charting three new songs and one remix, and collaborations across the pop spectrum including Father John Misty, Tommy Genesis and Jon Batiste.
Do You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
Sweet
A & W
Judah Smith Interlude
Candy Necklace
Jon Batiste Interlude
Kintsugi
Fingertips
Paris, Texas
Grandfather Please Stand On The Shoulders Of My Father While He’s Deep-sea Fishing
Let The Light In
Margaret
Fishtail
Peppers
Taco Truck X VB
Review: There really is a tunnel under Ocean Boulevard. Not accessible to the public, it was allegedly originally built way back in the interwar period to provide easy access between an oil company's HQ and an amusement park. Such a grisly and suggestive origin myth is the epitome of Lana Del Rey's latest chart-topping album, which is named after the very same tunnel. Much like the underhanded links between the entertainment industry and dirty money alluded to in the title, Del Rey has mastered her sound here: an affective rumination on love, loneliness, and of course, loss, appealing to both ironic zoomers and nostalgia-trippers alike.
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