- Lana Del Rey - Born to Die (Interscope Records) Rating: 7 (out of 10)
It seems people love to pick on the new kid and as the Internet becomes the playground for cyber bullies, Lana Del Rey has had the equivalent of a "kick me" sign taped on her back.
After two songs, "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans," were loaded on to YouTube Del Rey garnered an enormous amount of attention. The visually stunning music videos were the perfect counterpoint for her smoldering vocals and suddenly it seemed a star was born. With eager anticipation her full-length album has been released but not before the hate mail started to arrive. A lot of what has been said seems to revolve around a lackluster performance on Saturday Night Live but the SNL set is notorious for providing less than stellar musical performances. Her now famous lips are further targets for attack, so she is a princess of pout, are they entirely natural? Who really cares? In today's world what performer hasn't done something to adjust their appearance.
What really should be under discussion is her record and whether her detractors like it or not the album is racing up the charts and for good reason. While she may not have a huge vocal range she has a unique sound. It's sultry, moody and unmistakable. When she draws out her lyrics on the opening track and title song, Born to Die, you are pulled deep into her performance.
Fifteen tracks fill the album and in them she explores a variety of vocal styles to varying degrees of success. Emile Haynie's lush production oozes late night cool and blends a retro feel with a modern beat. The songs drift into melancholy themes of lost love, unsatisfied lives and disappointed dreams. "Diet Mountain Dew" lays down a solid beat while she pleads for the love of the bad boy. "National Anthem" is all posture, starting with its orchestral introduction and background fireworks it turns dark as she decries "Money is the anthem of success."
Lyrically Del Ray doesn't break any new ground and can frequently draw on clichés to express her themes. She occasionally slips into a cutesy girlish voice that can be grating, but fortunately it is something thrown in for effect on only a couple of songs.
Overall it is a well-produced collection of songs that focus on her voice. While she may have met with some attacks from critics her fans have grown in legions and is going to be blasting out of speakers all over the world.
