I know, I'm supposed to be the
metal guy.
What would I possibly know
about music like this?
And
Lana Del
Rey certainly isn't an underground artist like most of the bands and
artists we write about here.
However,
when an album comes along that is this good, when songs like this are written
and shared with us, we all need to take notice.
Great music is great no matter what genre or style it takes.
This is an incredible set of
songs.
I could write for days,
dissecting the lyrics and pointing out the genius therein.
If you know anything about
Lana Del Rey,
you know that there is no topic that she will shy away from.
Her lyrics are open and raw and real.
She writes about her life and all the dirty
little details that make it up.
For
example, with all the uproar over domestic violence that has been in the news,
she writes the line, “He hit me and it felt like a kiss.”
Most artists tackle the subject to
disapprove, she just writes an honest line about what it is like.
As I said, there is genius at
work here.
Lots of artists are capable
of writing songs filled with the more sordid side of life, but not many can do
it in a way that sucks you in and makes you want to listen.
Drug use, domestic violence, infidelity in
the form of being the other woman, using sex as a tool for advancement, all
these and more are dealt with.
There is
a languor and lassitude to these songs that pulls you in like a siren's song.
You start listening because the songs are
just so well written and crafted that the melody has you, and then you start
listening and hear a lyric and think, “Damn, did she just sing that?”
I would listen to these songs
even if she sang like Kermit the Frog because the writing is so good.
But Lana's voice is a true instrument.
She is able to use it in such a wide variety
of ways, with so much nuance in her singing.
She croons, she purrs, she lets it go full blast, whatever the song and
lyric require.
Her style enhances what
she sings about, so that you feel it even more.
These songs are especially about a feeling.
They get under your skin and into your
bloodstream like a needle full of the good stuff.
I have had this CD on repeat, over and over
again.
I hear these songs bouncing
around in my head even when the CD isn't on.
I want to listen to this music as much as I can.
That is the sign of a great album to me.
You might think this is too
“pop” for you. It's not that cool stoner rock band that no one else knows about
so how can you listen to this?
If you
think of yourself as a fan of music, you owe it to yourself to check this
out.
I don't know much about Ms. Del
Rey.
She may be absolutely bat shit
crazy
but she can write, and she can
bring her songs to life.
There are tons
of bands and artists who can do one but not the other.
She is a rare combination who can make any
topic accessible.
These songs deserve to
be listened to, and enjoyed and appreciated for what they are.
So do it.
- ODIN
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