Be young, be dope, be proud.

Album: Born to Die: The Paradise Edition

Artist: Lana Del Rey

I've had a long and slow burning love for Lana Del Rey's music and aesthetic ever since I first saw the video for Born to Die when I was at the gym one day in 2012. There was something about her sadcore/baroque pop sound that resonated with me and I listened to the Born to Die album many, many times. I especially admired the post-modern mash of 50s/60s Americana, lavish orchestral strings, and hip hop rhythms. I've enjoyed all of Del Rey's subsequent albums, however I rediscovered the Born to Die album (specifically Born to Die: The Paradise Edition) at a point in my life where I yearned for change and it became the unofficial soundtrack of my feeble attempt at metamorphosis. During this period, I unsuccessfully applied for a job at Honey Birdette and started viewing life through a grainy Instagram filter, which resulted in me spending way too much money on lingerie in hope that it would change my life and that I too, would become this beautiful, tragic gal with a myriad of man problems.

Flash forward to present day, I'm going to see Lana live in concert in a couple of months, and I'm currently playing music reporter Constance Sack in Rock of Ages (being produced by Pannic Productions [book tickets here]), so it feels like the right time to review this album.

Born to Die: the Paradise Edition is the reissue of Del Rey's Born to Die album (both released in 2012). From the opening flourish of strings in "Born to Die", to the closing chatter of "Bel Air", the album presents a collection of audial melodrama, exploring themes of sex, drugs, rock and roll, intoxicating love, and loss.

The more I listen to this album, the more I feel like Lana Del Rey was inspired by a Pinterest board of flimsy cliches and pictures of mid-century American celebrities. I want to believe that this whole album is a satirical dig at the tropes that Hollywood and celebrity culture have been force-feeding us, however, there doesn't seem to be any resolution or songs of empowerment that acknowledge and challenge these tropes. "This Is What Makes Us Girls" makes a misguided attempt at empowering its subjects but still falls short. "Cola", the now-retired track on disc 2 opens with the line "my pussy tastes like Pepsi cola", which I can only assume was included for shock value. "Yayo" paints a picture of a woman eager to have a shotgun wedding in Las Vegas to a man she refers to as "Daddy". The inclusion of a cover of "Blue Velvet" further reinforces a tie to the mid-century America that Lana Del Rey draws a lot of inspiration from - a time where women were often viewed as objects for the male gaze. This affinity for retro Americana spills over into the music videos, particularly "Video Games" which feature vintage newsreel and cartoon clips, and "National Anthem" with it's references to Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedys.

Musically, the over-the-top, dramatic strings provide a lush, ritzy element and the hip hop inspired beats and occasional rapping give a grounded, more rugged feel. While this post-modern contrast of genres is initially striking to the listener, it does quickly become unremarkable. Apart from songs such as "Off to the Races" and "Lolita", Del Rey's vocal tend to remain in a lower register, providing the impression of depth that her lyrics lack.

Overall I feel like Lana Del Rey was more dependant on her image and lyrics than her music to sell this album. Although it's not a technical masterpiece, and is rife with lyrics and themes that can be considered problematic, I still love this album. For me, this album is pure escapism: the soundtrack to an alternate universe that is bathed in the glow of neon signs, where I exclusively wear Wheels and Dollbaby garments and date men who ride Harley-Davidsons.

I feel that this album can be summed up in one quote from the tv show Daria: "Sometimes your shallowness is so thorough, it's almost like depth." Any ya know what? That's just fine with me.

In summary:

Rating: 5/10

Favourite songs: Dark Paradise, Ride

Least favourite songs: Body Electric, Million Dollar Man

#review #LanaDelRey #albumreview #RockofAges #pannicproductions