Discography Series: Lana Del Rey #2 - Ultraviolence (Deluxe)

 

Discography Series: Lana Del Rey #2

Ultraviolence (Deluxe)

Cruel World: This gives me somewhat traditional vibes for some reason. I guess it's the production. Is it almost a bit...Western? Not sure if I'm misplacing it. This song is definitely not my favourite overall but I can appreciate it as an intro track to the album. If the album follows similar vibes, I think it's a good intro track. Just less my thing, I guess? 6/10

Ultraviolence: Title track time. I like the chorus a fair bit, it's kinda catchy (even if a lot of it is one word) and has interesting production elements to it. I'm not sure how to describe that sound in the chorus but I like it. The verses I'm less keen on honestly, it's a bit too stripped back for me. Another of it hits for me to rank it higher than the previous track. 7/10

Shades of Cool: I thought it was one of the stripped back and sad songs...until it wasn't. Lana sounds great in this song. And the production again is hitting when the song steps up in intensity. The grander elements are what I like the most. 7/10

Brooklyn Baby: Some of the production elements annoy me more here, I can't lie. It feels like a more annoying song to me. It's that guitar, if that's what it is? It definitely knocks the song down for me. Not sure I needed the male vocals near the end either. It's alright as a song though. 6/10

West Coast: This is a chill yet smooth song that I quite like. It sounds a lot more interesting to my ears. Probably my favourite song so far on this album. It's a lot more catchy and enjoyable in general. 7/10

Sad Girl: This is alright, but not really my favourite. It's pleasant to listen to. The chorus is a bit more catchy. It grew on me more when I listened to it more. It's a decent song! The chorus is what really did it for me. It's goooood. 7/10

Pretty When You Cry: Was not a fan of just the guitar by itself at the start, but it picked up. And then went back again. Not a fan of those quieter parts too much. When the song picks up, it's decent. Relistened to it a few times and I can say I like it! 7/10

Money Power Glory: Me when I want money, power and glory. I want some of those things, but not all of them. Can you guess which? It's a decent song! It's a song that really sounds good actually. There's something kinda grand about this song too. 7/10

F****d My Way Up To the Top: Not sure I did this if I'm already topping? And like topping, it's good. It's a bop. Probably another one of my favourites on this album. 7/10

Old Money: It's Piano BalladTM time. This is again more reminiscent of what I'd expect Lana to sound like, honestly. And unfortunately that means it's less my song. Songs like this do really let Lana shine in how good she sounds, though. And she definitely fits this type of track well. Also, can't believe that Lana is a Drag Race UK fan! Picked the wrong drag queen there though... 6/10

The Other Woman: Uh oh, this one could be a bust based on how it starts. I do NOT like the production style or the vocals here (with the effects and all). Nope, I do not like this AT all. Definitely my least favourite song. It's actively somewhat grating to my ears, I can't lie. The vocal effects and the song just do not work for me. I know it gives it somewhat of an old, maybe like on an old TV or radio or something, but I'm not here for it. 3/10

Black Beauty: The first minute, I was a bit indifferent to. Not really what I like. But as it picked up, it picked up. The rest of the song is a lot better. It's good to listen to, and I enjoyed it. I feel like it's similar to other Lana songs, but that doesn't make it bad. 7/10

Guns and Roses: Ended the band for real. Very easy to do though. Is this a weird continuation of the last song? It sounds kinda like it but not quite. I do NOT like the start of this song. It actively sounds kinda bad to me. Absolutely not. Incredibly repetitive in a bad way too. 3/10

Florida Kilos: Oh no, Lana, no, we're not doing this are we? Not another bad song? The guitar did not work. Nor do the kinda child like vocals. It just sounds BAD. Maybe even worse than the previous song? I can kinda see why I was warned off this album somewhat. Okay, maybe it's not QUITE as bad as I originally thought, but nor is it remotely good. It gets kinda repetitive in a bad way again too. 3/10

Is This Happiness: I'm not sure listening to this is...this is better by having less components to it. Being simpler makes it sound better. It's hard to make a somewhat simple piano ballad sound bad. Production elements in the background are good though. It's a decent upgrade from the previous songs. I can listen to it without wanting to die. 6/10

Overall Verdict: I liked this album less overall than Born to Die. It's less my style of music, so that makes sense. It was quieter and had styles of production I like less, and was less boppy. But I still appreciated listening to it. I'm not sure I would entirely listen to it again, but there are a few songs I'd take away from it. Some, however, were AWFUL. No redeeming qualities there. Should be banned from society actually. I think the album overall leans towards more the style of music I don't like, which makes sense as to why I enjoyed it less.