Lana Del Rey
Born to Die
released 1/31/12
Interscope
Clearly misunderstood for her past and present, it appears the talking heads in the "album review business" have gotten a little carried away when talking about this charming woman. Only after reading several reviews does it become apparent people just don't like her. And her music gets packaged in with their distaste. Lana Del Rey is a rich kid from upstate NY, who reinvented herself (image and music, formerly known as Lizzy Grant) in order to appeal to a different audience. And let's not overlook the glaringly obvious...she's beautiful. Three strikes and you're now fodder for Internet criticism. She's essentially like the new girl that moves to town in seventh grade who had the prettiest hair and the newest designer backpack everyone wanted but whose parents couldn't afford. Naturally, everyone in school hated her because she had advantages unavailable to everyone else. I suppose this situation is a tad more complicated than that, but not much.
We embrace pop stars and musicians of all stripes without question. Lenny Kravitz, for example, was a rich kid, born to very famous, showbiz parents. But you're not likely to find much of a backlash when Kravitz released his first album, Let Love Rule, in1989 (wow, was it that long ago?!). Kathryn Hudson, released a Gospel Rock album titled Katy Hudson in 2001, reinvented herself seven years later and is now known as pop tart Katy Perry. It mystifies me how one goes from singing the praises of God via rock music to trysts with girls (and she liked it), dying her hair every color of the rainbow and taking on a more provocative persona. Trust me when I say the girl next door appearance of Katy Hudson is a FAR cry from the half naked Katy Perry seen today. But it worked for her and she has had an incredibly successful career thus far. The fact is if you like the music, the past of your favorite artist (or new favorite artist) is inconsequential. Unless of course that artist is young, rich and gorgeous. Then, apparently, you are allowed to judge her personally, criticize her appearance and dismiss a freshman effort that has every right to exist.
So now that I have climbed down from my soapbox, I'd like to touch on the music. Though not a full review of the album, I'd rather you listen for yourself than tell you how to perceive the album. But I can't help but throw my two cents in...
Coming in at a very reasonable 15 tracks, Born to Die, is an elegant first album. Grant's breathless, coquettish voice is sexy and ethereal. Transporting the listener to a time when women were demure little creatures sitting, ankles crossed, in white gloves, sipping tea dreaming of a time when they would be sexually liberated, old Hollywood style. But with a modern backing beat, of course. As with any album, there are a few tracks I am not fond of, but the good (Born to Die, National Anthem, Dark Paradise, Summertime Sadness) most definitely outweigh the bad (Blue Jeans, Diet Mountain Dew, Carmen). Coming in just under an hour this album is thoroughly entertaining and I look forward to what the future brings for Ms. Del Rey...
photo credit: Spin.com
