Lana returns to her classic sound in new album

By: Zenab Saeed ~Staff Writer~

Lana
Photo courtesy of 411mania.com | Lana Del Rey’s new album brings romance, lust, violence and bitterness.

On Sept. 19, Lana Del Rey released her highly anticipated fourth studio album. “Honeymoon” showcases the hauntingly melodic songs expected of Del Rey, but with an even more emotional and hazy soundscape on its 14 tracks.

The album follows Del Rey’s 2014 release, “Ultraviolence,” which received tremendous critical acclaim and success with singles like “West Coast” and “Brooklyn Baby” and introduced the Grammy-nominated singer to a broader audience. After releasing her debut album, “Lana Del Rey” on the iTunes Store in 2010, Del Rey also found success in her popular 2012 album “Born to Die.”

Released by Universal Music Group Recordings under Interscope Records and Polydor Records and co-produced by Del Rey, with collaboration from Rick Nowels and Kieron Menzies, the album echoes the honey-like and heartbreaking sound reminiscent of Del Rey’s earlier work.

Del Rey began to work on “Honeymoon” not long after releasing “Ultraviolence,” but this album harkens back to her classic retro-jazz sound, rather than the rock-influenced quality of her previous album. Del Rey relies more on her impressive vocals, and given her usually tragic and dreamlike melodies, showcases her consistency as an artist.

The entire album combines to form a cohesive sound with individual tracks flowing together and demonstrating Del Rey’s versatility. Del Rey’s vocals deliver, especially on her eponymous lead track “Honeymoon.” The slow, melancholy-soaked ballad is perhaps Del Rey’s most emotional and velvety performance yet.

The song, “Music to Watch Boys To,” which Del Rey initially considered to serve as her album’s titular track, is an equally thrilling and passionate combination of vocal performance and honest lyrics.

Overall, the album is wellpaced and fluctuates between deliberately-paced tracks like “Salvatore” and slightly faster, but equally pain-ridden songs like “High By the Beach” and “Art Deco.”

The lead single of the album, “High By the Beach,” which begins with a more airy and lingering verse and then progresses towards a catchy, more uptempo chorus, is especially deserving of recognition and captures the entire essence of “Honeymoon.”

Del Rey has not yet announced plans for another album or a tour.

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