The Curse of the Successor

First let me say that I have heard the album only twice concentrated succession away, so this is almost a first impression of ggfls located. will change after further study of the songs again or solidify. So I will extend this review or revise, if change my opinion may again.

Elizabeth Grant, who brings out their music currently under Psyeudonym Lana del Rey, managed with her album Born To Die a million seller, who brought her immediately a worldwide band of enthusiastic fans. The music on Born To Die was a daring mix of various classical and modern styles, which was supported by the striking and versatile voice del Reys. The American Association lyrically personal experiences with fictional stories that were often settled in the milieu of the "White Trash". Criticism she had to listen while from feminists who partially considered the sung by del Rey woman role as problematic. But this did not change the fact that del Rey with her artifiiziellen "Sadcore" sound could take a refreshing and successful special role among the other female US superstars like Lady Gaga or Katy Perry.

At the zenith of the "Born to Die" -Siegeszuges there was suddenly statements the singer that she might publish no more album under the name of Lana Del Rey. In addition, her talent is quite "bitchy" and very dependent on their whims.

But then the successor appeared too BORN TO DIE: ULTRAVIOLENCE.
Was flanked album of the single "West Coast", which had already sit up.
So the first published in its web version is a ballad, while the hitherto customary BORN TO DIE comes style, but especially by striking tempo changes to the chorus back and diverse sound excesses struck the end. Somehow they did not trust this production by the record company and put immediately after a radio remix that sounds distinctly smooth ironed and the tempo change lacks completely. Del Rey himself then published on their Youtube channel advance more songs: the "James Bond sound" -like "Shades of Cool" and "Brooklyn Baby", although both shined by the typical voice of the singer, but of the production and arrangements were catchy as "West Coast" far less. Nevertheless, both songs are very nice and gave in their style a much better taste than ULTRAVIOLENCE it could "West Coast".

And now, after the first listening to the album, it's really so that ULTRAVIOLENCE partially adult and courageous, in the overall assessment but bulkier and drier than Born To Die sounds.

A positive feature is that the new producer Dan Auerbach has interpreted the sound much coaters and earthy than BORN TO DIE, but without the typical sonic experiments of its predecessor quite abandon. Also, it falls on positive that the singer herself vocally significantly more trusts than in the past.

Negative (at least after the first impressions), it is, however, that the songs seem even composed partly weaker. Moreover, in addition to "West Coast", the "hits" are missing. Although you will find on the first listen at first a few catchy songs, but this amount of earwigs as its predecessor (in the form of the title track, the over hit "Video Games" and "Summertime Sadness" or "Blue Jeans", etc.) can be found to not ULTRAVIOLENCE in this concentrated form. In addition, the overall tone of the album is much calmer and even gloomier than Born To Die, which was so well announced by del Rey.

Is that bad? Well, that decides the personal taste. Who does the voice of del Rey Born To Die came along and who total to complacent, which is expected with this album might have his joy. But whoever now a legitimate BORN TO DIE successor offers a catchy pop song after another, the are already disappointed COULD.

I'm still undecided total. Overall I like the album, although after the first runs (hence 4 stars), but total access I have not yet found to all the songs. That was really a lot easier with Born To Die. But this is perhaps the curse of the successor, compared to often with what was before. Here, artists develop mostly on and this then also finds expression in music. I'm definitely excited even know how it goes with Lana del Rey now and whether it can further expand its status as a pop star.

Playing tips for better or for worse:
Ultraviolence
Guns and Roses
The Other Woman
Pretty When You Cry
Cruel World

Here is my opinion on the packaging of the Limited Deluxe Edition:

So the printing or the print quality is okay, that the images are out of focus, grainy and blurred, on all sides of the envelope wanted is thus a figure of speech.
There are from this motive series large-format photo prints in expensive Limited Deluxe Vinyl CD box that look just. Datt must therefore so! ;-)

The shell itself ... Well, I would have here is actually a Digipak expected (with tray on the CD), but you get here really just a miniature version of a vinyl sleeve, were simply reingeschoben side in the booklet and CD.

That is quite enttäuchend and also for CD no optimal form of packaging. "DELUXE" is definitely unfortunately not really. Even the vinyl editions have still at least an inner cover to protect the plates, the CD has something not. And on the shelf this thin envelope disappears visually between all other CDs. A "Cover" (= protection) is hardly given here.