Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence Review

LDR has been teasing fans with sumptuously macabre new songs since Coachella. So it was no surprise when she told The Guardian "I wish I was dead already". People have been waiting impatiently for her new album Ultraviolence, me included. Lana is certainly the queen of the individuality musically. So I thought I would review her album, track by track really getting my teeth into what Elizabeth Grant has to say.

Cruel World- Your first song on your third album needs to be good, or at least shocking. Both of these things appear on Cruel World. This almost seven minute epic of emotionally unattached bliss draws you in slowly. By the last second I feel like I need a need a good wash, I love your women and all of your heroin, And I'm so happy that you're gone now. It's these edge of your seat lyrics that make Cruel World seem like the theme song to Middle America grime. Lana puts it perfectly- this song makes you fucking crazy, crazy for me.

Ultraviolence-Although this is the title track, I'm not too sure. Despite LDR's voice being succulent and sexy, not everything sung can always be succulent and sexy. Ultraviolence is a tale of 'Jim' beating up his girlfriend but that's all okay because she loves him and him smacking her up is okay because it felt like a kiss. Does begging for Ultraviolence really give out the right message? The song sounds like a period drama fuelled by a lust for domestic violence and coke, and the spoken bit at the end Yo soy la princess, comprende mis white lines really is just too much.

Shades Of Cool-This was the second single after West Coast released and really stoked the fire of the Ultraviolence hype. Shades Of Cool is the Bond theme that never was, a mix of Nancy Sinatra-esque vibes lathered with 1950s Hollywood. This is a classic Lana track, but with less of the overly obtuse singing style in tracks like Video Games. It's a good turn for LDR, not forever could she sing sadly like she was in a soundtrack! Lana has shown the world she doesn't have to rest on her Pop star laurels.

Brooklyn Baby- In a complete shock, Lana has written a song that is almost upbeat. In Brooklyn Baby it isn't a crime to be cool, from the intro to the last chord this song oozes an air of relaxed New York Bohemia. The lyrics are kitted out with Beat poetry references and extensive jazz collections, all sung without an air of irony. By track four, Lana Del Rey has built up a bit of self-confidence. Before his passing she was planning to work with the great Lou Reed, and in Brooklyn Baby she pays an almost homage to him with a very low voice singing harmonies on the final chorus.

West Coast- Say what you want about about Elizabeth Grant, she sure can choose a single. Simply put, West Coast is almost perfection for LDR. Black Keys' Dan Auberach has really shown off in this track, with one of the best breakdowns of 2014. Twinned with the drop dead beautiful singing, West Coast is a standout song on Ultraviolence. It's a welcome break from the dreariness of the first half of the LP.

Sad Girl- Just when you thought you were out of the dreariness, Sad Girl drags you right into the thick of it. This is the anti-Beyoncé song: while Queen B sings in 03' Bonnie Clyde that she loves being nasty and bad, Queen L sings that being his bonnie on the side makes her a sad girl. The boozy wails by Del Rey are ultimately the problems with being a 'side bitch' to a dude. It is almost heartbreaking, if you're heart hasn't already been broken by Ultraviolence. Incase you have missed the message of the album the chorus explains it:

I'm a sad girl, I'm a sad girl, I'm a sad girl.I'm a sad girl, I'm a bad girl, I'm a bad girl.I'm a sad girl, I'm a sad girl, I'm a sad girl.I'm a sad girl, I'm a mad girl, I'm a bad girl. 

Pretty When You Cry- If I am being honest, at this point I am fed up with this album. I can easily understand that Lana Del Rey is very depressed and just wants to die and not exist, I am a teenager after all. But Pretty When You Cry is almost the final straw for me. It is confused, cynical and self-obsessed. But despite this triad of meh, the song is still far better than any female artist has released this year (looking at you Lily Allen). So I just don't know anymore- nor does Lana.

Money Power Glory- Creating a character like Lana Del Rey is both a blessing and a curse. It allows Lizzie Grant to explore edgy and powerful themes, but it also limits the topic that the forever cinematic songstress can look at. Money Power Glory is a sludge of vocal tics and lazy female empowerment lyrics. At first it was really quite exciting to hear someone admitting love for illegal substances, but by Money Power Glory dope and diamonds dope and diamonds is about as interesting as a Rihanna song.

Fucked My Way Up To The Top- In an electric shock, FMWUTTP gets a bit of life in the corpse that was Ultraviolence. Still without any irony, Lana sings with pride that she is the best prostitute in al the land because she er.. well ya know. It's an interesting look into greed and sexuality, especially the verse in which she warns off an inspiring girl I'm a dragon, You're a whore. I really like this song, it has life and energy. Well needed rest bite.

Old Money- Despite being a snail of a ballad, LDR has made an understated gem in what is the confusion of Ultraviolence. Old Money is slow and gentle, simple piano and strings- it screams Born To Die. Like Brooklyn Baby this too has obscure pop culture references and wink-less irony. You cannot take away Lana's simply intoxicating voice, which is underplayed in this song but still great.

The Other Woman- This is almost almost the best song on the album. Imagine if you watched Goodfellas from the viewpoint of Karen. The other woman is perfect when her rival fails, it's perfectly written. Added in with the tape-deck recorded vocals and smoother than butter drum fills and guitars it has a real authentic feel. Lana Del Rey has picked herself up on this final track, if we just ignore the unnecessary vocal gymnastics that are as creative as an X Factor contestant.