Album Review: Lana Del Rey Triumphs on Debut Album "Born To Die"

Its finally here: self confessed, studio singer and last years biggest musical Internet sensation, Lana Del Rey’s debut album, Born to Die, hit the shelves today. With a debut single as good as the bitter sweet love song Video Games was, it was always going to be an uphill battle trying to create a collection of songs that would not immediately shrivel into nothingness when placed on the same CD as it. But by heck, did setting the bar high from the get go produce a brilliant debut album.

It should be noted though, if you haven't liked Lana's voice, or any of the songs you've heard thus far from her, than this album is not going to convince you otherwise of her talent.


The production on Born To Die in some ways is the real star of the album. Helmed mostly by Emile Haynie, a man who has worked with everyone from Michael Jackson to Kanye West, it impresses from the very first bars of opening track Born to die and continues to do so right till the end of the album.

Whereas pop music today is often assembled on computers, with distinct and independent sound loops on separate tracks being switched on and off as the song progresses to create variation, the production here is handled in a more classical, almost holistic way. The flow, evolution and resolution of each song is testament to a skill and musical acumen that is far above that of those making popular music today.

The production can not be spoken of without mentioning the string section that graces each track; adding a luscious layer of sound that sings as sweetly and evocatively as Lana Del Rey herself. I find it amazing, perhaps simply because it's not usually done, that each song sounds to have had a string section scored for its entirety- listen to the way they beautifully conclude Off To The Races. It's an attention to detail that was not lost on this listener.

Floating above the glorious production are Lana Del Reys’ versatile tones, which invoke female singers of yesteryear like Karen Carpenter and Nancy Sinatra. Whether in its lower, slightly nasal reaches, or its breathy, warm top, the voice consistently manages, impressively, to bring the femme fatale characters of the lyrics to life.

There’s no melisma or belting, and instead like an Oscar winning actress, Lana Del Rey manipulates her voices tone and timbre, instead of its range, to weave these wonderfully realised tales of love, money and a gangster lifestyle. One moment she's youthful and Innocent- the chorus of Radio- the next jazzy and sullen, like Fiona Apple- Million Dollar Man- but her trump card, and the role she plays best, is sultry and forlorn- Video Game. It’s a style of singing that hasn't been heard in pop music for a while and one that Lana Del Rey may just bring it back into vogue with this album.

The voice wouldn’t need to be so versatile if the lyrics - to which Lana Del Rey co-wrote all of them- didn't consist of such interesting stories and characters. The majority of the songs deal with the theme of love, but thankfully they all manage to do so in an engaging, descriptive and unique way, that never lazily falls back on clichés or tired imagery.

The lyrics that impressed me most were those of Carmen. It’s an exceptionally well written, cautionary tale, from the perspective of a young starlet who is being killed by the Hollywood lifestyle she lives. One in which drugs, prostitution and drink are staples. It commands a listener to question why an individual, who is clearly unhappy and aware that their lifestyle is detrimental, would continue to live that way. But Lana Del Rey manages to, in the closing half, explain this away, while offering a small insight into the mind of celebrity, by revealing how the real addiction this starlet is suffering from, and the one with which all other problems flow, is that of the spotlight and fame itself. Whether there is some autobiographical nature to this song it’s unknown, but I am sure those real life “Carmens”, who are indulging in similar destructive behaviour, could undoubtedly identify with this character and her motivations, and that is a sign of a great writer.

Lyrically, vocally, and production wise, Lana Del Rey’s debut album Born to Die is everything i hoped it would be. Its a cinematic, sonic masterpiece, that faithfully manages to merge the old school Hollywood glamour and Rivera lifestyle of Lana Del Rey’s look with Elizabeth Grant’s hip-hop and modern roots. Where she goes from here is anybodies guess, because simply using this as a template for the next album isn't going to cut it. But let’s give Lana Del Rey a moment to enjoy this triumphant release, and more importantly, a moment  to stick it to all those who thought she would crash and burn with a full release.

Rating: A-

Must Hear: Blue Jeans, Born To die, Off To The Races, Dark Paradise.

Writers and producers on Born To Die

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Born to Die"	Elizabeth Grant, Justin Parker	Emile Haynie	4:46
2.	"Off to the Races"	Grant, Tim Larcombe	Patrick Berger, Emile Haynie	4:59
3.	"Blue Jeans"	Grant, Haynie, Dan Heath	Emile Haynie	3:29
4.	"Video Games"	Grant, Parker	Justin Parker, Robopop	4:41
5.	"Diet Mountain Dew"	Grant, Mike Daly	Emile Haynie, Jeff Bhasker*	3:42
6.	"National Anthem"	Grant, Parker	Emile Haynie	3:50
7.	"Dark Paradise"	Grant, Rick Nowels	Emile Haynie, Rick Nowels*	4:03
8.	"Radio"	Grant, Parker	Emile Haynie	3:34
9.	"Carmen"	Grant, Parker	Emile Haynie, Jeff Bhasker^	4:08
10.	"Million Dollar Man"	Grant, Chris Braide	Emile Haynie, Chris Braide	3:51
11.	"Summertime Sadness"	Grant, Nowels	Emile Haynie, Rick Nowels*	4:25
12.	"This Is What Makes Us Girls"	Grant, Jim Irvin, Larcombe	Al Shux, Emile Haynie	4:00
Total length:

Source:Wiki