It’s out-of-focus in a sublime kind of way, like a hazy, half-remembered drive on the Pacific Coast Highway. Strikingly different from everything else Lana has done, “Venice B***h” is nearly 10 minutes of dreamy psychedelic folk-pop that wanders all over the place, takes a few detours into experimental jam territory, and then wanders some more. Backed only by a piano, Lana rethinks her detached approach to the world’s problems (with nods to Sam Cooke and Bob Dylan) while delivering a soulful melody that keeps unfolding and going to places of delicate beauty. Not only is “Change” the prettiest song that Lana has ever recorded, it’s also one of the most unaffected and stripped-down. It offers a satisfying contrast to the overblown style that too often prevails on “Born to Die,” Lana’s major-label debut record.
Smoky, sultry, and languidly paced, “Million Dollar Man” is a choice cocktail made with the right proportions. Tracks like “Video Games,” “Blue Jeans,” “Summertime Sadness,” “Ride,” and “Love” don’t need any boosting. While the list is career-spanning (with the exception of her false-start debut, “Lana Del Ray”), I didn’t include her most popular singles. To get you primed for the new material, I’ve compiled a list of 10 Lana songs you can’t miss. On the whole, Lana seems to be aiming for more of a singer-songwriter vibe (something she tested out on her last record, “Lust for Life”) but without sacrificing her sturdy pop appeal. Among the songs already released as singles are “Mariners Apartment Complex,” “Doin’ Time” (a Sublime cover), and “The Greatest.”* The early returns are encouraging. Lana’s new album, “Norman F***ing Rockwell,” comes out on Friday. At her best, she can totally transport you to a different world. So what if she hasn’t mastered the album format? So what if she can be ridiculous? What matters most is that she has the songs, the voice, and the mystique. Ultimately, I think the positives far outweigh the negatives. She doesn’t let you comfortably settle in and enjoy the ride. The highs are high, the lows are low, and they often follow right after each other. She has songs with titles like “Diet Mountain Dew,” “Coachella – Woodstock in My Mind,” and “When the World Was at War We Kept Dancing.” On two separate tracks she sings about drinking PBR “on ice.” (Something not recommended by or for anyone but doddering grandpas in Wisconsin.) And there’s that preposterously crass line from “Cola.”
The imagery in her lyrics is often ham-fisted and cliched. Her sad-girl emoting can become tiresome when stretched across a full album. Now for some qualifications and counterpoints. To date, Lana has released one pretty awesome record, one that’s pretty good, and a handful of mixed bags.
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