Inevitable pressure and expectation: the second albumÔÇÖs labelled ÔÇ£difficultÔÇØ for a reason.
Despite extra EPs and deluxe editions, Lana Del Rey has greater expectation than most for her second studio album after breakthrough ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ made her a teenage icon.┬á ÔÇÿUltraviolenceÔÇÖ has been received exceptionally well though, as the consensus seem to believe it eclipses ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ with its newfound sleepy psychedelica.
Del Rey is quite clearly a perfectionist and has been making this album since early 2013. SheÔÇÖs recruited the help of The Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach, whose multi-faceted production creates a distinct and cohesive sound across ÔÇÿUltraviolenceÔÇÖ.┬á The record as a whole remains true to the themes of ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ dealing with power, sexuality and love drawing inspiration from geographical opposites, California and New York. ThereÔÇÖs a polarising of emotions too, as she moves from the 60ÔÇÖs bond girl and damsel in distress as found in the titular ÔÇÿUltraviolenceÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿSad GirlÔÇÖ, to the empowered 21st century starlet of ÔÇÿWest CoastÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿMoney Power GloryÔÇÖ.
Album standouts include slow-burner ÔÇÿCruel WorldÔÇÖ, which opens the album with trademark cinematic vocals and dismisses the poppish tone of ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ in favour of a darker soundscape and ÔÇÿShades of CoolÔÇÖ whose chorus explodes in a kaleidoscope of Melody ProchetÔÇôesque psychedelica. Of course, first single ÔÇÿWest CoastÔÇÖ must not be forgotten, encapsulating the hope of the American dream with lyrics like ÔÇÿI get this feeling / like it all could happen, thatÔÇÖs why IÔÇÖm leavingÔÇÖ.
ÔÇÿUltraviolenceÔÇÖ builds well upon the niche Lana found in her debut, with only ÔÇÿPretty When You CryÔÇÖ sounding every bit the filler track; perhaps no surprise, it lacks AuerbachÔÇÖs mesmeric influence. For a so-called difficult album, itÔÇÖs as effortless a record as youÔÇÖll ever hear, but then thatÔÇÖs exactly the kind of contradiction youÔÇÖd expect from Lana Del Rey.
4/5