~ Lana Del Rey • Lust For Life ~

[Ling-Ling]

Someone snatch these headphones off my ears. Because I'm gonna listen to "Heroin" all day otherwise. It's like a direct sequel to "The Blackest Day." And Lord knows that song has already taken enough of my life as it is.

*edit* OMG, NOPE, I'M DONE. I can't handle "Change" right now. THOSE VERSES. I'm just gonna go home and curl up under a blanket even though it's 5000 damn degrees outside.

[Gray.]

I think this is her strongest effort since Born to Die and Paradise. It sounds like she's really honed her sound and stayed true to her somewhat-tired tropes in a good way. Ultraviolence was a wild failure for me (nothing on that album was good), and Honeymoon was far too monotone throughout. Nothing on the latter except for "High by the Beach" stood out to me.

My favorites so far are "Lust for Life", "Cherry", and "13 Beaches".

[HEADOFTHEPACK]

I need some more time with it of course but I doubt it will top Honeymoon, I adore that album. Great on a first listen as ever, and pockets of songs I'm enjoying.

[koolthing]

Jul 21, 2017 10:46:07 GMT -5 Gray. said:

(nothing on that album was good)

Ultraviolence sweetie I'm so sorry

[dbhmr]

Finally able to put this on rn with headphones and go in. But how am I supposed to listen to the whole thing when I just want to put "13 Beaches" on repeat?

[surfy]

wow... this album is just beautiful.

My favorites (sans pre-released songs):
Cherry
In My Feelings
Beautiful People Beautiful Problems
Tomorrow Never Came
Change
Get Free

[HEADOFTHEPACK]

Also need to say that the production is impeccable.

[dbhmr]

Finished, but not done. As with all her albums, I can't even wrangle my opinion of it on one listen, too transfixed or confused or haunted or meandering at any given moment to feel totally grounded in what's going on. I love her for that, and she always delivers. "13 Beaches" is still the standout for me, alongside "Lust for Life," "Love," "God Bless America," and "Groupie Love." Even "Coachella" worked better in this context (though for an album this long, I probably would have cut it, or at least relegated it to deluxe status).

I find the random one-liner shouts in "Heroin" and "Get Free" incredibly distracting and, therefore, annoying because both songs are otherwise so marvelous, and I hate being taken out of their mood, but I imagine as I get used to it I'll be able to fully appreciate those songs better.

[HEADOFTHEPACK]

I'm not sure I find this to be particularly similar to BTD, although it's definitely her 'hookiest' since then. Spent a bit more time with it and I think it's wonderful, her voice is the best it's ever been, the production is excellent and the melodies are beautiful. I could make a long ass list about what I like about each song but I won't, it's just a great album and I love her.

[Honeymoon]

I echo that the production is exquisite. The one thing bothering me is that it feels very disjointed in parts ("Lust for Life", "Summer Bummer", "Cherry" could be shifted around a bit) and is generally not very cohesive which were the last two albums strength. But that's also part of the appeal as it does feel refreshingly eclectic, adventurous for what has become expected for a Lana Del Rey album post-BTD. "Coachella" has grown on me since I first heard it but still kind of slows the pace of the album when there's 16 tracks, it's definitely the weakest link for me. Everything else is solid to excellent.

Now that I've heard the album in the car, headphones, while running etc, time for a preliminary ranking with my favorite moments in each song:

1. 13 Beaches (THAT chorus and the epic orchestra introduction, her best lyrics on the album as well)
2. Cherry ("all my black peaches are RUINED, my celluloid schemes are torn at the seams" w/ all the layering is very bewitching)
3. When the World Was at War We Kept Dancing (her voice in that chorus, one of her best vocal moments for me. euphoric)
4. Lust for Life (when Lana finally sings the "they say only the good die young" hook)
5. Tomorrow Never Came (honestly the whole song is just non-stop gorgeous melody, vocals. I would have preferred just Lana on it but whatever)
6. Groupie Love ("Every time you look up, I know what you're thinking of...")
7. In My Feelings ("who's doper than this BITCH, who's freer than ME?")
8. Get Free (that whole chorus - played LOUD)
9. Beautiful People Beautiful Problems ("when I love him get a feeling something like a SUGAR RUUUUUUUSHHHHH")
10. Love ("don't worry, baaaaaaabyyyyyy")
11. Heroin (the chorus, what a grower)
12. Summer Bummer ("hip hop in the Summah...")
13. White Mustang ("you were revvvinnnn revvvvvin it upppp... you're gonna hear me like laaah-ighhttenninnnng")
14. "Change" - (verses, the piano and stripped down production)
15. "God Bless America - And All the Beautiful Women In It" - the bridge I suppose and the harmonies in the final chorus, this one stuck out initially in a good way as it is a rare anthemic moment from Lana but I think it stagnated for me because she just kind of sounds bored singing it
16. Coachella - Woodstock in My Mind ("I'd give it all away if you give me just one day to ask him one question")

[Snowbeast]

13 Beaches might have claimed my favourite Lana song ever. I'm listening to the album in full with a joint and wine. So stoked for the Stevie duet.

[Ivy Leegue™]

I've listened to this now on my home stereo and on my headphones (also once at my friends' apt over the weekend) and...I think it's actually a weird album. I can't quite put my finger on it but there you have it. There is one song (I think it's Cherry) where she had these random side notes (FUCK! being one of them and I think she also says "Bitch...Bitch!") that kinda confused me. Anyway, overall, this, like all of Lana's efforts, is really strong but I don't think it is as strong as her debut. In fact, it might be her weakeast effort overall but I think I need more time with it. Still, most artists would KILL for material this weak.

[Deleted]

Alors...
24 hours after I saw her 4 d very 1st time live...
Man, it was an experience! The festival.


p.s. When she sang... Born to Die and line Let me kiss you in the pouring rain, there was light rain in Paris :)
it was such a cool moment to sing that line in the rain with her!
Queen!
КРАЉИЦА!

[Ivy Leegue™]

This album is now EVERYTHING to me. Thing is, I had NO doubt in my mind it would be but it continues and continues and continues to deliver delights. It MIGHT wind up being my favorite Lana album, when all is said and done Right now, I like it more than Ultraviolence and I am thisclose to putting it above Honeymoon. The production is so flawless on this album. It's actually her best, production-wise...as much as I STAN for BTD, the hip-hop songs on this album are even better. I love the folk songs. Stevie sounds SO great on BPBP. I still don't understand why Playboy Carti just yelps his way through Summer Bummer so I prefer Groupie Love by far but both are stellar songs in her catalog. The reason it might wind up being my favorite of hers is because there is no Carmen, no Terrence...no Florida Kilos...I will say this much though: I am really mad about the critics slamming Tomorrow Never Came. I think it's a highlight on the album, actually. I LOVE the lyrics and the Beatles vibe.

[dbhmr]

Getting this in while it's still sort of fresh, since this always changes with Lana, but my top five from the album atm are:

1. 13 Beaches
2. Lust for Life
3. Love
4. Groupie Love
5. Cherry/Heroin

[schnetzka]

There is not a single song on the album that I don't like. Amazing. 10/10.

[Enigma.]

This is amazing album... I thought she was getting little boring as Honeymoon wasn't anything exactly new although her best album as a whole. Now here's something fresh (Summer Bummer, Tomorrow Never Came) and familiar (13 Beaches, Love). Love it

[Glove Slap]

#1 UK

[Ling-Ling]

Been playing the HELL out of this while on vacay. It really is an amazing album. My ranking so far, the first 11 tracks are all ace. The last four are really good, but I don't use them as much. The only genuine stinker and one I skip is "Coachella."

1) 13 Beaches
2) Heroin
3) Change
4) Cherry
5) White Mustang
6) When The World Was At War
7) In My Feelings
8) Summer Bummer
9) Beautiful People Beautiful Problems
10) Tomorrow Never Came
11) Get Free
12) Love
13) Lust For Life
14) Groupie Love
15) God Bless America

DELETED/DOESN'T EXIST - Coachella

[Ivy Leegue™]

Obsessed. I can't get over this beautiful masterpiece. I now place it definitely over Ultraviolence, Paradise, and Honeymoon.

[jumpb4uthink]

I find this album mesmerizing and intimate. I too can't get enough of it. Every track soars, especially the closer Get Free.

[God]

"White Mustang" and "In My Feelings" stick out less for me with time and repeated listens but I still can't get into "When the World Was at War..." for some reason. Can't seem to ever remember how it sounds outside of the "Shake it up" hook that I don't even like much to begin with.

I am OBSESSED with "Get Free", "God Bless America" and "Heroin" though.

Jul 30, 2017 9:43:18 GMT -5 Ling-Ling said:

DELETED/DOESN'T EXIST - Coachella

I don't love "Coachella" either but it definitely seems like the specific point of the narrative where her perspective becomes larger, where optimism is emphasized for most of the remainder of the album so I suppose its inclusion is very necessary.zip

Not that I think the purpose of the song or its place in context of the rest of the album was lost on you or anyone else here lol but I agree, I just wish it were a better song.

[Enigma.]

Change and Get Free are a divine ending for the album... I would've excluded three songs (Coachella, White Mustang, In My Feelings) but overall this is a smashing piece of work

[Ivy Leegue™]

I don't know what kind of incredible sound system my friend's parents have in their car but I played this album going from Mansfield, MA to Tiverton, RI and was just completely transported. White Mustang is the most basic song here but really because it plays to Lana's cliches and well-worn tropes the most. On its own, it's not a bad song. Cherry is still the strangest song to me on this album. It sounds so Lana and then I get thrown off by the random exclamations! Yet, somehow, they are catchy and endearing LOL.

[👑 Eloquent ™]

"13 Beaches" is gonna rival "The Blackest Day" as my fav Lana track.

[koolthing]

After living with it for 10 days, I happily join in on the praise – album's terrific.

I appreciate how impressionistic it is; it feels sincere, uncalculated, true. Unlike Honeymoon, it doesn't strike me that she was working to build a "whole". It's more like she just did everything she wanted, spontaneously – which could have been a mess, but she evidently has a much stronger grasp on her skill than ever before, so she hit the mark with almost every song.

This is the kind of album that's so personal/singular to her (right down to her insistance on including "Coachella") that it becomes personal to fans, and just... accompanies, follows you through your days? Man, I already have such vivid memories and associations for "Cherry". That's why and how I fell in love with Lana in the first place.

Also interesting to note other than "Coachella" people's least favs are others' top tracks...

[Ling-Ling]

Aug 1, 2017 8:57:06 GMT -5 koolthing said:

Also interesting to note other than "Coachella" people's least favs are others' top tracks...

I know right? That's how it always is with her. It's funny for me to see "Groupie Love," "Lust For Life," "God Bless..." and "Love" as so many people's favs when they're at the bottom of the album for me. All perfectly gorgeous songs I might add! And I do like them. But I prefer Lana when she's fatalistic and noir, lush/romantic Lana isn't as strong to me. For instance, I can't at all the "White Mustang" slagging going on, the only thing wrong with that song is it doesn't last nearly long enough. I need another two minutes, another verse or bridge and for that instrumental to ride out some more.

[Ivy Leegue™]

There is a good chance that Meek Mill (ugh!) will beat Lana for #1. As for favorite songs, I am definitely obsessed with the top half more than the second but the second has gems too. My faves:

1. Summer Bummer
2. Groupie Love
3. Lust For Life
4. Love
5. Cherry
6. 13 Beaches
7. Get Free
8. Change

I love it all though, but 1-5 are the ones I actively seek out daily.

[koolthing]

Aug 1, 2017 9:11:12 GMT -5 Ling-Ling said:

Aug 1, 2017 8:57:06 GMT -5 koolthing said:

Also interesting to note other than "Coachella" people's least favs are others' top tracks...

I know right? That's how it always is with her. It's funny for me to see "Groupie Love," "Lust For Life," "God Bless..." and "Love" as so many people's favs when they're at the bottom of the album for me. All perfectly gorgeous songs I might add! And I do like them. But I prefer Lana when she's fatalistic and noir, lush/romantic Lana isn't as strong to me. For instance, I can't at all the "White Mustang" slagging going on, the only thing wrong with that song is it doesn't last nearly long enough. I need another two minutes, another verse or bridge and for that instrumental to ride out some more.

Agree with you on ALL COUNTS

[james518]

This clearly needs a bit more time to settle since it's still so new, but this album is so stellar and might be my favorite from Lana. Everything about it just works! So worth the wait.