Blown away by Ultraviolence, Lana Del Rey’s second studio album, it was nearly impossible to grasp exactly what Lust For Life would sound like.
The album opens with the two pre-released tracks, “Love” and “Lust For Life” taking us through the narrative of Lana’s distinct and careful perspective of what it is like to be young and in love up against the world.
Heartbroken, Lana continues by describing traveling along “13 Beaches” just to find a peaceful spot on one. Continuing by describing the way the fruits of her love once ripe are now rotten and ruined at the seams in “Cherry.”
Carefully connecting “White Mustang” and “Summer Bummer” feat A$AP Rocky, lyrically, Lana moves gracefully into a significantly more upbeat sound, yet still cemented into the track is the soft vulnerability she’s notorious for. Taking it back to a friendship reaching as far as Born to Die, Lana and A$AP Rocky collaborate for two tracks back to back – using these tracks to gradually switch the tone of the album while charmingly introducing her listeners to a hip-hop undertone.
To combat the current state of America, Lana pauses her steady heartbreak narrative to highlight the resilience of those living in the US right now, uniting her listeners who are constantly surrounded by divisive rhetoric, and less than pleasant news reports. Effortlessly maintaining a hopeful tone for the future with “God Bless America – And All The Beautiful Women In It” and “When The World Was At War We Kept Dancing.”
To keep the good vibes going, Lana continues with “Beautiful People Beautiful Problems,” shocking everyone with likely one of her most talked about features yet — Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac. Juxtaposed with “Tomorrow Never Came” featuring Sean Ono Lennon, John Lennon’s son.
Lana finishes the album with a declaration to herself and her listeners that growth is possible. With “Change” and “Get Free,” she highlights the fact that change exists and is both bitter yet beautiful when it finally comes – stressing that through change you can finally step through the threshold to the other side of your pain and suffering.
