The Verdict: Lana Del Rey – Lust For Life

I can still remember getting my hands on Lana Del Rey’s second and breakthrough album Born To Die on my birthday, the day after its release in 2012. Five years on and her third album since, the anticipation for her new music lives on.

Lust For Life marks the point Lana’s melancholy finally blossoms into joy, at least her version of it. On the album cover, she beams in front of a truck that’s starred in her previous album artwork. A comment on the video for ‘Love’, that was revealed back in February sums it up: “Y’all she is single-handedly curing the depression she gave me.”

Clocking in at just over an hour, Lana Del Rey sticks to her winning formula. Presenting wispy vintage-sounding vocals and an understated production level, while fleeting romance and Hollywood glamour remain main subjects. “In My Feelings” is Lana at her best, we wish we could swear in such a sultry way.

Cali life is referenced a couple of times, from Coachella to dancing atop the Hollywood sign on the album’s title-track with The Weeknd. He’s the first to ever be honoured with a featuring credit on a Lana track. Four artists follow his lead, including Sean Lennon and A$AP Rocky who starred in the music video for ‘National Anthem’.

Lana brought something new to the table years back, but she’s got a little too comfortable sitting there. Although we’re glad she’s not exchanged her voice for cash accumulating hits, it’s frustrating to not have seen her sound evolve much. As distinctive as that sound is, at 16 tracks Lust For Life could have benefited from a chop. During the tail end of the LP, only the most dedicated Lana fan can resist switching over.

During repeat listens tracks do end up standing out and its opening half is fairly strong. ‘White Mustang’ is the moody Lana we know and love, and the two consecutive tracks with A$AP liven up the LP. Lana makes an ode to her home country in ‘God Bless America’. Knowing it certainly needs it, next she questions, “Is it the end of America?”

No tracks immediately jump out like they did on Born To Die, a symptom of unique artists who have to live up to the initial buzz after discovery. But we hope Lana’s lust for life and making music doesn’t slip as her creativity and integrity sure haven’t.

By Emma Gillett