Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Review: Lana Del Rey, 'Born To Die'

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  • DexterX, in reply to Dean Papa,

    Wicked.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to Matthew Littlewood,

    after her first record, she didn't really write much worth a damn

    Pffft. I admit that Whip-Smart isn't too memorable in comparison with Exile, but it's still solid, and no one ever gives whitechocolatespaceegg the time of day - it was unexpectedly really good.

    But yeah, after that, she's on her own. Yikes.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Badalamenti/Lynch-like influence

    Everything is derivative of Badalamenti/Lynch, even stuff written years before. When you hear a phrase from almost anything they worked on I find it evokes a feeling that any composer that had used similar phrasing meant it to feel like this. Spooky.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I think you've touched on why so many serious reviewers are having trouble with the record; they're expecting it to be something it's not. I'm more inclined to hear it as a series of grand pop productions that I won't be listening to for ever. I think you've nailed it in observing that its strengths are also its weaknesses.

    The excellent Kitty Empire's review manages to unpack a lot of her contradictions while tackling a lot of the flack she's received head on. It's certainly worth a read. Essentially, KE's review picks up on the distant feel to the record.


    And yeah, the Lynch/Badalamenti influences are all over the record- LDR's even mentioned in interviews that she was "inspired" by the infamous "Bang Bar" scene in Fire Walk With Me ( perhaps the most nastiest, most unhinged scene, from Lynch's nastiest, most unhinged film). Which makes sense: Born to Die doesn't have the pure dreamlike pull of Lynch's best work (e.g. Blue Velvet or Mulholland Dr), but it does have the juddery, cluttered feel of his "flawed but interesting" work (e.g. Fire Walk With Me, Lost Highway)

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    Incidentally, does anyone else notice any similarities between Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd? Indeed, the parallels are fascinating. LDR has been smothered in a tidal wave of contradictory hoopla and (ultimately dull and pointless) questions about her "authenticity"; Abel "the Weeknd" Tesfaye has refused all interviews, thereby cultivating his persona by ommission.

    The Weeknd is more obvious in his influences- his music is essentially a monumentally slowed-down and aggressively compressed take on modern "RnB"- but nearly all the lyrics seem to be from the point of view of the sort of "fuck 'em and leave 'em" bad boy that LDR's songs are so obsessed with.

    I think he's a similarly flawed artist- lyrically, it often crosses the line between upfront to just plain unpleasantly misogynist, and the music can be similarly overwrought- but he's just as fascinating.as LDR. It'd be interesting to hear the pair do a duet.

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Matthew Littlewood,

    these boots are made for walking

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Matthew Littlewood,

    Incidentally, does anyone else notice any similarities
    between Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd?

    Guessing you probably don't mean this Weekend...
    formed by Alison Stratton from welsh wonders - Young Marble Giants

    and then, just for fun, there's Everything But the Girl...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    Ha! Good shout! Weekend were/are indeed a fine, underrated act, while Colossal Youth is, of course, a classic. Regarding Tracy Thorn, really like her voice, but often feel she's at her best singing for other acts ("Protection" etc).

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg,

    Great job internet!

    The Hadron Collider of hype: Lana Del Rey meets The Hunger Games

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Just the facts, Fairfax fail...
    For an Entertainment Editor, Stuff's Jule Scherer looks a little amateurish, her on-line Lana Del Rey album review consistently spells her name as Del Ray (at least the heading and caption sub got it right, but why not fix the rest?) - One wonders if Scherer even looked at the cover of her free review CD, this ain't rocket science, just transcription...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    She also invents a genre called "hop hop" ...

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP, in reply to Matthew Littlewood,

    Regarding Tracy Thorn, really like her voice, but often feel she's at her best singing for other acts ("Protection" etc).

    I fell in love with her here. Admittedly unpolished, but perfect in every other way, IMhO.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to philipmatthews,

    the game's afoot...

    She also invents a genre called "hop hop" ...

    I missed that, something for the more modern bounder perhaps...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to JacksonP,

    I fell in love with her here. Admittedly unpolished, but perfect in every other way, IMhO.

    A Distant Shore is one wistful, melancholy gem of an album.

    Mind you, I like her and Ben's housey-housey stuff too.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    While we're on this tip, Tracey Thorn's Love and Its Opposite album is a wonderful, bleakly humorous examination of middle-aged drift:

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Some of it sounds better on my crappy car stereo than it does through the big speakers at home

    Get a good car stereo. That goes for all you music freaks. Don't let wubwub loving bogans be the only ones who get to hear their music as the technology gods intended.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to philipmatthews,

    She also invents a genre called "hop hop" ...

    a clear sign that the reviewer's a bunny.

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler, in reply to BenWilson,

    Get a good car stereo. That goes for all you music freaks. Don't let wubwub loving bogans be the only ones who get to hear their music as the technology gods intended.

    The technology gods never intended for music to be listened to in a tiny metal box with a pink noise generator at the front. Good car stereos are a waste of time. Choose for your journey music which sounds good on a crappy stereo.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to James Butler,

    pink noise generator

    means you need something at a higher octane
    (e.g. Bee Gees)

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler, in reply to linger,

    means you need something at a higher octane
    (e.g. Bee Gees)

    Tell you what my car does need: Autotune </coat>

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to linger,

    meaningless songs in very high voices

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Bennett,

    Listening to LDR now. Pleasant, well-produced pop. Not Earth-shattering, but listenable. Undemanding. Would be good in a car.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 174 posts Report Reply

  • linger,

    @James: Well played, even on a car stereo.
    @Sacha: Ah, well, that would be these guys:

    Rather than, say, these guys:

    (Kenny also did several other similar skits. One I haven’t been able to locate yet was a practical demonstration of the predictable “inhale helium until desired octave is achieved” line.)

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to linger,

    all in the best possible taste

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to James Butler,

    The technology gods never intended for music to be listened to in a tiny metal box with a pink noise generator at the front.

    You're confusing the technology gods with the music gods, from whom the technology gods are stealing worshippers, and they most certainly did intend for that divine sound to be cranked into their tiny technological boxes.

    Good car stereos are a waste of time. Choose for your journey music which sounds good on a crappy stereo.

    But I use random play because I'm concentrating on driving. It all sounds good (by which I mean the quality of the sound is good, sometimes a small amount of equalizing is needed). If I don't like it, <next>.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

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