lana del rey releases stunning new record 'norman f**king rockwell!'
By Amy Tang
Universal Music Operations Limited
Lana Del Rey has done it once again. Quickly returning to the charts, the singer dropped her sixth studio album Norman F**king Rockwell! late at night on August 30 and it’s already got everyone obsessed. Snippets and small reveals of the record were shared to the public throughout the past year, and having been working closely with co-producer Jack Antonoff — who had previously collaborated with Lorde, Taylor Swift and other artists — to say people were excited for the finished product is an understatement. Delivered in 14 tracks, Norman F**king Rockwell! is riddled with soft mesmerizing ballads, raw lyricism, and new variations of sounds on top of Lana Del Rey’s breathtaking vocals, redefining the meaning of rock music in her own way.
Strong influences from the classic rock period are prevalent throughout the album. There are hints of nostalgia for the ‘70s that flow through the mellow acoustics in “The Next Best Record”. Its chorus elevates the song as a whole with Del Rey’s vocals effortlessly gliding along with the hypnotic tempo. “Mariners Apartment Complex”, the first single from the album, released on September 12, 2018, paints a different image and stands out from her previous work. The track pulls from various rich elements of folk and soft rock; overlaying mild guitar strums with soft piano strokes. An electric guitar brings the track to a close, drowning out notes in a hazy riff. Joining the mix comes Lana Del Rey’s cover of “Doin’ Time”, a cover of ska-punk band Sublime’s 1996 song, putting her own aesthetic spin on the spunky beats. The original product being completely transformed with her mesmerizing tone and layered harmonies, while still keeping her strong West Coast vibe.
For long-time fans, the topic of love and relationships is a familiar theme for any typical Lana Del Rey song. And as expected, the new album arrived with just that. From tracks like “Cinnamon Girl”, to the more obviously titled “Love song”, she does not hold back on drawing from her emotional side. Slowing down the tempo, she serenades listeners on past romances. The singer croons, ”Oh, be my once in a lifetime / Lying on your chest in my party dress / I’m a fucking mess, but I / Oh, thanks for the high life,” an anthem for being hopelessly in love, whereas “California” is heart-wrenching from start to finish, with lyrics like “You said to a friend you wish you were doing better / I wanted to call you, but I didn’t say a thing.”
Beyond the heavy tropes and dark undertones prevalent in her previous work, Norman F**king Rockwell! is reflective of maintaining optimism and hope in a period where political controversies and chaos seem to appear around every corner. This is where the final track, “hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have - but I have it,” is delivered as a beacon of faith. America has its ongoing battles and so does Lana Del Rey. Laying down a more intimate take, she sings about dealing with her inner-demons in a grim melancholy ballad but then progresses to a lighter outro, giving listeners a sense of hope that she yearns for in the soulful track.
Norman F**king Rockwell! is timeless in its stylistic versatility. The record presents new fresh sounds while overall staying true to Del Rey’s persona as an artist, serving as her most compelling piece yet.