Utilizing guitar riffs, soft piano chords and an overall stripped-down sound, it’s almost as though Del Rey sheds her former, lost self and becomes a much more insightful and well-rounded individual.
It’s questionable as to whether or not the end of times are upon us, but if they are, then no one beautifully captures the nostalgia of what once was and the melancholy feelings of what could be like Lana Del Rey does in her latest album. These feelings of loss of love, time and the past amidst the backdrop of a crumbling world are evident throughout Norman F***ing Rockwell, but in Del Rey’s track "The greatest," her references to the Beach Boys, her life before California and the idleness she had before fame exude a yearning to feel the happiness felt before the world took a turn for the worst. Although the future might seem bleak, Del Rey has made peace with this apocalyptic world as she sings, “the culture is lit/ and I had a ball/ I guess I’m signing off after all”. What stands out the most in this album is Del Rey’s maturity in not only her lyrics, but the presentation as well. Utilizing guitar riffs, soft piano chords and an overall stripped-down sound, it’s almost as though Del Rey sheds her former, lost self and becomes a much more insightful and well-rounded individual.
Listen to Norman F***ing Rockwell here:
Rating: 9/10
Polydor Interscope
Producers: Jack Antonoff, Lana Del Rey, Rick Nowels, Andrew Watt, Happy Perez, Kieron Menzies, Dean Reid and Mighty Mike
