Let’s not get confused if you look up the word “paradise” you may get the impression of coconuts, beaches and the odd barely dressed folk all with cocktails or the ageing Wham background characters all enjoying the summer days. No, Lana Del Rey’s Summer is in November, she’s brought out her home dye kits and removed the white blouse and brought out the songs informing us of what her Pussy tastes like: Pepsi. For them who can’t be bothered to listen to the album. PEPSI!
This isn’t the sort of album to get out while having a beach party (not that I’d know, I’m still waiting for the invite, and still refilling my inflatable armbands in anticipation.) The Album is for the sort of loner, “All American Girl” who suffers Stockholm syndrome to a group of bikers and then whores her self out to become a singer, slightly on the nose there Lana by chance?. If you know any “all American Girls” with daddy issues? This is the stocking filler/ insult for them.
Don’t believe me, watch the music video for ‘Ride’ the opening song from the album’s second disc and as much as it is very good, almost too good compared to other music videos of late. It’s still not something to pull out and gather around the fire and watch with kids while waiting for the top 20 Christmas songs to appear on VH1 and tuck in to your mince pie with, but it paints a picture.
It offers a slap to the normal, a middle finger to Lady Gaga and her “everything’s okay view on the world as long as you wear crippling shoes and can fit in a size 2” but still hugging you to the harsh reality, like waking in the Matrix only to be shot in the face again with pepsi references, also not something your grandparents should catch ear off, that gets awkward.
The album is almost cinematic, it’s drum loops, content and voice set her apart from the competion, I’m looking at Christina Aguilera’s Lotus. I still have no idea why it’s called the paradise edition but it’s a small flaw compared to others.
Tune in to: Blue velvet, Ride, Body Electric, Lucky ones, Video Games.
Skip: Disc one, but only if you caught the extra iTunes songs that were exclusive at time of release and Bel Air, a it’s hit and miss.