Paradise

First Lana Del Rey was "Born to Die", now she is in "Paradise". This 8-track EP is a consistent continuation of her debut album. "Paradise" is current but without that glossy, mainstream production. And yet it's old-fashioned but without sounding dated. "Born to Die" quickly became my favorite album of 2012 and I couldn't wait to get my hands on "Paradise"! There is only one song that doesn't grab my full attention, "Yayo" - probably because I've never been a fan of jazz music in my life. Lana does what she can with the ballad, it's messy in parts but Lana's voice is in fine form and I can't help but have a fondness for when she sings, "Let me put on a show for you tiger..." The first single, "Ride" - we find Lana reflecting on the darker side of her personality and the depths of loneliness, "I hear the birds on the summer breeze, I drive fast - I am alone at midnight. Been trying hard not to get into trouble but I've got a war in my mind, so I just ride..." On "Cola" which is her most x-rated song to date, she proudly admits she's got "a taste for men who are older..." And I love how Lana uses string arrangements all throughout the album just like she did on "Born to Die". There's even a gorgeous, classy cover of "Blue Velvet" which proves Lana has a lot of emotion and soul in her voice. "Gods and Monsters" is the best song on the album which explores the negative aspects of fame while "Bel Air" is the flipside, it has an airy, dream-like quality about how fame and success are the ultimate pay off. "American" is a beautiful ballad, easily one of Lana's most confessional songs so far. "Body Electric" didn't really resonate with me at first, it's strange, disjointed, and a little repetitive on the chorus but I've really grown to like this surprise gem, and I love the line, "Whitman is my daddy, Monaco's my mother, diamonds are my bestest friend. Heaven is my baby, suicide's her father, opulence is the end..." I really enjoyed this EP. Lana Del Rey is the breakout artist of the year for me. Her music and voice is so unique, there is no one like her...she's in a league all her own and thank goodness for that! I highly recommend "Paradise".

I simply cannot understand why certain reviewers dislike Lana Del Rey. I believe she is a 21st century Patti Smith. The EP PARADISE is dark, haunting and exquisite. Lana's music pushes boundaries and often pays homage to past cultural icons much in the tradition of Patti Smith's work. Lana's voice is rich and powerful. Her lyrics are honest and authentic. The songs on PARADISE are more stripped down than her previous "Born to Die" CD and her voice is front and center. And Lana Del Rey has one of the most gorgeous and haunting voices I have heard in years. I read today in The Huffington Post that her detractors make her want to drink. Lana, just keep on doing what you are doing and ignore The Haters....they are simply jealous of your many talents. I look forward to watching you continue to develop as an artist and encourage you to keep on your path and stay true to who you are as a songwriter and singer. Your version of Leonard Cohen's Chelsea Hotel better be on your next CD!!

This review isn't a poetic, overly complicated magazine-style review. I heard "Gods and Monsters" on American Horror Story (performed by Jessica Lange) and completely flipped for the song. I thought it was brilliant, seductive and catchy. I was thrilled to find out it was a "real" song so I purchased the album. In my past, music consumed me and told stories along my life. A trauma happened and I literally stopped listening to music for the most part for the last 10 years. I truly missed it but couldn't find an artist or album to charge me up the way music used to. This album gave me the music-rebirth that I needed. I LOVE every song. I can turn it up in my car and let it consume me. I'm a 38 year old mother so I am happy that Amazon sent me the "non-explicit" version so I can play it in front of my kids (and then log into prime to listen to the explicit version when they are sleeping). I haven't felt this way about an artist/album in ages and I am excited to give her other albums a try. Hopefully they are as captivating to me as this one is. (My personal favs are "Gods and Monsters" and "American"). Enjoy!

Love this album. Great quality vinyl.

Daughter loved , very nice, fast delivery

I love Lana Del Rey's music, so I love this EP. I'm curious why she didn't do a whole album because she has enough good songs on Youtube that either haven't been released, were on her first album that was shelved, or on the Lizzy Grant album she bought back to fill it out nicely. There are probably 30 Lana Del Rey/Lizzy Grant/May Jailer/Sparkle Jump Rope Queen/etc. songs on youtube that either weren't on "Born To Die" or "Paradise". (They are all listed under Lana Del Rey, regardless of what she was going by when she recorded them.) "Yayo" is listed in the urban dictionary as being cocaine, so I'm guessing that is the underlying theme to what is going on in the song. "Yayo" was characterized in a previous review as a re-release, but it actually has been re-done with added music, as was "The Lucky Ones" on the "Born To Die" extended edition. When she sings, "You have to take me right now from this dark trailer park", it isn't just a fantasy lyric - she did actually live in a trailer park at one time. I like her cover of "Blue Velvet", I just wish she would have added a refrain in her lovely higher pitch. I'm guessing the commercial tie-in may have hampered her flexibility, although she did say she was going to sing low more often so people (critics?) would take her more seriously. Lana, if you are out there, don't change a thing - think Roy Orbison. He sang high when he wanted to and didn't sound like anyone else either, and he had a pretty good career. "Cola" and "Gods and Monsters" are both good songs that have explicit lyrics. Lana talks dirty but doesn't sound dirty, if you know what I mean. OK, maybe a little. In "American" she not only shows off a little distinctive vocal flexibility I haven't heard in her songs before, but she mentions Bruce Springsteen like she does in one of her other songs. I don't think it is a coincidence that his breakout album was "Born To Run" and hers is "Born To Die". The title of "Body Electric" comes straight from a Walt Whitman poem "I Sing The Body Electric", which was written in 1855 before the word "electric" had entered common usage. Like much poetry and many song lyrics, I guess it means whatever you want it to mean. Love the song, and whatever the "body electric" is, I'm singing it as I write this. "Bel Air" is just kind of there, but in all fairness, rather than give it a chance I always start the CD over when it comes on to get back to "Ride", the first single and arguably the best song on the EP. Much like "Video Games", I always have the urge to play this song over as soon as it ends. Keep in mind that the actual song is only part of the "Ride" experience. There is an official ten minute video on Youtube in which she provides the prologue and epilogue to the song with music-backed narration. It really is brilliant. To sum it up, buy this CD if you like Lana Del Rey, or are a fan of contraltos in general, like I am. If you don't already have "Born To Die", get "Born To Die - Paradise Edition" which contains both the extended edition of "Born To Die" and this EP.

I never heard of Lana Del Rey before, and seeing her album come up on recommendations, I just assumed she was another auto-tuned pop princess, like Katy Perry. So I bought this album, blindly, during the Christmas Eve sale on amazon. It was very cheap, and although I never had heard a single song by her I decided it was worth a download. I must have been living in a middle-age bubble, because this is just a fantastic release. 'Ride' - opens the proceedings, and it was the beginning of my downfall into the noir world of the concept that is Lana Del Rey. I was taken aback by the alto, as I wasn't expecting that voice at all. But it was the "Don't break me down..." that made me drop what I was doing and just LISTEN...and I was captivated. Even before succumbing to the video I found this song to be liberating, and deserves a solid 9/10. 'American' - is not at all bad. The lyrics are silly, but I think it is made up by the arrangement, and displays Lizzy's vocal range. It should be released as a single. 8/10 'Cola' - okay, the opening lyrics are a little shocking, but it sets the tone of the song perfectly. Ms Lana is trying to convince a married man that she is worth having an affair for. This song has really grown on me. 7/10 'Body Electric' - Silly lyrics aside (Jesus is my bestest friend? What is she, 12?), the song has its moments. Love her voice during the chorus. I don't understand why people pan her voice, because it seems perfect for her material. 6/10 (edit: this is the worst song on the album, as far as I am concerned. ) 'Blue Velvet' - yes..this is a great song, and her interpretation of it is one of the best I have heard. It shows how much potential Lizzy has with good material, be it her own, or others; I can picture Lana singing this, in a smoke-filled bar, with just a few people listening. Seems like it would fit perfectly into a David Lynch movie. 10/10 'Gods and Monsters' - to me this IS Lana Del Rey, and it is life. Some of the literal interpretations of this song I have heard are almost comical. The entire song is a metaphor, but it is how she delivers it, that makes it special. With little intonation, she delivers extremely powerful lyrics about growing up and wanting to experience everything there is to experience , and if it is excessive, so be it. I have listened to this song more than any other song I purchased last year. It is brilliant. 10/10 'Yayo' - This one is a grower. On first listen I was underwhelmed, but on repeated listenings I have grown to really like it. The reverberation just adds to the mood, and the understated drums and bass, overlayed with strings, creates an ambiance that I have not found elsewhere. 9/10 'Bel Air' - My second favorite song on the album. Beginning with children's voices and piano, Lana's alto singing about Gargoyles brings us to a very Cocteau Twins-like chorus, with equally semi-decipherable lyrics. It it is a beautiful love song. 10/10 I know that iTunes has an additional song, but I don't think it really fits into the concept of 'Paradise'. This album is near perfect to me, and is EASILY the best musical purchase I made on Amazon in the last few years. Such a delight.

love it