Honeymoon [VINYL]

Now that I’ve had this album for a day and, you know, the honeymoon period has ended (get it…?), I think it’s safe to say I’ve formed a full and fair opinion on it… in a word, stunning.That word has been thrown around a lot in the other reviews here for the album and I think that’s because from the opening strings of the title track, you can simply hear the class in the luscious production. Working on every track with Rick Nowels, Honeymoon is a sweeping aural landscape. Listen for the beautifully sultry flute in ‘Music to Watch Boys to’ and the brilliantly Italian sounding ‘Salvatore’ to really understand how perfect the sound of this album really is.I was a fan of Lana upon first hearing ‘Video Games’. I was utterly amazed by her voice and its unique ability to suddenly shift my emotions. When I received Born to Die, I must have played it hundreds of times, constantly changing my favourite song (currently ‘Million Dollar Man’) and always finding it amazing. However, if I had a criticism, it would be the unfailing and undying attention paid to making the tracks cohesive – in other words, a lot of the songs sounded very similar. She then released Paradise led by ‘Ride’, which I still consider one of her best tracks to date. In this EP, Lana included 8 tracks which developed her cinematic quality even more. I’d argue that, as a whole, this collection is the most forgettable. There are some amazing songs - ‘Gods and Monsters’, ‘American’, ‘Bel Air’ - but when I hear “My pussy tastes like Pepsi Cola” just before the slightly plodding ‘Body Electric’, my energy for that “sound” has depleted.In the lead up to Honeymoon, a lot of critics noted how Lana may have pushed her sound too far with Ultraviolence, but I wholeheartedly disagree. This was an album that knew exactly what it wanted to be and did it perfectly. In my head, I picture the gorgeous black and white image that adorns the deluxe edition I have sat on my shelf and believe that every song evokes exactly what that image is. ‘West Coast’s irresistible hook, the unbelievable Greg Kurstin-produced ‘Money, Power, Glory’ and the repetitively hypnotic ‘Cruel World’ all resonate in my mind and that’s the word I return to with Honeymoon – hypnotic.This collection combines the ‘hip-hop’ tones of Born to Die with the cinematic beauty of Paradise and the magnificently hypnotic Ultraviolence to create the perfect marriage of sounds. Every song has a place and a purpose and each surprises me lyrically and sonically. Del Rey’s voice has never sounded better. Having been modified by reverb quite frequently in her previous efforts, it is nice to hear the main attraction at the forefront. The title track was a grower for me and now can be considered one of my favourites then leading to my instant favourite, as mentioned previously, ‘Music to Watch Boys to’. From this we have the perfect ‘Terrence Loves You’ (Who’s Terrence?) and then the most Ultraviolence-sounding, ‘God Knows I Tried’, again brilliant. ‘High by the Beach’ I’d say is the Born to Die-era West Coast and I have no problem with that. Follow that with ‘Freak’ (quite Born To Die-ish, perfect), ‘Art Deco’ (perfectly following Freak) and then an equally strong second half; I can safely say this album is going to be difficult to divorce.Honeymoon - 5/5Music to Watch Boys To - 5/5Terrence Loves You - 5/5God Knows I Tried - 5/5High by the Beach - 4.5/5 (played too many times)Freak - 5/5Art Deco - 5/5Burnt Notion (Interlude) - N/AReligion - 4.5/5 (still great production, but a little forgettable when compared to the others, in my opinion)Salvatore - 5/5 (My Favourite)The Blackest Day - 5/5 (Ultraviolence/Born To Die marriage again)24 - 5/5 (Spectre is the 24th Bond film and quite clearly this song should've been attached to it)Swan Song - 5/5Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood [cover] - 5/5

I would agree that the brilliance of this is not always instant and it takes several hearings to get into and grow on you. Although that said, I note from some of the reviews here that for others it’s instant.On Honeymoon, we hear Lana’s soft, husky, haunting but mesmerizing melancholic voice at times tinged with that world weary deep despair that she does so well. The album is a sort of sunlit haze, with lusciously textured dreamscapes that transport you to many places both light and dark.For me, Honeymoon is more of a step back to ‘Born to Die’ which I loved, but perhaps as you would expect, this has more growth, maturity but also wonderful delicate restraint. This forms a textured coherent album whilst staying faithful to what made her debut so successful. In addition, I agree with another reviewer who said, ‘listening to Honeymoon every one of the songs feels like movements in a symphony.’Honeymoon is, without doubt, an album you must listen to several times in all its entirety to get the full effect of its soft undulating dreamy soundscape, so vivid you can picture imagery to accompany the songs. I think Honeymoon is a more mature album from an artist who continues to grow, learn and develop her craft.

In my honest and totally biased opinion this is one hell of an album, well actually it's more like heaven it's so laid back and sultry. but this being Lana Del Rey it's also very dark and cinematic, the music flows much more smoothly than either BTD or UV and It is far less explicit in content, a move which I think could widen her audience but the most important thing is that she has remained true to her own vision. this isn't just music it is art and I think time will show Lana Del Rey to be one of the greatest artists of her time. that said there are a couple of songs that haven't fully worked there magic on me just yet but as I know of old that is only a matter of time. If I was to be uber critical there are some sound effects that I found unnecessary and Lana certainly doesn't need them. I give it five stars because above and beyond anything else I love Lana's voice, God Knows I Tried alone is for me worth the price but the album as a whole is every bit as hypnotic as any of her earlier work this is a truly beautiful album for fans and music lovers.

Amazing!

I love Lana Del Rey, her voice is so hauntingly beautiful. I am a huge fan of her first album and The Paradise Edition, wasn't that much of a fan of Ultravoilence I only liked 'West Coast' but I wasn't going to let that cloud my judgement. There are a few I'm not too keen on but overall an 4/5 or a 8/10 rating. Religion, Freak and The Blackest Day are my favourites.

It’s good

Love this album

One of the best Albums I have ever bought.I have been buying records for many years, and this is one of the best.This is how modern music should be produced.It has layers of swirling harmonies with vibrating Leslie organ and soaring strings, that form a magic mesmerising crescendo that cuts back to a single haunting vocal.Expertly produced and mastered.All the tracks are exceptional and all written or co writtenby Lana , except the final track (Don't let me be Misunderstood) which is so different from the Animals version, but is equally as masterful.If you have time to sit down and be immersed in an Album of songs, then this will not only draw you in, but will also give you Hifi setup a good work out, from deep bass to high strings, but with Lana's voice up close and personal.Also a long record with 14 tracks at about 65 minutes that will keep you spellbound.