In the wake of a harshly received “Saturday Night Live” performance, songstress Lana Del Rey has emerged as a bizarre, experimental artist.
While the vocals on her latest album, “Born To Die,” are pleasing to the ear, the lyrical components lack a real depth across the work as a whole. A number of songs follow the same storyline of kisses, bad beaus and dresses.
One of the album’s most promising tracks is the radio-ready “Off to the Races.” Del Rey transforms from lounge singer into a money-hungry pop star. As is true with most of the album’s cuts, she plays up the instability of her life as she sings, “I’m crazy, baby, I need you to come here and save me.”
“Born to Die” may not be the album the hype machine was leading listeners to believe it would be, but it establishes Lana Del Rey as a force to be reckoned with in the pop sphere. With a bit more lyrical creativity and instrumental styling, she will be ready to make some serious advances.