Fluorine

She was my first big musical love and pretty much helped me survive high school, so yes I like her. Her last couple of albums haven't quite measured up to the brilliance of her peak years (Homogenic through Medulla), but I still like most of "Biophilia" and am excited for the remix album, "Bastards," later this year (fantastic title, IMO).

I'm in, especially if there's going to be a Reydio show. I don't have much faith that I'll get my copy on the release date (I ordered the box from overseas), so that would give me a chance to hear it on the big day!

1. Ride 2. Born To Die 3. National Anthem 4. Blue Jeans 5. Carmen 6. Summertime Sadness 7. Video Games

I have never heard some of these songs you're all talking about, and I think I need to do something about that. Are they on Tumblr/YouTube?

19. When there's a war in your mind, just ride.

This is really disturbing, actually. Kudos to you for rising above it. PS) I would totally buy you a copy of the Paradise Edition if I knew there was no way it could get you in trouble.

I sort of was, though I went back and tempered my response in a later reply to someone else. You definitely do have a point about my "reality tunnel," though. Sometimes I think I react the way I do when this topic comes up because: A) Indeed, I do speak from an undeniably privileged viewpoint. B) I struggle with cultural identity issues because I don't feel like I really have one.

I don't mean that people shouldn't be allowed to be inspired by their own heritage. That makes for great art, too --- look at Lana's Americana obsession! Instead, I was taking issue with the stance that they should be limited to their own cultures when finding artistic inspiration, something that is quickly becoming impossible as the world globalizes. For example, when a Japanese singer decides to make an R&B record, isn't that technically "cultural appropriation?" Hardly anyone would say so (I think), but that's where this line of thinking eventually ends up. So much of art is cultural theft, and I'm personally against telling people what "should" or "shouldn't" be used in art just because it may not be considered politically correct by everyone. Besides, things like caricatures and stereotypes are far more damaging than someone from one culture borrowing from another because they find beauty in it, as Lana has done here. This creates a positive association, not a negative one.

I knew those bored/pressed social justice majors on Twitter and Tumblr would go after her for wearing that. Most of them aren't even from the groups they claim to get offended on behalf of, which makes them super tiring IMO. I'm glad she's able to defend herself by explaining that it has personal significance to her, but those types need to realize that individualized "culture" is dead in our globalized society and the future is just one big blender. All modern art is appropriation, especially in the post-internet age.

Well, when I heard her album for the first time, I really didn't know what she looked like in any detail (I listened on Spotify and had never watched any videos). Her voice was what drew me in. I'm not going to say I don't find her attractive, though, or that her looks have nothing to do with her appeal. She looks exactly how I expected someone with a voice like hers would look like.

It's a bit of a cheesecake, but it's also pretty effective and strangely moving. In other words, it's why I love Lana.

Some of my favorite songs of all time: Warning: Don't click if you have a slow connection. I tried to just list the videos as links, but they keep embedding instead.

"Halcyon" really took me by surprise with how good it is. I liked "Lights" well enough, but this is a major step forward. The production alone is 10x more interesting this time around. Also, her cover of Active Child's "Hanging On" is rocking my world right now. What an awesomely unexpected pick!

It's not really a "Christmas" song per se, but I'd love to hear her cover "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve." (Is that the right title?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_5b5BLT1CM She's my #1 hope for great pop music in 2013. Everything she's teased us with so far has been truly amazing, and I'll be so sad if her full-length fails to deliver. (But there's virtually no chance of that happening, right?) Earlier this year, I bought tickets to Coldplay just to see her and Marina open. ^_^

My personal favorites (not including "Fineshrine") are "Saltkin," "Cartographist," "Obedear," "Belispeak," and "Crawlersout," but the album works best when you can listen to the whole thing in one go. It doesn't really work as background music.

Does anyone else like this duo? "Shrines" is definitely in my top 5 albums of 2012 --- it's such a gorgeously constructed little masterpiece. I loved it from the first listen, but it just keeps getting better and better every time I play it. It's sweet yet sinister, with layered production that seems to creak and drip. Here's one of the singles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETbGpGJNVLM And here's a (somewhat shitty) video I took at their show in Minneapolis, so you can see the custom instruments they use:

Tori Amos' new "Gold Dust" compilation. I'm not too thrilled with it.

1: When did you first discover Lana Del Rey A friend posted "Video Games" on Facebook, but I actually kind of hated it on first listen. Well, hate is a strong word, but I wasn't into it at the time for reasons that weren't Lana's fault. The girl who posted it had completely misunderstood the song and tried to make it about her own "storybook" romance with a gamer dude, and I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. I'm such a cynic, haha. 2: What was the first song that made you fall in love with her music "Born To Die," on my first listen to the full album on Spotify the day it came out. I'd listened out of curiosity, not expecting to fall as hard for it as I did. 3: Favorite Lana hairstyle The long brown hair circa "Blue Jeans." 4: Favorite live performance Right now it's "Dayglo Reflection" at Le Grand Journal because I love that song and didn't think I'd ever see a performance of it. 5: Favorite lyric "I'm your national anthem / Boy, put your hands up / Give me a standing ovation / Boy, you have landed / Babe, in the land of sweetness and danger / Queen of Saigon" 6: Would you make out with Lana if you had the chance to? Only if she wanted it. 7: Favorite facial feature The perfect symmetry. She has the Golden Ratio for sure. 8: What's one thing you don't like about Lana? Not really, but I wish she had more confidence in her performing ability. I wish she had never done that SNL gig --- I think it's made her self-conscious ever since. 9: Have you ever met Lana? Nope! 10: Who's you favorite artist after Lana? My all-time favorite band is Depeche Mode, but I also really love Madonna. 11: Would you say you're obsessed or just a really big fan? Just a fan. Only teenagers can afford to be obsessive, it's not a good look on a college grad. 12: What if Lana was secretly an evil zombie would you still love her? Even more so.

A$AP, even though I think they shouldn't have dressed him so "modern" in the NA video. It sort of took me out of the fantasy, but then again that was probably the point.

No, because it's an American thing and America doesn't appreciate her.

From the OP: Lana (of course), Crystal Castles, Sky Ferreira, Ellie Goulding Others: Bat For Lashes' "The Haunted Man" (10/15) and experimental jazz artist Seaming's "Seaming" (10/15).

Some of them are so old and obscure that they almost have to be from inside her camp. If it's not Lana herself posting them, then someone has some explaining to do!

Grimes I saw her live at the beginning of the year, and she rocked it despite being plagued by technical problems the whole time. I screamed so loud when she started playing "Nightmusic" (my favorite song by her) as the encore!

"Carmen" was my very favorite from the first time I listened to the album, and I still love it just as much now. There's just something about it that gives me chills. The acapella demo with the alternate lyrics is really fascinating too --- it somehow manages to make it even more haunting.