Vertimus

For an artist of her stature, I think most of her albums covers have been poor. It seems like she and her team—and the other creatives they work with-- have amazing talent and taste, and then it comes to her album covers and to me, most are a disaster, with exceptions. Anyone with photographic talent and experience knows Krug is vastly overrated. I'd greatly prefer something in a jazz mode over something in a country mode, especially if 'Breaking Up Slowly' is an example of what lies ahead.

It's a really nice selection of songs. Wow— the Ride monologue?

The sad part, in a way, is how many Americans and people around the world are still saying, "Lana WHO?"

Full agree.

Personally, I can't imagine how any Lana Stan could hear 'Arcadia,' 'Black Bathing Suit,' 'IYLDWM,' 'Violets For Roses,' 'WFWF,' ' and 'Text Book' and not respond enthusiastically and deeply, even if 'Black Bathing Suit' is on the fun upbeat side---it's a pure pop song. 'Dealer' is fun and doesn't try to be anything other than what it is. The other previously-leaked songs are some of her best from that catalog, even if they were "ripped off Youtube" and weren't remastered, etc. (or not). We all agree there's no accounting for taste. But. The entire BB album being thought of a third-rate musically lyrically, and in terms of her voice and performance reminds me of how a great deal of people don't respond to '13 Beaches' and/or 'Heroin,' and prefer (to me) unchallenging songs like 'Love Song' or 'How to Disappear.' I DO think there's been a lot of bandwagon-jumping with this album, in this case, jumping off instead of on. It's almost as if an initial "buzz" goes out into the ether, collective unconscious, or wider world (including TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, other Lana boards, etc.), which is Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down, and a great many people are swayed by that and remain so. Study advertising, sociology, and psychology if you want to learn how the majority of people in any given situation can be swayed to like, hate, or support almost anything, from witchcraft in Europe and early America or the rise of Hitler, Trump, or Biden. And NO—I'm not comparing those who love Norman and OC to Hitler or Trump. We saw that with Norman and we see it again now with Ocean Boulevard, both in the affirmative. The truth is no one knows exactly how it works but advertisers are nonetheless able to harness it. I'm not saying it's done with intent or purpose with Lana or Lorde or 21 Pilots—it's a spontaneous and mysterious process. And yes, I'm as subject to it as anyone else. That's one of the points of life, NOT to be manipulated by media, the majority, and your own unconscious processes.

Fair enough, but her intentions don't influence my appreciation or lack of same. I'm sure she admires her own UV and NFR! more, but I don't.

It's one of my Top 5 Lana songs too.

It's my favorite of all her albums, but it gets a great deal of hate here on Lanaboards. Probably more hate than love. While some no doubt dislike it honestly, a lot of the rest of it I see as just bandwagon-jumping and people who are easily swayed by the majority, in other words, sociology.

Such a great song!

Love to you, V.

No songs that sound a great deal like previously released songs. I know I am in the minority, but 4/5ths of OB didn't work for me, and I don't care at all for most of the production. OB has been the first LDR album that made me feel almost tired of her—for the first time EVER. Nonetheless, I will accept whatever she does next, and if I don't care for it, that's on me.

He had such a huge influence over my generation—I grew up in South Florida, so my family went to Key West yearly, and Buffet was a frequent sight around Miami in those years. Though I was quite young, my older sister and I saw him perform at the the Maurice Gusman Cultural Center, a concert which was recorded for his 'You Had To Be There' album. To me, 'Changes in Attitudes' is still a perfect album, especially the slower/sadder songs, like 'Banana Republics' and 'Biloxi.' I still listen to that album, and so many of his other, like 'There's A Woman Going Crazy on Caroline Street,' 'Life Is Just a Tire Swing,' 'Come Monday,' 'Island,' 'Livingston Saturday Night,' 'Havana Daydreaming,' 'Mañana,' and many others. Musically, he sort of became a parody of himself as time went on, but the 70s Jimmy Buffet never faded for me, and I thought of him a great deal when I was in Key West for two weeks two summers in a row. I was thrilled when Lana mentioned him in 'If I Die Young.' Thanks, Elle.

For me, overall, BB is what NFR! is for so many others.

A-men.

Yes. 'Old Money.'

The lyrics seem like they were written in a few minutes—"things were peachy keen"?--and "always listen to your heart" can be a recipe for disaster. I would have liked it more if Lana sang the entire song. It's a nice little boost while she's going through this very successful period of her life and career, another feather in her cap, at least theoretically.

If You Lie Down With Me is one of my LDR Top Five songs. I never tire of it. It's so sexy and seductive and confident.

Thank you—I will listen again with your own ear in mind.

I've heard others here say that, but I don't hear it…can you give me the time in 'Arcadia' that you're taking about. I, on the other hand, here some poor vocals on 'Grandfather…" and a few other tracks on OC.

She may not have promoted it, but we know she recorded and then cut a handful of songs, so I don't think we can say she didn't work hard during the recording process. Why she cut them, we don't know. But to me, WFWF certainly shows hard work; it couldn't have been easy for her to face herself and her past that way, and reveal her negative relationship with her mother--it's not as if her mother's dead. It's the relative lightness of several of the tracks that I do like--'VFR,' 'Arcadia,' 'IYLDWM,' 'Sweet Carolina.'

For good reason! Thanks. Great to know.

More than any other factor, I think it's because her songs have depth. Lyrical and emotional. The same reason people flocked to Tori Amos in the 1990s and 2000s, and, in the distant past, Joni Mitchell.

I'm glad you appreciate it and enjoy even the title track; it's the 'Nikki Lane' namedropping part that I don't care for. Like 'Happiness Is a Butterfly,' I was disappointed when I heard the entire song. I also find it very peaceful in many parts. It may not be 'cohesive,' but I find it a lot more cohesive than OC--if that matters at all.

For me, BB the album seems permanently underrated. While I don't like the title track at all, I love 'Arcadia,' 'BBS,' 'VFR,' 'IYLDWM,' 'TB,' and 'WFWF,' and like 'Sweet Carolina,' 'Dealer,' and 'Beautiful' well enough. The other four leaked tracks I have liked for years, all of them, though I prefer the '50s'-style version of 'Thunder.' So that leaves 'The Trio,' which I never play, because I've known the original version for many years and I don't think it does anything for the album. Instead of basing my like or dislike on album history, facts, knowledge, opinion, or abstraction, I just like the sound of the songs I've said I like above, their message, and, in some cases, their simplicity ('Arcadia, 'VFR), especially because it seems all her albums have tortured or somewhat tortured histories. Maybe we know too much and that gets in the way of our appreciation. I know I'm way in the minority, but I vastly prefer BB the album to OC the album.

I would LOVE to hear (and have) the Rick Nowels of what was or what became the UV, which I'm not the biggest fan of in its released form.