Venice Jesus Whore

I’ve never felt this mixed about an album ever. First day, I really was disappointed and disliked it. Then I listened to it nonstop for a week. Now I stick to my favorites and that’s about it. 
 
It’s weird, I like the songs when I’m listening to them, but I just find a lot of them forgettable. I’ve found since the beginning, I tend to skip the last 2 tracks, which only leave 9 songs left. I tend to skip LMLYAW too. 8 songs left. Tulsa Jesus Freak, Chemtrails (the second half of the song with the two melodies mixing into each other - wow, just wow) , and Breaking Up Slowly are my absolute faves, in that order. I like White Dress but tend to forget about it till I come here. 
 
Wild at Heart makes me picture a black and white western movie/musical scene in a bar with Lana dancing on tables and making a “scene” with the entire bar joining in and singing along with her, having fun, for the last chorus. I like that - something that fun and lighthearted is a rare thing to picture for a Lana song. But it feels semi-uninspired basically reusing the production of How to Disappear. 
 
I rarely skip Dark But Just a Game, but again, very forgettable for me. I like Not All Who Wander, but the lyrics are super cliche and weak imo. The harmonies are gorgeous though. Yosemite is really pretty, but again, forgettable. 
 
And that’s it. That’s the album. It’s weird. I like it, but I don’t. I find myself singing along to it a lot and enjoying it, but I also still don’t feel a connection to it? Again, I’ve never felt so mixed about an album before. I’ve also never felt so disconnected from a Lana album before. 

Anyone else think that Tusla Jesus freak could've turned into a 10 minute Venice Bitch psychedelic song? 

Exactly. I love the 'sad' LDR of 'Old Money,' '13 Beaches,' et al, but I'm very pleased with this more thoughtful, upbeat and confident iteration of LDR. She sounds mature, level-headed, happy, almost content. I think this is the closest to the genuine Elizabeth Grant that we've heard in some years. 

The cameras had flashes THEY CAUSED THE CAR CRASHES!!!!!!!!!!

She really outdid herself with this album 

She really outdid herself with this album 

I can't believe how fast the hype for this album died after it was released. A year and a half of buildup and immediately, a dive off the cliff 

I can't believe how fast the hype for this album died after it was released. A year and a half of buildup and immediately, a dive off the cliff 

I can't believe how fast the hype for this album died after it was released. A year and a half of buildup and immediately, a dive off the cliff 

I can't believe how fast the hype for this album died after it was released. A year and a half of buildup and immediately, a dive off the cliff 

I can't believe how fast the hype for this album died after it was released. A year and a half of buildup and immediately, a dive off the cliff 

I can't believe how fast the hype for this album died after it was released. A year and a half of buildup and immediately, a dive off the cliff 

I can't believe how fast the hype for this album died after it was released. A year and a half of buildup and immediately, a dive off the cliff 

It's crazy to think this record has been in the works since summer 2019. This means she started to write its successor ???? ????? ????? during 2020 This woman never stops.
Don't know if it has been done before, but this is my attempt on creating a timeline based on COCC songs creation/inspiration. 
 
OG Lust for Life era • Late 2015 - Early 2016
Yosemite
 
pre NFR era • July - August 2019
Wild at Heart: Lana made a necklace with its title engraved on the back |SOURCE|
White Hot Forever: announced as a working title for the new album |SOURCE|
 
NFR tour era • September - October 2019
Chemtrails Over the Country Club: first time mentioning zodiac lyrics |SOURCE|
Dark But Just a Game: chorus melody teased during an ig livestream |SOURCE|
Let Me Love You Like a Woman: first song title to be confirmed
For Free: was performed various times during the NFR tour
Dance Till We Die: most likely inspired by her Berkeley concert where she performed with Joan Baez |SOURCE|
 
Midwest trip era • November 2019
Breaking Up Slowly: confirmed written in a hotel room with Nikki Lane |SOURCE|
Tulsa Jesus Freak: was finalized after visiting Oklahoma |SOURCE|
 
Oscar's afterparty • February 2020
Dark But Just a Game: inspiration for the song came after she attended this LA party |SOURCE|
 
CANNOT DETERMINE
White Dress: talking about the song, Lana said <We did that early on, we were at Jim Henson’s studio> this means it was probably recorded when NFR dropped, but it's not confirmed
Not All Who Wander Are Lost: some digital copies have this track named as 'Wanderlust', which leads to speculation that it was one of the last recorded for the album
 
 

I'm having a hard time expressing how I feel about this album, but I'm going to try.
 
What you can't deny is that this album is cohesive. But unfortunately, contrary to Honeymoon, such cohesiveness leads to a feeling of similarity between some of the songs. I think it's also because they were produced by Jack, because no matter what you think of him, you can't deny that the production on some parts of some of the tracks is barely noticeable - I'm thinking of Wild at Heart, Dance Till We Die, but even Chemtrails, because the beautiful subtle instruments throughout the songs are drowning in the rest. And that, added to the fact that most of the chords are really basic, makes most of the songs lackluster, all the more so because not all the songs are this way. Take White Dress. The beautiful and original chord progression and melody of the first verse evidence how common the chord progression for most of the songs is. Yosemite does stand out thanks to its unique atmosphere and beautiful guitar riffs that add so much to the song. To me, Yosemite being that way makes the songs that follow seem somewhat dull. I'm okay with her reusing songs from past albums, but I can't help being a bit disappointed when the highly-anticipated wild at heart is virtually a capella on the verses and has the HTD instrumental in the chorus. I just can't think of it as a song of its own. I guess I should have expected less - I remember hoping that Not All Who Wander Are Lost would be a cinematic song, very mature and eventful, that would beautifully reflect her journey - but her older songs just stand out so much more. Maybe I would have enjoyed this album more without the delay, but right now, it feels like those are songs that were done a long time ago, which we should've got a long time ago, and which suffer flaws - Jack's production, lack of actual bridges.
 
I still love White Dress, Chemtrails, Yosemite and Tulsa Jesus Freak, but the rest does feel like something is missing.

The title track has such great replay value love it 

I'm late to responding to this but thank you

Breaking Up Slowly is one of my favourites from the album as well! Even though country music is not really my thing I've gotten into Nikki's music since seeing her open for Lana in Wichita. Here are some of my favourites that are worth checking out if you'd like to become more familiar with Nikki's music:
 
 

the bridge/outro is VERY Lorde and easily the best part of the song. the verses remind me of tswift songs too. as another user mentioned, her weird "indie girl cursive" singing does kinda ruin the vibe for me at times. I'm interested to see where she goes though.

Breaking Up Slowly is one of my favorite songs on Chemtrails, so I’m looking forward to seeing what this is all about. I’ve never heard of Nikki before Chemtrails and still haven’t listened to her otherwise. 

I love you lots, like polka dots. 
 
 

I love you lots, like polka dots. 
 
 

I really was disappointed with this album on first listen, but now I can’t stop listening to it. I find myself really enjoying just zoning out and singing along to it. 

I really was disappointed with this album on first listen, but now I can’t stop listening to it. I find myself really enjoying just zoning out and singing along to it. 

The other day I took out the car, drove around with the windows halfway down and put on this album. For a work so stripped down, it still has some very catchy melodies and parts so easy and fun to sing along to! It does make me believe, that I am too wild at heart and free, even when stuck in traffic, but loudly singing along.  
I just adore it so much and it keeps getting better and better with each listen.