West Coast

Alright Jack. I thought you had received a warning point for excessively using these two words?

@@Valerie is that you?

Won't take long, don't worry.

Omg I cannot actually believe that we agree for the second time. Christmas miracles, they exist.

Yup. This interview is honestly a bit weird to read. It's like he keeps talking about the production of the record as if it's this amazing and revolutionary thing for Lana and for the music scene, but: Lana, from a production point of view, as worked with producer that pushed her sound much farther than she has on this album. Producers that created a far more elaborate, intricate and beautiful soundscape. Like to me there are nice instrumentals on NFR, but a lot of them they end up sounding a bit muffled, flat, dry and weirdly mixed. I personally do not find the sound of the album to be atmospheric, as opposed to her first three records, on which she created a very specific, detailed and complex sonic environment. The production on NFR, if not compared to Lana's album, is extremely lackluster compared to the tens of thousands of albums released this decade. I can honestly name 10 albums from different artists that are far more elaborate sonically, but also actually cohesive and coherent production and stylistically wise. Jackoff seems to value his so called production creds, and the music he makes, a little too high. I mean he's not a bad producer per se, and he's a good musician. But, let's not pretend like he made some of the most elaborate melodies for this album, for the most part they are quite simplistic. Besides like the long musical outro of Venice Bitch and the chord progression/chorus in The greatest: the rest is actually quite basic. For instance: the piano track on the title track, HIAB, are quite plain and simple.

It's still money wasted to me. I'm not interested in the slightest to know how Jack ruined this entire album with his shitty input as a "producer" no matter how much your or JackJared or anyone are trying to push him down our throat as an allege "musical genius".

Hearing impairment is very common.

Feel free to waste 320$, what a bargain. That's it, this era has reached its ridicule peak.

I didn't mean softer as in slower, I find the melody and sound of the album to be much softer/delicate, aerial/ethereal or lush if you will than NFR. But also, I find that Honeymoon has that little je ne sais quoi, or quintessential Lana "feel" lyrically, that sense of mystery or mysticism you know? So in that regard I find the lyrics on NFR to be more tamed, or casual (almost subpar?) compared to Honeymoon if that make sense.

Softer melodically? Absolutely. Tamer? I don't think so.

This I agree with: "Right album, right time". Lana is at a pivotal moment in her career. After year of being considered and regarded as a problematic figure on the music scene, I genuinely believe that some of her most fervent critics have finally softened up to her. Also, lyrically, NFR happens to be her least "controversial" effort thus far, it's much less tainted with sense of mystery/mysticism but also the so called "edgy" lyrics of her first three records. I still don't think critics "get her", I think they would still give subpar reviews to her first three records to be honest. I wholeheartedly disagree on this though. I do not get a sense of the classic, let alone grand feeling, nor the same level of intricacy both lyrically and melodically than what she has displayed on Born To Die/Paradise, Ultraviolence and Honeymoon. NFR doesn't stand out like that in her discography in my opinion. Though it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb much like Lust for Life, to me it still feel very underwhelming and somewhat lackluster in many regards. But to each their own.

Ew

Not to be rude, but don't you think I have already watched the video before posting my comment: hence me saying imagine paying 320$ to hear Jackoff brag about the lackluster production of NFR? It educated me on how bland and flat the instrumentation of the album is, but at the same time how amazing he thinks it was.

320$ to hear Jackoff brag about the lackluster production of NFR...

I've been saying this for ages and people have come for me several times for this. There's nothing wrong with coming here and quoting articles that mention the album. I just find that bit nonsensical to use this as some sort of verbatim to use and debate with other users that come up with talking points of their own. This is the NFR thread on a fan community website after all.

I see that some people here are now deciding of the validity of lists that reflect opinions of the public at large (actual fans for the most part), while at the same breath revere media that have in the past wrote countless of trash articles. reviews and thinkpieces about Lana. But just because in the past three months they have backtracked and somewhat soften up to her and they happen to reflect your so called opinion, or thoughts, about one single album; years of public shaming, relentless hatred and criticism is all of a sudden forgotten or excused. The mental gymnastics some of you guys go through. Very impressive. As for the rest, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually agree with most of Taylor Swift's speech about Lana last night. This thread cannot get more anymore ridiculous and nonsensical.

To that delusional user that said the Discogs decade end list was only about sales, well it's not. I assume this person is unfamiliar with Discogs and their lists. It's actually a combination of sales (and re-sales) of course, but also most searched/sought after records and also users' reviews of said records. My best guess as to why NFR! didn't make the list and other albums released in 2019 did: maybe it was either not one of the best selling records this year and/or most acclaimed or searched by users of Discogs? Who knows. Users don't echo each other as much as critics do, I presume. I've looked and the only album that did was the Billie Eillish record.

I think you missed the most important quote of this article: "Here’s the thing: Critics are charged with constantly trying to find something new, something to champion. Mainstream music will always find an audience, so a critic feels an imperative to explore the fringes. At the same time, there are millions of people who are perfectly capable of exploring those same fringes, sorting through the crap and putting together a stellar record collection. That’s what this list is about. Real people. Real collections. It’s comprised of records that Discogs users have either bought or want to buy, and it paints a fascinating picture of popular music post-2010." A list that has in its top 50: three Kendrick Lamar albums, all three of Tame Impala's albums, Born To Die & Ultraviolence, AM, I Love You Honeybear, both The Suburbs and Reflektor , El Camino & Brothers, Blond, Salad days, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, two Jack White albums. That seems pretty reliable to me. By the way weren't you championing NFR! has her best release like the day after its release especially after Pitchfork made their decade end list official very soon after? (almost to soon, but hey)

1. It's just an expression you don't have to be so literal. Giving my two cents = giving my opinion. This is exactly what I've been doing as the top participator in this dying thread, but go off. 2. I guess we'll see. But so far I'm pretty sure the only album it will outsell will be 'Honeymoon', and maybe, just maybe, 'Lust for Life'. Wasn't it like two or three weeks ago all of her albums were charting again... and higher than 'NFR'? Also, I would never equate sales with quality music, but here you are. 3. Most of my 1102407014 posts on this thread have been about the atrocious production and mastering of this record. But hey, I guess when you find my posts boring and repetitive that's easy to overlook. I wouldn't blame you for this. 4. Lastly, this sounds like I'm being accused of participating in a discussion? I mean I understand that I'm pretty camped in my opinions about this record, so everyone by the way. What I don't get is that there are people that are questioning the validity of what I'm saying when it's just that: opinions. I don't know how many times I've said it but I guess I'll say it again: I'm very passionate about Lana, I'm not trying to convince anyone or change people's mind over this record. I'm just sharing my thoughts and opinions on 'NFR'. Have a good day though!

Nah I'm good. I log out everyday and fully enjoy my life out of this forum, listening to other artists than Lana. I'm actually living my best life right now I'm about to graduate college and I got a few very interesting job offerings and couldn't be more fulfilled with my social circle right now! But thanks for being concerned though! However there is one thing that I don't agree with that you have written. I'm not trying to convince anyone here. I think that would be a little presumptuous, that is not my intention at all. I'm merely giving my two cents about NFR in the NFR thread. It's kind of a moot discussion anyway, on one hand you have people that love the album, on the other people that don't particularly like it as much. Sorry, not accusing you of that, but it's kind of dumb to accuse me of trying to "change people" mind, when this is a critique that I could make about people coming here just to gloat about Lana's score on Metacritic or how high she made it in some objective year/decade end list. Using that as proof of the album alleged greatness or something. Also bold of you to assume that there are more people who prefer the album over people that don't? Can't really tell right now. Let's wait a year shall we? I remember very well people quickly calling LFL her best album at the time of its release, look at it now... a mess. It's the NFR thread and I'm sharing my experience with the album and that's how it should be.

This is a question I ask myself daily. Some people here are giving way too much credits to Jackoff. He's good for Pop girlies I guess, as for the rest... let's just say that Lana has worked with more interesting and competent people.

I know what you mean, don't worry. To me it's not much that I want the "old Lana back", I think it seems to be an argument used a lot against people who are not feeling her new material as much as the so called "old" one, not saying that this is what you're doing here though. I just find that Lana has lost that sort of edge about her art, and she's become this sort of tamed, or bored if you will, version of what she used to do and/or be. I agree, her aesthetic and visuals were a very important part of her image, she definitely used to have this sort of mysterious aura both visually and musically. Which was very nice and interesting at the time. I understand that she probably doesn't want to have a high maintenance look anymore, it's a lot of effort, so it's totally understandable. Lana seems to be much more casual and relaxed which is great. I honestly don't really care about that anymore the "image" she used to project. I'm more interested in the lyrics, the instrumentation, the vocals, the production... and to me NFR is not it. I'm glad that there are people that actually live for it, and it's great to see critics finally warming up to her, but I just feel like it's too little too late. It all happens at a time where I feel like Lana herself is out of it, she clearly doesn't put the same amount of effort into her work, she even said so herself; how she wasn't that inspired for NFR. I do think that it showed. She doesn't even seem to be interested in it herself... how many songs has she actually performed from the album AND that without fans pressure? I guess I've just been a fan for too long and she doesn't have the same appeal, musically speaking, as she once had on me. I have definitely matured and got to know more about myself and Lana, so in a way I've become more critical of her, especially in the past two years. Although, if anything, the past two eras have actually gave a whole new appreciation for her first three records. I've always loved these albums, but now hearing her latest material has just reinforced my love for them, so I guess there's a bit of positivity to all of this.

I'm proud of her achievements, but let's not act as if critics didn't realize they were wrong for treating her unfairly for all those years and these recent critics are just them backing down and eating shit up for writing those terrible things about her for years. Do you guys actually read some of these so called positive reviews? She might have a god score, but most of them still mention of phony they think she is despite claiming to like her music. Also let's not act as if this doesn't happen to be her most beige, tamed and subdued record. She didn't really push any musical boundaries with this record, nor was she controversial with her lyrics. I mean the most controversial lyrics was probably that Kanye one. If anything this record feels like regression. It's obvious that once she stripped away her so called "Del Rey" persona turned into this bland version of herself. Once she stripped away anything that made her unique and not remind you of other artists. Critics started paying a bit more attention to her. I mean you guys comment about how this album reminds you of that artist or album, how about wanting Lana to make something that reminds you of Lana? Equating critical acclaim with quality content is not the way to go, but to each their own. Anyway, believe it or not, I'm honestly getting tired of this discussion. I obviously love Lana, and NFR has some great songs, but there are just so many elements about this record that makes me not enjoy it to its fullest. But also, coming here to discuss what fans think of the album, but having some of y'all constantly throw into our faces that critics allege to "live" for the album, but not being able to come up with talkingpoints of your own is honestly getting a little tiresome. Je commence a en avoir mon crisse de voyage.

An even bigger LOL @ people suddenly thinking that critics are right about Lana just because it validates your love for a single album of hers. Where were y'all at when Lana was being slandered publicly for seven fucking years? You don't find it hypocritical, but also disingenuous, of them to act as if Lana suddenly became good overnight? All the while, still treating the rest of her discography like shit? If I have to summarize all the bullshit I've read in those reviews year end/decade end lists, it's this: Lana has subsequently released subpar records, but somehow powered through criticism and hate (from those very same critics) and finally released one great record. So you guys agree with that I see. People give way too much creds to critics. I've said it several posts back, critics don't create longevity for an artist, fans do and apparently a lot of people think that NFR is overhyped and overrated by critics. Sometimes some of y'all should get out of the LanaBoards bubble and see the the light of the day. I've read thousands of Reddit posts, Tweets, and comments on both Facebook and Instagram about random people (not even hardcore Lana fans), as well as I've been in touch with several fans and casual fans, a lot of them think the album is being pushed by critics as some sort of modern time masterpiece, while it's just an ok record. When you have an opinion different than the rest of the bunch and can articulate it well you're considered a hater now? This fucking website.