Kisum

I checked in just to hear this. Been very excited about all day. Especially after the snippet of Tulsa Jesus Freak which is astonishingly great. This one takes a few listens. It doesn't run you over right away. It's a bulldozer coming slowly that will flatten you when it rolls you.

Something to note... Closing in on Abbey Road on the Billboard 200 "most weeks" chart...

What has not changed for me re Lana Del Rey in the last few weeks: Lana Del Rey is still among the greatest music acts of all time. It's not about record sales, but Born to Die is now in 15th place on the Billboard 200 “most weeks” chart. (Not including “greatest hits” compilations). The only female act higher is Adele with 21. Born to Die passed Tapestry last year, leaving Carol King in third place for females. And Born to Die is still selling. It'll soon pass The Beatles', Abbey Road, and Fleetwood Mac's, Rumors. And BTD is not even LDR’s best. IMHO, NFR is better. And Ultraviolence is definitely better, in almost everyone’s opinion. Nothing against any music acts today, many good ones, but only a few of Lana's contemporary's will be considered a giant of this era, like her. Kendrick Lamar, for sure. Taylor Swift? Maybe. But what separates Lana and Kendrick is that they created their own sub-genres. That they own. Like Pink Floyd, at the top of the “most weeks” chart, with The Dark Side of the Moon. Innovation, artistry, are what it's about but "weeks on the chart" cements it. You can argue that there’s better indie film makers than Tarantino but Tarantino films sell tickets. He's classic. Lana Del Rey is in that same vaulted place. She’s bent the culture to her Art. Not the other way around. So what’s changed re LDR in the last 2 weeks? She’s no longer the coolest person in the universe. Or, rather, Lana Del Rey still is. But Elizabeth Grant has proven to be, like the rest of us, human and flawed. A brilliant diamond, but flawed. And some of the mystique is gone because Elizabeth is just not a great spokesperson for Lana Del Rey. The best spokesperson for LDR is the music itself. LDR, the artistic creation, doesn’t care if she’s PC or not PC. She's just telling her truth. And she doesn’t need to point out how she’s bent the culture to her. She's just doing it. And she's growing, changing over time. Moving into something more progressive and positive. Fresh. Uncharted territory. So where are things now? I think we’re lucky to be living in the peak LDR era. She’s putting out one amazing work after another. I didn’t need to Elizabeth to point out that LDR has opened doors for others. It’s obvious. Just listen to the pop charts. So I hope the malicious Stans give Elizabeth a break. Leave her to her muse. Recognize that Lana, right now, is like Bob Dylan in the Blonde on Blonde era. Come to think of it, Bobby Zimmerman was not the best spokesman for Dylan either, right? I mean who cares what Zimmer says when we have the music itself. I worry that the crazy Stans, not the loving ones, will get into Elizabeth's head and mess up this beautiful thing that we have. LDR is such a powerful creation, she’s bending the culture. So let's all sit back and wait for the next one to drop and enjoy it. And BTW, Doja Cat, who I thought was like a novelty act, turns out to be really interesting and very good. So I hope they give her a break too!

This is what I posted last night on IG... I've read a lot of comments since. Many good points made. But too much is way off topic. I stand by my initial reaction. Especially now, after seeing the pic Lana posted of Sean Connery and Claudine Auger from Thunderball and the video of From Here to Eternity. Hee essays don't speak as clearly as her art, but I'm on the edge of my seat to see where this goes next... I would bet heavily that she'll come out stronger than ever... The art is simply too powerful and successful for anyone to tear down.

ULTRA FUCKING VIOLENCE 1. CRUEL WORLD 2. ULTRAVIOLENCE 3. SHADES OF COOL 4. BROOKLYN BABY 5. WEST COAST 6. SAD GIRL 7. PRETTY WHEN YOU CRY 8. MONEY POWER GLORY 9. F----D MY WAY UP TO THE TOP 10. OLD MONEY 11. THE OTHER WOMAN 12. BLACK BEAUTY 13. 13 Beaches 14. Cherry 15. Heroin 16. Get Free 17. Fuck it I Love You 18. Love Song 19. Cinnamon Girl 20. California