Norman Fucking Rockwell - Post-Release Discussion Thread + Poll

[mkultraviolence 5,832]

Cinnamon (Girl) is about western European explorers trying to travel to Asia to acquire spices.

[TrashMagiq 58,574]

California's about deportation in the Trump era and a lover's desperation for him to return to America

[Psychedelic Pussy 30,109]

Astral Chain isn't saying every song is about Donald Trump. The album itself is the epitome of the very current culture and the 'Cold (perhaps Hot, now that we're discussing climate change) War' we're living in.

The (white) hot (forever) war

[ArtDecoDelRey 15,284]

bartender is about her experience at a 1920s speakeasy during prohibition

[Jared 3,131]

Lana being trashed and slammed for 7 years and critics treating the rest of her discography like shit is a false talking point and it won't become true no matter how many times certain individual repeats it. In reality, Lana has been fairly acclaimed artist since 2014 and Ultraviolence

 

NFR is well-received by both the critics and the public and this is the only place on the internet where you can find such negativity directed towards it (they don't make fun of this site for no reason). Certain individual is just upset that his favorite albums didn't get NFR's accolades.

 

As for Lana being hailed as one of America's greatest living songwriters, that's not random at all considering there are couple of tracks here that literally sound like they could've been on some of the earlier Fiona albums.

 

Anyhow, back to Lana's discography being trashed and slammed until NFR.

 

 


 

[Barttender 1,118]

[Pico Ocean Boulevard 41,094]

Lana being trashed and slammed for 7 years and critics treating the rest of her discography like shit is a false talking point and it won't become true no matter how many times certain individual repeats it. In reality, Lana has been fairly acclaimed artist since 2014 and Ultraviolence

 

NFR is well-received by both the critics and the public and this is the only place on the internet where you can find such negativity directed towards it (they don't make fun of this site for no reason). Certain individual is just upset that his favorite albums didn't get NFR's accolades.

 

As for Lana being hailed as one of America's greatest living songwriters, that's not random at all considering there are couple of tracks here that literally sound like they could've been on some of the earlier Fiona albums.

 

Anyhow, back to Lana's discography being trashed and slammed until NFR.

 

 

 

Ultraviolence has only 74 and Lost for life has 77?! Something went wrong

[necessary sacrifice 8,865]

Enjoying critical praise =/= thinking praise makes the album worthy. We can like the album and like the critical praise without the praise being the reason we like the album. Do critics matter? Not really. Am I still happy to see Lana get acclaim? Obviously. Would I still love this album without the acclaim? Again, fucking obviously.

 

Plus Lana’s acclaim has increased slowly over the years. She wasn’t slandered nonstop til this album then suddenly everyone changed their minds. Already Paradise got better reviews than Born to Die. Then Ultraviolence was only really criticized on the topics, while the instrumentals and vocals and everything actually was praised. Most of the UV controversy was the “I wish I was dead” thing. Honeymoon and Lust for Life mostly got praise. Then we come to NFR, her most critically acclaimed, but she’s been climbing this mountain for the past decade so why are we surprised she got to the top? Do we really have to be upset she got here? Can’t we just enjoy something for once? Can’t we just be proud of Lana? Even if you hate the album, why not just be proud of Lana?

[West Coast 45,795]

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.

[Pico Ocean Boulevard 41,094]

I'm proud of her achievementw, 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.

Lana was really something new, special and something unique back in 2012/13/14. The big hair, the topics about sugar daddies, sadness, drugs (alcohol), her retro style, the sound of BTD, the honesty and darkness from UV... Looking live or music videos from this  years are so good and  unique and I really think that we never get this back. But Lana was there in another state of mind. She thought that she has to wear High Heels, big hair and make up on stage . In my opinion things changed around the Honeymoon era/ shortly after it. You can see that she feels more comfortable on stage and with herself. She has now a better or  a more positive state of mind . And Lana gets older and she is a lot more comfortable with herself. We saw her in the last time a lot more without or with less make-up, she doesn't wear High Heels that often and she is still  beautiful and for her it isn't that important to make big sounding songs like in BTD. NFR! is her most acoustic album since BTD. Maybe that seems a little bit bland for some people..And in she didn't give a fuck years ago. She made songs like Cola (My pussy taste like..),OTTR, Gods and Monsters(God's dead ..) ,the sarcastic FMWUTTT..and so on. I know she said "fresh out of fucks forever" in Venice Bitch (stream it!) but I think she cares  at least a little bit  what other would think about her lyrics. The most controvesial line on NFR ! is the Kanye West line in my opinion as well......The Lana from 2012 to 2014/15 was iconic and groundbreaking but Lana is now more mature and grown and more stripped down/ down to earth..do you know what I mean. Lyrically you can tell that it is still Lana on NFR! at least at some songs but soundwise she drifted away from the bigger sound her previous albums had. Maybe that's why it seems a little bit bland for some people. I also think that Lana get a little bit more mainstream (i'm not sure if thats the right word)  in her acting  like vaping, going to a  questionable church, the political songs on LFL, holding her Iphone in her hand during a photoshoot. Currently it seems like  she is kinda tired of touring but we all know Lana still is a hardworking woman in case of making music. She said she is on fire and won't stop and that makes me ecxited for her next album. Lana changed and to be honest sometimes I wish that she would act more like the "older Lana" but  overall I'm glad that she is more comfortable with herself , in a better state of mind  and that she has grown as an artist. In my opinion she changed a lot but it doesn't feel like a complete other person. There are still moments where I think that's so Lana (e.g scrapping a music video again )

 

I hope you know what I mean..

 

Edit: With this line" sometimes I wish that she would act more like the "older Lana" " I meant that I wish that she wouldn't be so "lazy" sometimes. She seems a little bit of tired of touing recently but she used to have a f*cking orchestra, the back track was'nt that loud years ago and it would be great if she would be able to do something like the Heartshaped Box Cover again. She belted even on the LATTMT sometimes and I watched some NFR! tour videos but in my opinion she looks a little bit tired  except the Hollywood Bowl show. This show was pretty good!

[West Coast 45,795]

Lana was really something new, special and something unique back in 2012/13/14. The big hair, the topics about sugar daddies, sadness, drugs (alcohol), her retro style, the sound of BTD, the honesty and darkness from UV... Looking live or music videos from this  years are so good and  unique and I really think that we never get this back. But Lana was there in another state of mind. She thought that she has to wear High Heels, big hair and make up on stage . In my opinion things changed around the Honeymoon era/ shortly after it. You can see that she feels more comfortable on stage and with herself. She has now a better or  a more positive state of mind . And Lana gets older and she is a lot more comfortable with herself. We saw her in the last time a lot more without or with less make-up, she doesn't wear High Heels that often and she is still  beautiful and for her it isn't that important to make big sounding songs like in BTD. NFR! is her most acoustic album since BTD. Maybe that seems a little bit bland for some people..And in she didn't give a fuck years ago. She made songs like Cola (My pussy taste like..),OTTR, Gods and Monsters(God's dead ..) ,the sarcastic FMWUTTT..and so on. I know she said "fresh out of fucks forever" in Venice Bitch (stream it!) but I think she cares  at least a little bit  what other would think about her lyrics. The most controvesial line on NFR ! is the Kanye West line in my opinion as well......The Lana from 2012 to 2014/15 was iconic and groundbreaking but Lana is now more mature and grown and more stripped down/ down to earth..do you know what I mean. Lyrically you can tell that it is still Lana on NFR! at least at some songs but soundwise she drifted away from the bigger sound her previous albums had. Maybe that's why it seems a little bit bland for some people. I also think that Lana get a little bit more mainstream (i'm not sure if thats the right word)  in her acting  like vaping, going to a  questionable church, the political songs on LFL, holding her Iphone in her hand during a photoshoot. Currently it seems like  she is kinda tired of touring but we all know Lana still is a hardworking woman in case of making music. She said she is on fire and won't stop and that makes me ecxited for her next album. Lana changed and to be honest sometimes I wish that she would act more like the "older Lana" but  overall I'm glad that she is more comfortable with herself , in a better state of mind  and that she has grown as an artist. In my opinion she changed a lot but it doesn't feel like a complete other person. There are still moments where I think that's so Lana (e.g scrapping a music video again )

 

I hope you know what I mean..

 

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.

[SouthInGuy 1,699]

Yikes..

 

[PARADIXO 32,943]

Lana being trashed and slammed for 7 years and critics treating the rest of her discography like shit is a false talking point and it won't become true no matter how many times certain individual repeats it. In reality, Lana has been fairly acclaimed artist since 2014 and Ultraviolence

 

NFR is well-received by both the critics and the public and this is the only place on the internet where you can find such negativity directed towards it (they don't make fun of this site for no reason). Certain individual is just upset that his favorite albums didn't get NFR's accolades.

 

As for Lana being hailed as one of America's greatest living songwriters, that's not random at all considering there are couple of tracks here that literally sound like they could've been on some of the earlier Fiona albums.

 

Anyhow, back to Lana's discography being trashed and slammed until NFR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ultraviolence has only 74 and Lost for life has 77?! Something went wrong

 

Well, Ultraviolence was extremely controversial back then + her vision wasn't as understood (and praised) as it is now. It's actually admirable that so many critics actually stood up for it.

[xlanax 1,425]

Guys in my opinion NFR is not bad as you want to make it sound. Yes it has some explicit flaws, it has 2 or 3 songs more than it should have had, but imo it very cohesive and some of the best she ever put out. I'd say it's her best with Ultraviolence. Especially when honeymoon and Lust for Life (don't come for me, i think they're also good) had a bunch of filler songs in them. And I think some of you are confusing the iconic status BTD has with the actual output. I think it is great and It def was game changer when it came out but have you tried listening to it today? It's not that deep, id rather say that even if It was excellently produced, now It sounds too much adolescent or Tumblr aesthetic. NFR is mature and well written, as a woman in her 30 should do.

[Jared 3,131]

A reminder that during an appearance on radio show earlier this year, Lana herself said that she's very inspired and that she has started writing outside of the studio and at home for the first time in 4 years. Now, I don't won't to attribute all credit to Jack, but I'm pretty sure he has played a role in it. He tends to have that kind of effect on people.

 

[13bitches 6,176]

Imagine thinking Honeymoon has filler besides Burnt Norton

[mkultraviolence 5,832]

A reminder that during an appearance on radio show earlier this year, Lana herself said that she's very inspired and that she has started writing outside of the studio and at home for the first time in 4 years. Now, I don't won't to attribute all credit to Jack, but I'm pretty sure has played the role in it. He tends to have that kind of effect on people.

 

 

how does Jack's shit taste in your mouth?

[UltraHeroin 8,803]

Imagine thinking Honeymoon has filler besides Burnt Norton

Even Burnt Norton belongs 100% on there and it's placement's also perfect

[Pico Ocean Boulevard 41,094]

Even Burnt Norton belongs 100% on there and it's placement's also perfect

I think it goes really well with the beginning of Religion. And you should close your eyes and  enjoy Burnt Norton. I always imagine that I'm lying on a small Island in the middle of the ocean

[necessary sacrifice 8,865]

Imagine thinking Honeymoon has filler besides Burnt Norton

Imagine thinking Burnt Norton is filler. Even if it’s just a portion of the poem, it adds almost an underlying theme of chasing the unattainable garden of eden. It’s one of the most beautiful parts of the album, especially because her speaking voice is so calming. To me, Burnt Norton is the heart of the Honeymoon album.