Norman Fucking Rockwell - Post-Release Discussion Thread + Poll

[Elle 114,464]

@Elle I feel like you’ve been very quiet, what are your thoughts about the album? I’d love to know.

 

 

Warning: I am about to get very personal and severely overshare, so read at your own risk lol

 

The album is absolutely stunning. I’ve just had it on constant repeat. I feel like I have so much to say about it, yet at the same time I’m at a loss for words. It’s really soul-speaking music and it's hitting me extra heavily, especially with everything going on in my life. Lana was right when she called this record “introspective, sad girl shit.” I could cry, and have cried, at every song on this album at some point while it’s playing (except for Doin’ Time, bc that’s just a bop. I did cry during the music video though  )

When California first played, I made it to the end of the first pre-chorus and was automatically in tears. It wasn’t a slow built up cry either where you feel it coming and then it’s one tear and then another before it turns into a full-on cry. No. One second I was completely fine and the very next I was in a full blown sob fest, as if I had just watched someone get shot. I was like, what is happening?? It just hit me instantly. That song speaks way too deeply right now. I kind of flip the lyrics in my head to the opposite point of view and it fits perfectly to part of something that’s been hard with me to deal with, my recent breakup affecting how I’m dealing with the main situation that’s causing me all my troubles (but trust me, the breakup itself is not even the tip of the iceberg of what’s been going on with me lol) 

“You shouldn’t have done it, but you read it in my letter. I said to your friend that I wished I was doing better. I wanted you to reach out, but you didn’t say a thing… if I come back to California, would you hit me up?”

I feel myself about to cry even just writing those lyrics lol. Hate to bore you with the personal details of my dead love life, but my ex lives in California and every couple of months I’d fly out to see her. She’s kind of completely cut me out of her life now, and while I’m going through the undoubtedly hardest point of my life, she’s the only one I want to talk to and help me through it. But I haven’t heard from her in weeks, which I understand why. We’re broken up after all and she made that decision to better her own happiness, which I respect. It just makes it so much harder while I’m going through everything. Anyway on to the next sob fest I’ve created, out of The Greatest…

 

Whew. When I first heard the song while watching the video, it was another cry moment (not as intense as California though, that was just insane) But I’m sure by what I’ve just described, you can tell why I was also crying then…

“I’m wasted. Don’t leave, I just need a wake-up call. I’m facing the greatest loss of them all. The culture is lit and I had a ball. I guess I’m signing off after all… I want shit to feel just like it used to, when I was doing nothing most of all.”

Of course this relates to the breakup portion I’m going through, but to continue to overshare and get way too personal, I really am going through the greatest loss of them all, because right now I’ve lost so much.  Of course I have to mourn the loss of my relationship, but also a sense of safety, security, many of my friends, a job I loved, care and respect for my own self, and all of my happiness… (but hey, I also finally lost the 5 pounds I gained over the past 2 years I’d been wanting to get rid of!) & then the last part I included from one of the verses because when I met my ex in January 2018, I was literally doing nothing at all lol. I had just quit my job and was just sitting around in my apartment in Brooklyn all day. When we met she was on her winter break of college, so we’d literally Facetime for three days straight. That initial honeymoon phase, y’know? But it’s the last line of the chorus that hits me the hardest of all. It’s a lot I’m going through right now, and I also haven’t had the cleanest thoughts all the while (sorry for everyone I scared via my Twitter) so this song also really hits close like California does. I feel like I ghostwrote it lol.

 

To get less personal, I’m absolutely in love with Cinnamon Girl. It was the song I was most excited for, and it was definitely worth the wait. It’s my favourite, like I expected it to be. Her vocals in this song are just spectacular. I love when she goes super high like she does towards the end of the chorus. Stunning. I remember listening to those initial snippets she shared and being floored. I was not let down. That’s kind of how I feel about most of this album… I didn’t have any sort of expectation for it I suppose, but I’m blown away. Even the songs that I was least excited for based on her snippets like California & Norman Fucking Rockwell both ended up in my top 5. I can’t say there’s a song I truly dislike. It’s a beautifully done album, and it’ll be a favourite forever. The only thing I’m upset about, and I was just talking to a friend about this, is the time it was released, and that’s just a me thing. I so badly wished this album was released in May or June or something, before all this happened. I just know I’m always going to tie this record to this part of my life, so it’ll be difficult to listen to in the future if I ever get out of this slump. For example, during the (now second) worst point of my life, FROOT was released and now I can’t listen to that record. It just brings me back to that time and it makes me feel uneasy to listen to. Music is really powerful in that sense for me, it can really transport me to past times in my life and I think that’s how I end up appreciating music in it’s longevity. Part of the reason UV & LFL rank so high for me in terms of Lana records is because not only are they amazing albums, but they were both released in the middle of the best points of my life –  2017 & 2014. So, I just wish I was still in a happier time and mindset when this album was released so I could have different memories tied to it later on, but I do really appreciate that it’s helping to guide me through this point I’m in right now, if that makes sense.

 

 

Here’s my song ranking:

Cinnamon Girl

The Greatest

California

Norman Fucking Rockwell

Happiness is a Butterfly

Hope (iadtfawlmthbihi)

Venice Bitch

Doin' Time

Fuck it I Love You

Mariners Apartment Complex

Bartender

Love Song

The Next Best American Record

How to Disappear

 

This is of course subject to change though. I’ve listened to the album about 15 times through so far, so this is just my initial ranking. Especially with those last 5 songs, those are all kind of interchangeable for me right now. I’m confident with my “holy trinity” though – those will probably always stay my top 3, with NFR following as #4. I can genuinely say though, there's not a single song on this album that I dislike or consider a skip. Those at the bottom of my NFR list could rank much higher than a good portion of songs from other albums.

 

 

Here’s how NFR fits into my album ranking:

UV > AKA > NFR > LFL > BTD > HM > P

 

I’ll be very surprised if anything ever tops UV & AKA for me, so I’m very pleased to have NFR as #3. (and before anyone drags me for having LFL above BTD/HM/&P, it’s an amazing record! & also as I mentioned earlier, I think it’s also just because it was released during the best year of my life and I tie it to good memories.)

 

 

 

Whew that was an essay and probably way more than you asked for lol. But yes, those are my thoughts!! x

[LanaBoi 1,810]

I really can't pick favourites off this album.... 

 

That being said... California is pretty damn amazing. 

 

How to Disappear has also grown massively on me. I loveeddd the piano version, was thrown by the album version, but it has grown on me massively with each listen. The instrumental bit towards the end is really beautiful. 

[LanaCharts 1,933]

okay so i wrote a review of the album but i have nowhere to put it. its too long for an Instagram caption and it won't fit in 4 Twitter screenshots so where should i put it

Metacritic

[sjatib 5,050]

Hey. I read someone said that there had been some mastering changes on the album versions of MAC and VB. I noticed some subtle changes, also -mostly drums and emphasis on rythm pattern on MAC and some changes on electric guitar towards the end of VB-, but my technical knowledge about the matter is under zero. Anyone who knows better could point on which changes where made? Thanks in advance!

[ilovetati 15,295]

That other Guardian review is the Observer review...both count.

 

Also, UV is her other album with no bad songs. HM starts so well, but the end is a major let down. DLMBM is so poor compared to TOW, and 24 is rather mediocre. I also think Swan Song is highly overrated. 

[Downtown Baby Doll 5,309]

I'll pick up all of your Vogues and all of your Rolling Stones

Your favorite liquor off the top sheeelf

I'll throw a paaaaAAAAARTY, all night long

 

Listening to California while driving as it rains and I nearly started sobbing

[Cacciatore 19,346]

That other Guardian review is the Observer review...both count.

 

Also, UV is her other album with no bad songs. HM starts so well, but the end is a major let down. DLMBM is so poor compared to TOW, and 24 is rather mediocre. I also think Swan Song is highly overrated. 

 

The Other Woman and Guns & Roses are literally right there 

[FallingCherry 7,731]

@@Elle I feel you so much. I really do. When you talked about the way you cried on California, well, it did the same to me on Love song. I was smiling lot through a part of the song, and then she sang "you know that I just die to make you proud" and my tears instantly came out like a tsunami and it hit me really hard. Even after maybe 15 times listening to this song, I can't help but cry. Same for California.

I love that you shared such a personal aspect of your life. I have so much respect for you and it's really nice when people share their experiences. One thing I've been noticing is how much this album hits people. I think Lana deeply touched our souls with this record

[Fingertips 72,117]

crying to How to Disappear and California rn

[LanaBoi 1,810]

That other Guardian review is the Observer review...both count.

 

Also, UV is her other album with no bad songs. HM starts so well, but the end is a major let down. DLMBM is so poor compared to TOW, and 24 is rather mediocre. I also think Swan Song is highly overrated. 

 

 

Guns and Roses says hi. 

[SparkleJumpropeNoose 8,749]

Guns and Roses says hi. 

wow guns and roses slander how uninspired and overrated 

[trailer park 248]

I'd only listened to a tiny part of the demo version of bar so the modified version on the album was pretty much a new song for me... I really like it

 

We play the Eagles down in Malibu 

[LanaBoi 1,810]

wow guns and roses slander how uninspired and overrated 

 

 

yeah cause I choose which songs I don't like based on popular opinion /s

[War In My Mind 2,995]

I've had quite some time with this new version of bar and I still be singing the old lyrics to it. 

I like a scorn track better than a love song what can I say

[ilovetati 15,295]

The Other Woman and Guns & Roses are literally right there 

 

Guns and Roses is the deluxe version - I mean standard. And The Other Woman is stunning, girl. The production and vocals are out of this world...that's a Nina Simone cover done well.

[Wynwood 19,966]

im starting to enjoy Love song now. it used to seem like a low point in the record, but now i see her for who she truly is, a bop

[WetCoast 396]

and I'm starting to like cinnamon girl now, her mind ugh

[Edelgard 1,722]

im starting to enjoy Love song now. it used to seem like a low point in the record, but now i see her for who she truly is, a bop

How can one even think that

Honestly it’s so magical and dreamy

The lyrics aren’t the best she ever wrote I guess but the melody makes up for it 100%

[Wynwood 19,966]

and I'm starting to like cinnamon girl now, her mind ugh

there was a point where you didnt like cinnamon girl??        

[WetCoast 396]

there was a point where you didnt like cinnamon girl??