Ultraviolence Reviews: 74 Metascore (DISCUSS REVIEWS ONLY)

[Rem 2,392]

It's the Herald-Sun (Murdoch press). I'm thankful they spelled 'Lana' correctly.

 

Also, this isn't really a review, more a discussion about the record, but William Bennett is one of my favourite artists/musicians who has been around in experimental/wild music since the late 1970's (http://www.allmusic.com/artist/whitehouse-mn0000820195) - the two are not 100% positive about UV and LDR, and they seem to get things about her that a lot of journalists just don't understand at all.

 

http://www.electronicbeats.net/en/features/conversations/william-bennett-and-lisa-blanning-on-lana-del-reys-ultraviolence/

Mess... THIS IS Exaclty how I feel about UV.

 

He took the words right of my mouth and said it better (the off key vocals, nasal, bad production, etc) compared to her previous release!!

 

 

But I've grown to love UV (obviously) instead comparing it to BTD OR Paradise.. I look at it as a separate project/album all together, so I can admire the album.

[Rem 2,392]

Anyway, that was a very interesting read.

[blingring 9]

 "I started exploring some of the early work, in particular the unreleased set of songs from 2005 recorded as May Jailer, and then she used her own name, Lizzie Grant. It’s interesting because I think people might say, “Oh, she would never have become famous if she’d been ordinary Lizzie Grant,” but I disagree with that. It would have just projected a completely different persona." - William Bennett

The most intelligent, well-written thing I've read about her (very smart) name change. Finally someone who gets it!

[FormerLanaFan 169]

Confront Magazine 4,5/5

http://www.confrontmagazine.com/2014/06/ultraviolence-by-lana-del-rey/

 

God Is In The TV 4/5

http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2014/06/27/lana-del-rey-ultraviolence-interscope/

 

 

EXAMINER.COM positive 

http://www.examiner.com/article/review-of-lana-del-rey-s-ultraviolence

[FormerLanaFan 169]

Excellent article

http://empirexl.wordpress.com/2014/06/27/everyone-hates-lana-del-rey/

 

"The lack of fulfillment both artists have experienced in their sexual relationships is the subtext of almost all of their music" (LDR and The Weekend).   

[ilovetati 15,295]

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/27/popcast-lana-del-rey-downcast-superstar/?partner=rss&emc=rss

[Kommander 3,260]

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/27/popcast-lana-del-rey-downcast-superstar/?partner=rss&emc=rss

 

It's really interesting and Jon Pareles is a Lana stan obviously 

[longtimeman 8,069]

This is more of a general LDR piece than a review, but it's of interest (and I don't think it's been posted here):

 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2014/06/20/323943849/darkness-comes-alive-the-paradox-of-lana-del-rey

[mermaid12 125]

Not a review, but one of the best pieces I've read about Lana. I could not agree more! It talks a lot about the people who accuse her of being anti feminist.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/lana-del-rey-the-latest-powerful-woman-that-we-want-to-see-as-just-another-toy-9573716.html

[veniceglitch 375]

Well, this is...different. (I guess someone is viewing her work through philosophy after all, ha.)
Lana Del Rey’s Deadly Religion of Self
 

"Lana Del Rey’s death fantasies indicate the spread of ego-centric secular humanism."

[Rem 2,392]

Sasha Geffen (crtic at COS who gave UV a 100)

 

http://youtu.be/Ah9K7ZHQRa4

[ilovetati 15,295]

Up to 75 after the 80 from Q Magazine was added. I think it will probably fall down after the 60 from Mojo is added (although there is also the 78 from Absolute Punk).

[longtimeman 8,069]

Well, this is...different. (I guess someone is viewing her work through philosophy after all, ha.)

Lana Del Rey’s Deadly Religion of Self

 

"Lana Del Rey’s death fantasies indicate the spread of ego-centric secular humanism."

 

I wouldn't call it philosophy - just the usual moralistic garbage from the religious right. I'd file it next to the 'Lana is a brainwashed puppet of the Illuminati' videos.

[ilovetati 15,295]

I hate that NYT is seemingly not doing an official review...could have been another very high score.

[longtimeman 8,069]

A couple of (generally positive) podcast reviews of UV - both of them show the time that the part of interest begins:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBbt7Xt6egM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg-TtwXj7W8

[slang 1,509]

It's always interesting to me when artists review other artists, so there's this place call thetalkhouse.com where that happens in an unpredictable and unsolicited way (I guess). So here's a review of Ultraviolence by the lead singer of White Lung. All in all not a terrible review, but LDR divides, and people often have different and widely ranging opinions on specific songs (even on LB). So she talks about her ups and downs with LDR and UV. I think the artist-review-artist idea balances things out, as they already have musical pundits review artists (with what kind of credentials, really?), and general public reviews of artists (e.g. Amazon).

 

http://music.thetalkhouse.com/talks/mish-way-white-lung-talks-lana-del-reys-ultraviolence/

 

 

At the same place Lou Reed did a review of Yeezus (highly positive). St. Vincent did a quirky (positive) review of Reflektor. To my knowledge BTD was not reviewed there, but Sadie Dupuis reviewed the Tropico video (negatively, though she may have liked the songs). 

[jazzmasters 158]

I still can't even believe how great this record is. She's from another world. I still can't believe I put my hands through her hair. Haha. 

[longtimeman 8,069]

I thought it was worth updating this thread to what will probably be close to the final score (I can't imagine too many other journals putting out reviews now, a month and a half after release). The Metascore is 75 (31 reviews), but more interesting is the breakdown: 22 positive, 8 mixed, and only 1 negative.

 

That's a pretty strong showing - I checked the highest scores this year, and aside from classic re-releases, the only records other than Roseanne Cash and St Vincent to get higher than 86, were only reviewed by very few (up to 10) reviewers. Combined with hitting #1 in so many countries, Lana can be proud of what she's achieved.