Lana Del Rey

[Byron The Bulb]

I've mentioned this fine piece of ass a couple of times in the CTDWAT thread, but idk if anyone even reads that shit anymore. Anyway, the third single for her upcoming album (cover above) dropped today (video below) and it's just as good as the first two, if not better. She's been the subject of a lot of bloggy handwringing over whether or not she's "authentic" or just a cynical product of extra-savvy label hype, and while I wouldn't be shocked if payola has played a role in getting her as much coverage on tastemaking websites as she has, I find it hard to care about that stuff when the songs are this good. I mean, seriously. It's nearly 2012. Authenticity has been dead for at least 30 years. In any case, these songs are the The Sun Also Rises for our current Lost Generation. I might actually spend real honest to God money on the album when it comes out.

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die (Official Audio)

LANA DEL REY-VIDEO GAMES

LANA DEL REY-BLUE JEANS

 

[Incandenza]

Michael Jackson nose.

 

[Byron The Bulb]

The kinda bad plastic surgery only adds to the "wasted California youth" vibe, so

 

[Byron The Bulb]

Also way to make it all about looks, you misogynistic ass.

 

[Brooklyn Zoo]

She's good, but I don't see anything authentic from a girl who looks like she time-traveled from the 70s. No one wears their hair like she does in "Video Games". I want someone who mirrors how fucked up things are right now. Like Kreayshawn.

 

[Byron The Bulb]

She's good, but I don't see anything authentic from a girl who looks like she time-traveled from the 70s. No one wears their hair like she does in "Video Games".

Hang out with more white people.

Also basically the whole point of the "Video Games" video is to telescope the last like 40-50 years of stereotypical SoCal imagery into a big confused jumble.

 

[The Coat Is My Father]

The first post in this thread is the most Byron-ic post in TSM history.

 

[Incandenza]

I was expecting to hate these songs—not due to any hipster-credibility issues, but because I hate new music almost as much as I hate people whining about artistic credibility—but these songs are actually p. good. Man.

 

[KOAB]

Lana Del Rey - The End of the World (Live) I liked her better like this

 

[Incandenza]

Can she act? I want to cast her as the lead in a new film version of the Joan Didion novel Play It As It Lays.

 

[KOAB]

#09 Lizzy Grant I wasn't ready to lose Lizzy Grant but the music is still good.

 

[Agent of Oblivion]

Boring cell phone commercial girl music

 

[BUTT]

these songs are the The Sun Also Rises for our current Lost Generation.

 

[Mickey Massuco]

She's been the subject of a lot of bloggy handwringing over whether or not she's "authentic" or just a cynical product of extra-savvy label hype, and while I wouldn't be shocked if payola has played a role in getting her as much coverage on tastemaking websites as she has, I find it hard to care about that stuff when the songs are this good. I mean, seriously. It's nearly 2012. Authenticity has been dead for at least 30 years.

Can you go into more depth on this? What's the relation between payola getting someone positive coverage on places like Pitchfork? (I have a feeling of deja vu with this question). What's extra-savvy label hype? What's the definition of someone whose authentic, just an artist for whom every aspect of the music making process has to do with the music itself and not outside interests? I also don't think authenticity has been dead for thirty years, there have been plenty of artists, in music and elsewhere, who have made a living doing what they've wanted to do and being pretty damn good at it. You might have just been using hyperbole there.

As far as her music itself, it reminds me of a second rate Charlotte Gainsbourg, from production to vocals to lyrics. It's good, but not that good.

 

[Mickey Massuco]

Also post in my Drake thread son. Your opinion on him is quite pertinent because of all the different hats you wear, critically speaking, since many of those different groups seem to have differing opinions on the man.

 

[Byron The Bulb]

Can you go into more depth on this? What's the relation between payola getting someone positive coverage on places like Pitchfork? (I have a feeling of deja vu with this question). What's extra-savvy label hype? What's the definition of someone whose authentic, just an artist for whom every aspect of the music making process has to do with the music itself and not outside interests? I also don't think authenticity has been dead for thirty years, there have been plenty of artists, in music and elsewhere, who have made a living doing what they've wanted to do and being pretty damn good at it. You might have just been using hyperbole there.

Hipster Runoff wrote a couple of big dumb posts on her that effectively sum up most of the "she's nothing but a product of industry hype!" arguments. I don't feel like getting into all of the well-nigh TMZ-esque details, but the basic story is that she's a rich girl named Lizzy Grant who used industry connections to get a recording contract, and when she failed to achieve any kind of success using her real name, her handlers "repackaged" her as the uber-indie friendly "Lana Del Rey" and went on a PR blitz to drum up a bunch of astroturf hype for her on blogs/pitchfork. I'm sure that all or most of this is true, but who cares, really? So what if Lana Del Rey has record execs on speed dial? So what if Nas witnessed from his folks' pad, scribbled in his notepad, and created his life? So what if "Bob Dylan" was a Jew from Minnesota? Why can't we just focus on the music??

As far as her music itself, it reminds me of a second rate Charlotte Gainsbourg, from production to vocals to lyrics.

They really don't sound anything alike :-\

Also post in my Drake thread son. Your opinion on him is quite pertinent because of all the different hats you wear, critically speaking, since many of those different groups seem to have differing opinions on the man.

Uh, some of his songs are nice for background listening, I guess? He comes across as kind of an asshole sometimes? Sorry, I don't care enough about Drake at this point to form a real opinion about him.

 

[Byron The Bulb]

Boring cell phone commercial girl music

 

[Mickey Massuco]

I think that's the point, regarding them not being that alike. They're not that alike because Del Rey seems more cookie cutter, to me anyway. I guess that relates to the legitimacy of the indie cred. Charlotte's songs sound so much more lush, the production is more varied and experimental and her vocal range is a lot better. Also, she has more interesting things to say. I compared them because they're both indie favourites I guess.

Disappointed about Drake, I find it hard to believe that you post in the hip hop thread as much as you do, enjoy courting dissent with your musical opinions as much as you do and you don't have an opinion on one of the most divisive figures in rap in a long time.

 

[Brooklyn Zoo]

He may be divisive in Canada, but over here, anyone who like Drake is probably a girl or a fag. You can't walk around listening to Drake and not expect to get what the fuck looks. That street cred stuff in the Drake thread kinda holds weight. If you don't live a decadent lifestyle or have gone through some shit, you better be a crazy ass lyricist, funny, witty, or have an amazing personality. Drake has none of those and his music, at least the 20 songs they play on Hot 97, is really an insult to anyone's intelligence. Girls quote Drake like he's Alexander Pope. He deserves no praise.

 

[Mickey Massuco]

lol yeah because Pitchfork and The Source are based in Canada.

 

[Brooklyn Zoo]

I'm talking about real people.

 

[Mickey Massuco]

...

 

[Brooklyn Zoo]

Is Pitchfork supposed to matter?

 

[Mickey Massuco]

I've taken it to the proper thread.

 

[Byron The Bulb]

He may be divisive in Canada, but over here, anyone who like Drake is probably a girl or a fag. You can't walk around listening to Drake and not expect to get what the fuck looks. That street cred stuff in the Drake thread kinda holds weight. If you don't live a decadent lifestyle or have gone through some shit, you better be a crazy ass lyricist, funny, witty, or have an amazing personality. Drake has none of those and his music, at least the 20 songs they play on Hot 97, is really an insult to anyone's intelligence. Girls quote Drake like he's Alexander Pope. He deserves no praise.

Damn son.

 

[Mickey Massuco]

Are you posting on tape delay?

 

[Byron The Bulb]

I just woke up.

 

[Mickey Massuco]

Right but everything has already been laid out in the Drake thread. It's like making a post in the NBA offseason thread about whether or not you think the lockout is going to end.

Cowboy Numbers really liked that post too btw

 

[Brooklyn Zoo]

You liked it too, don't front.

 

[Byron The Bulb]

Right but everything has already been laid out in the Drake thread. It's like making a post in the NBA offseason thread about whether or not you think the lockout is going to end.

I clicked this thread before I clicked ont he Drake thread goddamn get off my back mom.