by Clare Flynn
In my opinion, Lana Del Rey is one of the most influential artists in music today. With artists such as Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish crediting her as inspiration for their songwriting, Lana Del Rey rarely disappoints. The artist announced her newest studio album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd, back in December after releasing the lead single with the same title, coming as a surprise to fans.
Two more singles were released before the album, “A&W” and “The Grants.” The latter opens with a choir and tells the story of the artist’s family, whereas “A&W” features a trap beat.. Producer Jack Antonoff shared that “A&W” is his favorite song that he’s ever done with Lana, and the fans seemed to agree with him.
As for the album tracks, the trap beat sound is found once again on “Peppers” and “Taco Truck x VB.” There are also many piano ballads, including “Sweet” and “Candy Necklace.” Interludes featuring Judah Smith and Jon Batiste are also found on the album, despite much controversy surrounding statements made in the past by Judah Smith.
Also featured on the album are SYML, RIOPY, Father John Misty, Bleachers, and Tommy Genesis. In addition, Margaret Qualley provides a spoken word outro on “Taco Truck x VB.” While the number of features may appear overwhelming, each constituent significantly contributes to the success of the songs.
Although Lana Del Rey’s music has shifted from the style found on earlier albums such as Born to Die and Ultraviolence, it is lovely to see her songwriting and voice mature over time as she feels more comfortable sharing her life experiences. Despite its recent release, Ocean Blvd is already a classic in Lana’s discography that paves a new direction for her career.
