lana del rey

The self-styled Queen Of Coney Island delivers a stunning Dan 'Black Keys' Auerbach-produced follow-up to 2012's 'born to die'.

The astonishing single 'west coast' - with its gloriously opaque production & unexpected tempo shifts - sets the tone for an album which makes play both with the sonic trademarks established on the debut & equally interestingly, her glossy, magazine-friendly image. The album features some moments of striking self-awareness & clarity such as the dreamy, sardonically titled 'fucked my way to the top' (an answer to her most vituperative, not to mention sexist, critics, perhaps) & 'money power glory' (which feels like a nod to west coast hip hop's primary obsessions). "Every chorus clicks, the melodies soar and swoop, the better to demonstrate Del Rey's increased confidence in her voice." - The Guardian