Power Ranking: The Track List for Lana Del Rey’s ‘Ultraviolence’
Interscope
Preamble: I love Lana Del Rey. And I love every track title on her upcoming sophomore album, Ultraviolence, which just got a release date of June 16. How much do I love them?
(Actual track listing, “in order,” at the bottom.)
14–11: Classic Lana
14. “Brooklyn Baby”
Lana is known to recycle phrases or lines in her songs — the title of a recently surfaced old recording of hers, “Meet Me in the Pale Moonlight,” was later echoed in a line in “Summertime Sadness.” Which is totally OK, by the way — it’s evidence that she actually has ideas and moods she gravitates toward; y’know, like an old-timey songwriter. “Brooklyn Baby” hints at “Diet Mountain Dew”/“So Legit” (a.k.a the Gaga Dis Track) territory. Lana’s New York–themed stuff always comes off a little more earnest/autobiographical than the dark Hollywoodland pastiche she’s perhaps more well known for.
13. “West Coast”
The lead single, which is definitely a grower, still has one of the most on-the-nose titles in Lana’s catalogue. Like, if there were a retro-inspired pop singer in Grand Theft Auto V named, I don’t know, Ava De La Reina or something, her hit single would be called “West Coast.”
12. “Old Money”
Who’s excited for another gauzy Super 8 Kennedys-inspired music video?!
11. “Money Power Glory”
Speaking of Rocky, I know money is the reason we exist, but curation/programming is key. MPG < PMW.
10–8: Ultraviolent Lana
10. “Cruel World”
Lana one-ups Bananarama AND Kanye with her assessment of the extent of cruelty. I still can’t get over the fact that “Young and Beautiful” is Kim Kardashian’s favorite song, by the way. Or this. Also, Wikipedia tells me that Cruel World is also the title of a 2005 horror comedy starring Edward Furlong about “a psychotic man who loses a reality game show and subsequently kills the host. He uses the house where the show took place to film his own reality show. In the show, several contestants perform challenges, and the losers are killed rather than being sent home.” I’ve updated my Netflix queue accordingly.
9. “Ultraviolence”
How curious am I about how Lana appropriates Clockwork Orange themes and a tougher, more late-’60s sonic palette on her album? Very curious!
8. “Shades of Cool”
This sounds like a graduate paper, unless it is actually about a cool pair of sunglasses, in which case it sounds like a graduate paper by Lana Del Rey.
7–4: Topical Lana
7. “Guns and Roses”
PLEASE ADDRESS THIS.
6. “The Other Woman”
Just in time for the Summer of the Sidepiece!
5: Careful, Lana
5. “Black Beauty”
4–3: Sad Lana
4. “Pretty When You Cry”
Good, because full disclosure, I have written this entire power ranking while hyperventilating and in tears.
3. “Sad Girl”
AND THIS ISN’T HELPING.
2: Ski Mask Lana
2. “Florida Kilos”
I think this is a play on “Florida Keys,” in which case Lana is a genius and should immediately be cast in the Irvine Welsh Spring Breakers sequel.
1: LANAAAAA
1. “FUCKED MY WAY UP TO THE TOP”
(THIS WILL BE AWKWARD IF ULTRAVIOLENCE DOES NOT DEBUT AT NO. 1.)
Actual Track Listing:
- “Cruel World”
- “Ultraviolence”
- “Shades of Cool”
- “Brooklyn Baby”
- “West Coast”
- “Sad Girl”
- “Pretty When You Cry”
- “Money Power Glory”
- “Fucked My Way Up to the Top”
- “Old Money”
- “The Other Woman”
BONUS TRACKS:
“Black Beauty”
“Guns and Roses”
“Florida Kilos”
Filed Under: Music, Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence
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