Lana Del Rey’s long-awaited debut, “Born to Die” leaked today. Since we don’t want to implicate any employees who may have illegally downloaded the album, we have chosen to mask the identities of two who listened to it together while sending instant messages to one another. Enjoy!
MUSIC NERD 1: OK i just clicked start
MUSIC NERD 2: Weird how the first four songs are the ones that already came out
MUSIC NERD 1: Off to the races was already out?
I wonder if this is the final order though
MUSIC NERD 2: Right.
How did you know she quoted Nabokov, as you said earlier while mine was downloading? Is it just that there’s a song called “Lolita”?
Or did you rush ahead and listen to a little of each tune?
MUSIC NERD 1: No, in another song she sings “Light of my life, Fire of my Loins”
I listened to the snippet of one of them
Maybe it was diet mountain dew?
Or off to the races
I hope “Born to Die,” (the song) isn’t really the album opener
It seems like it would be a perfect final song
MUSIC NERD 2: Yeah, I agree
The only thing i don’t like about the title track is that she sounds like she’s rushing when she says that “and the road gets tough I don’t know why” line
She loves using that distorted dude who goes “woah”
MUSIC NERD 1:
I noticed the Woah too!
MUSIC NERD 2: Ha! She does Hit ‘em Up style!
MUSIC NERD 1: Wait she covers it?
MUSIC NERD 2: No, no
Just that you really nailed that
MUSIC NERD 1: Oh thanks!
MUSIC NERD 2: This “Off to the Races” tune is cool. I don’t think I’ve heard it before.
MUSIC NERD 1: The narration in the verses is a bit much though. and the girly hiccups in the chorus… Barf
I mean she sounds like the caricature that she’s always making herself out to be
MUSIC NERD 2: I think she likes using a bunch of different voices to be different characters
MUSIC NERD 1: Like Nicki Minaj!
Are you on the next song?
MUSIC NERD 2: Blue Jeans
yeah
Blu (Cantrell) Jeans
MUSIC NERD 1: Hahah
I think more often than not, she opens her songs by singing the song title
I’m getting more of an Evanescence feel here
You think it’s bad if we admit we have a leaked copy?
MUSIC NERD 2: Nah. The world probably has a leaked copy.
This sounds like a different version of Blue Jeans, but maybe that’s because I never listened to this one as much as “Video Games.”
In this one I want her to go into the “Deny ya may-kah” part of that Alice in Chains song, Man in the Box or that whispered part that I never understood the words of in Wicked Game by Chris Isaak. The part is right after the “I will love you ‘til the end of time” part. Does that make sense?
MUSIC NERD 1: I can’t remember that song
I can’t stop the flow of the LDR!
Maybe while video games is on
MUSIC NERD 2: Nah. Don’t stop it. Not really worth it.
MUSIC NERD 1: I will at least say this recording of Video Games is more of a pleasure to hear after seeing that live SNL performance over and over
When she sang it on TV, it seemed lower and all the words were stuck in the back of her throat
MUSIC NERD 2: Yeah, i think she definitely did sing well when she recorded it.
OK, here we go, “Diet Mtn Dew.”
I think it’s funny when artists title a song after a product, but have to change the spelling so it’s not an infringement of copyright.
MUSIC NERD 1: Yeah I mean, I really appreciate her invoking a gross carbonated beverage
that makes me respect her more
MUSIC NERD 2: Are you anti-carbonated beverages?
Or just anti-Diet Mountain Dew?
MUSIC NERD 1: No I’m not being sarcastic
Ido think it’s cool she’s talking about something unattractive
MUSIC NERD 2: So Orange Fingers™ doesn’t do soda?
MUSIC NERD 1: Of course, if she was caught drinking it, she would probably make it look supersexy or whatever
MUSIC NERD 2: With a crazy straw
MUSIC NERD 1: No, Orange Fingers loves soda
MUSIC NERD 2: Oh OK
MUSIC NERD 1: I’m sipping a diet coke as we speak!
MUSIC NERD 2: I wonder if there are any instances where the makers of the product turned around and use the song for ads.
The Clash had the song Koka Kola and Stone Temple Pilots had Vasoline
MUSIC NERD 1: Haha true
I would love it if Scott Weiland was the spokesman for Vaseline
OK this one sounds like Bittersweet” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen> Symphony
MUSIC NERD 2: “Hi, I’m Scott Weiland from rock group Stone Temple Pilots. And when my hands are dry, there’s one remedy I always turn to.”
MUSIC NERD 1: Hahaha
MUSIC NERD 2: I liked that “Diet Mtn Dew” tune. Her man didn’t wanna get buck wild on that one.
Yeah, this “National Anthem” is a bittersweet symphony of sorts.
MUSIC NERD 1: I like the chorus of National Anthem, but i’m kind of getting tired of her
MUSIC NERD 2:
MUSIC NERD 1: I predict my patience will run out in under two songs
MUSIC NERD 2:
MUSIC NERD 1: I’m not quite there yet i don’t think
MUSIC NERD 2: Nope. she’s saying something else. phew.
MUSIC NERD 1: Blegh i don’t know, this isn’t gelling for me
MUSIC NERD 2: I’m gonna soldier through.
Will I be all alone?!
MUSIC NERD 1: Maybe the next one will be better
This whispery part “of success!”
MUSIC NERD 2: This “Dark Paradise” song sounds like they’d play it after “Wind Beneath My Wings” as the credits roll.
You know, when they’re showing who did like the key grip and who the best boy was.
MUSIC NERD 1: Ooh good call!
Hahah
Totally
It’s got that big anthemic ’80s feel to it
MUSIC NERD 2:
MUSIC NERD 1: Totally
But i mean, sometimes she has so many different little tangents in these songs, i know it’s supposed to Be interesting
But to me, its incohesive
She’s the best when it comes to choruses
I think she sucks at writing verses
Just, in general
MUSIC NERD 2: Yeah. this “Radio” tune is a good example of that.
This is a little frustrating that i thought when i first heard her how original she sounded. And now we just keep saying “this sounds like this earlier song.”
So a lot of this…
is to me, sounding a lot like this…
MUSIC NERD 1: Hahaha
The visual is perfect
MUSIC NERD 2: But can’t you hear that a little too?
MUSIC NERD 1: I’d have to go back and listen to Tiffany
I feel like all these songs are meant to show off how sexy she is
Maybe that’s my bias
MUSIC NERD 2: I think that’s just one of the registers of her voice
There’s another one that’s just to show off how badass she is
MUSIC NERD 1: Yep
Now she’s ripping off Carmen the opera?
MUSIC NERD 2: I don’t know the music from that opera to know if she’s ripping off any melodies from it
I just know the one part that they used in “Up.”
MUSIC NERD 1: Musically this isn’t referencing the play
Just the theme of the opera
MUSIC NERD 2: Do you think if David Lynch were still as active as he was in the 80s, he’d bring Lana Del Rey into his fold?
MUSIC NERD 1: I could see her as the lady in the furnace
MUSIC NERD 2:
Is it my attention span or is it this “Million Dollar Man” song that’s lacking?
MUSIC NERD 1: This reminds me of when Madonna did her Dick Tracy album
It’s as overproduced and murky with too many strings’
But it’s trying to be all loungey
“He’s a Man with a Gun in His Hand”
“Wagin’ a war between good and evil can be a bore!”
MUSIC NERD 2: is that a Madonna line?
MUSIC NERD 1: Yeah
MUSIC NERD 2: Breathless Mahoney, right?
MUSIC NERD 1:
Hahah yes
MUSIC NERD 2: I wish I were the contrary music fan who was adamant about that album being her best.
MUSIC NERD 1: Well, i do have a a strong sentimental bond with it
But Like a Prayer was her best album ever
In my opinion
MUSIC NERD 2: I like the one with “Ray of Light” a lot.
MUSIC NERD 1:
MUSIC NERD 2: I think it’s actually called “Ray of Light,” right?
Lana Del Rey of light. Har har.
Man, i really hope this isn’t the final sequence.
They should have spaced out the hits a little bit more
This “Summertime Sadness” really sounds like filler upon first listen
Four more to go!
Please blow me away, next song!
MUSIC NERD 1: The marching band drums aren’t really used to great effect here
MUSIC NERD 2: [whispered]: “Pabst Blue Ribbon on ice”
MUSIC NERD 1: Ugh was that really a lyric?
Oh god
MUSIC NERD 2: That’ll be an oft-quoted line in the bars.
MUSIC NERD 1: I can’t,
Gag reflex
: -&
I’m so sick of that heavy electronic drone that’s on every track
I know that’s probably what makes her “gangsta”
But that’s part of what makes all of these songs sound the same
MUSIC NERD 2: Good point
I’m hearing a lot of “Nothing Compares 2 U” in the production too.
You?
MUSIC NERD 1: In this “Without You”?
Yeah i could see that
MUSIC NERD 2: Yup
MUSIC NERD 1: This album is boring
MUSIC NERD 2: I wonder if this album does truly get boring or is it my needy attention span?
MUSIC NERD 1: I’m sure it’s a bit of both
MUSIC NERD 2: Yeah. I wonder if I’ll ever have a relationship with another album that is as close as the ones that I’ve grown up with.
This “Lolita” song also uses Mr. Distortion saying, “Yeah!” on it.
MUSIC NERD 1: Ugh
Not a fan. It’s official
MUSIC NERD 2: Do you think her star will continue to rise or will the rest of the world pull a “ANONYMOUS NAME OF MUSIC NERD 1”?
MUSIC NERD 1: Hmm
I’m hoping for a “ANONYMOUS NAME OF MUSIC NERD 1”
MUSIC NERD 2: SNL=strike one, Samey songs=strike two
Boringly long album=strike three?
MUSIC NERD 1: Everyone says her performance on Jools Holland was so great
MUSIC NERD 2: I liked it
MUSIC NERD 1: I just don’t think she’s a good performer in general
Like she’s sorta weak
It’s nothing like listening say, to Adele
Whose voice is strong. That woman was meant to be a singer
Lana Del Rey is just an artsy poseur
MUSIC NERD 2: It’s tough, because i think those songs that leaked this summer were great, but you really can’t make interesting music in your basement anymore without the whole world wanting to barge in.
So like as soon as those songs leaked, she was probably aware of people’s perceptions
and as scared as she looked on SNL
MUSIC NERD 1: I guess you’re right
MUSIC NERD 2: This “Lucky Ones” song is okay, but yeah, I’m not super eager to give this album another listen in its entirety.
maybe I’ll go back to it in a few days and I’ll be ready for it?
dunno.
MUSIC NERD 1: that’s worth a shot
i already erased it from my iTunes!
MUSIC NERD 2:
MUSIC NERD 1: nope!
MUSIC NERD 2: I give the first listen a B in total then
and you give it an F?
MUSIC NERD 1: I’d give it like, a C-minus
MUSIC NERD 2: okay then
