Ultraviolence (album)

''Ultraviolence'' is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, released on June 13, 2014, by Polydor and Interscope Records. Originally dismissing the possibility of releasing another record after her major-label debut '' Born to Die'' (2012), Del Rey began planning its follow-up in 2013. Production continued into 2014, at which time she heavily collaborated with Dan Auerbach to revamp what she initially considered to be the completed record. The album saw additional contributions from producers such as Paul Epworth, Greg Kurstin, Daniel Heath, and Rick Nowels-based sound than Del Rey's previous releases.

''Ultraviolence'' received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising the album's lyricism, cohesiveness, production and Del Rey's vocal performance. The album was frequently ranked by various publications as among the best albums of the year as well as the decade, with Metacritic citing it as the 13th-most frequently mentioned album in critics "year-end" lists in 2014. ''Ultraviolence'' became a global success, debuting at number one in eleven countries, including the United States with first-week sales of 182,000 copies, becoming the best-selling debut week of Del Rey's career and reached the top five in over twenty territories.

To promote the album, five singles were released, "West Coast", "Shades of Cool", " Ultraviolence", " Brooklyn Baby" and "Black Beauty". In May 2015, Del Rey embarked on The Endless Summer Tour featuring live shows with singers Courtney Love and Grimes, to support the album. It started on May 7, 2015 and ended on June 16, 2015.

Background and production

After the release of '' Born to Die'' in 2012, Del Rey dismissed the idea of releasing another album, because she had "already said everything hewanted to say." However, by February 2013, Del Rey had started work on an album saying, "It's a little more stripped down but still cinematic and dark. I've been working on it really slowly but I love everything I've done. I've been writing in Santa Monica and I know what the record sounds like. Now I just have to finish it. Musically I've worked with the same three guys". She mentioned that one of the songs off the album would be called "Black Beauty". When the demo version leaked in July, Del Rey stated "I do feel discouraged, yeah. I don't really know what to put on the record. But I guess I could just put them on and see what happens. Each time I write... I'll never write a song if I don't think it's going to be perfect for the record." She also stated that she was writing "low-key and stripped back" songs and was working with Dan Heath, her then boyfriend Barrie-James O'Neill and that she wanted to work with Lou Reed.

In October, Del Rey said about the prospect of a new album: "When people ask me about it, I just have to be honest—I really don't know. I don't want to say, 'Yeah, definitely—the next one's better than this one', because I don't really hear a next one. My muse is very fickle. She only comes to me sometimes, which is annoying."

By January 2014, Del Rey and Dan Auerbach were rumored to be working together at Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee, and he was said to be producing her upcoming album.

Del Rey and Auerbach were initially scheduled to work together for three days but ended up spending six weeks recording a full album. On February 20, Del Rey posted a picture of herself and Auerbach on Twitter with the caption: "Me and Dan Auerbach are excited to present you ''Ultraviolence''." About working with Del Rey, Auerbach later said: "She impressed me every day. There were moments when she was fighting me. I could sense that maybe she didn't want to have anybody think she wasn't in control because I'm sure it's really hard to be a woman in the music business. So we bumped heads a little bit, but at the end of the day we were dancing to the songs". The artist stated that the album draws inspiration from the West Coast, as well as from Brooklyn, New York. In addition, it also features heavy guitars and jazz tones. Del Rey also stated that the inclusion of Auerbach was last-minute; the two had met in New York City when she believed that the record was finished. She characterized their time in the studio as having the opportunity to "do what we wanted to do."

On the release of ''Ultraviolence'', she reaffirmed her earlier reluctance to make another album, saying, "I mean, I still feel that way, but with this album I felt less like I had to chronicle my journeys and more like I could just recount snippets in my recent past that felt exhilarating to me".

Content

The sound of ''Ultraviolence'' was characterized as psychedelic rock, dream pop, desert rock with some elements of blues rock, soft rock and indie rock.

The first song on the album, "Cruel World", is the longest song on the album, clocking in at six minutes and thirty-nine seconds. A break-up song, with 70s-style rock guitars and reverb, Del Rey considers this as her favorite track off the album.

In the title track, " Ultraviolence", Del Rey directly references the Crystals' "He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)" in the chorus, which she had also heard a rendition of by Hole. "Shades of Cool" was described by ''Consequence of Sound'' as "a slow and slightly gloomy ballad marked by reverberated guitars, slight atmospherics, and Del Rey's vocals that alternate between a hushed whisper and ephemeral wailing". The song consists of "a chiming guitar, slow-burn bass line, and swelling orchestra" which surround Del Rey's vocals. Del Rey said that she wrote " Brooklyn Baby" with Lou Reed in mind. She was supposed to work with him and flew to New York City to meet him, but he died the day she arrived. He is referenced in the line "And my boyfriend's in a band/He plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed".

"West Coast" is a mid-tempo song with a psychedelic rock and soft rock verse and a surf rock slow-tempo chorus. Musically, its composition is built around reggae drum fills, blues-influenced guitar riffs, and draws influences from indie rock music.

"Sad Girl" was written about being "the other woman" in an affair. Del Rey wrote "Money Power Glory" as a reaction to her rise to fame. About writing it, she says, "I was in more of a sardonic mood. Like, if all that I was actually going to be allowed to have by the media was money, loads of money, then fuck it... What I actually wanted was something quiet and simple: a writer's community and respect".

"Fucked My Way Up to the Top" was written about an undisclosed female singer who, at first, mocked her for her supposedly unauthentic style, but then "stole and copied it" and became successful with it. Asked about the meaning of the song, Del Rey said, "It's commentary, like, 'I know what you think of me', and I'm alluding to that. You know, I have slept with a lot of guys in the industry, but none of them helped me get my record deals. Which is annoying."

Release and promotion

During the premiere of her short film '' Tropico'' on December 4, 2013, Del Rey explained to the audience that "I really just wanted us all to be together so I could try and visually close out my chapter f_her_second_studio_album_''Born_to_Die''_(2012)_and_third_extended_play_''Paradise_(Lana_Del_Rey_EP).html" "title="extended_play.html" ;"title="f her second studio album ''Born to Die'' (2012) and third extended play">f her second studio album ''Born to Die'' (2012) and third extended play ''Paradise (Lana Del Rey EP)">Paradise