Lana Del Rey’s 2014 album Ultraviolence cemented her position as the world’s queen of dark pop. With its haunting production, evocative lyrics, and vintage Hollywood melancholy, the album embraces a new ambiance that is hard to forget: romance, tragedy, and self-destruction. Throughout Ultraviolence’s deep dive of love and longing, there are well known gems but hidden ones as well.
Ultraviolence was released in June 2014 as Del Rey’s third studio album to be her darkest and most sultry album yet. Produced primarily by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, the alternative album is more gritty and rock-inspired than anything Del Rey had released before. Though tackling more mature themes, the 11 track standard and 15 track deluxe album reached number one in multiple countries. Here are the most hyped-up and underappreciated tracks to take a look at.
While lead single “West Coast” is the highest streamed song from the album, the fan favorite notably has resided with “Brooklyn Baby.” One of the more cheekier and upbeat songs on the album, “Brooklyn Baby” is adored for its aesthetic exploration of hipster culture. Yet although this song is fun, it is considerably less lyrically daring than Lana’s other tracks on this album. The playfulness certainly contrasts with the grungier atmosphere of the rest of Ultraviolence. And though “Brooklyn Baby” is an evocative and interesting song, it lacks the vulnerability that charges the rest of Del Rey’s emotionally nuanced work on this album. The bottom line is that “Brooklyn Baby” is memorable, but not representative of the true depth of Ultraviolence, making it the most overhyped track on the album.
Perhaps this raw emotional honesty is best shown on track seven “Pretty When You Cry,” the most underrated song off of Ultraviolence. From production, to impressive lyricism, to an incredible showcase of vocal talent, “Pretty When You Cry” encapsulates every aspect that makes Del Rey so memorable. The stripped down quality and minimal instrumentation exposes Del Rey’s haunting vocals beautifully while creating a sorrowful tone. From slight voice cracks to breathy sounds, the listener feels as if they are witnessing an intimate moment of confession from Del Rey as she sings about unrequited love and emotional abandonment. But what is most notable about this song is that the recording was fully improvised, cementing Del Rey’s true commitmentment to authenticity in her storytelling. While the rest of Ultraviolence leans into cinematic intensity, “Pretty When You Cry” is quietly devastating yet a perfect encapsulation of the theme of dark beauty. Though often overlooked, this track is exquisite both sonically and thematically, making it the most underrated track on the album.
From track 1 to 15, Ultraviolence encapsulates darkly beautiful in every way. Whether you are a longterm fan or a newcomer, it is definitely worth giving it a listen!
