Ultraviolence – Lana Del Rey (2xLP)

Ultraviolence (2014) is Lana Del Rey’s brooding and cinematic second studio album, produced primarily by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. Stripping back the orchestral gloss of Born to Die, she leans into a rawer, guitar-driven sound that evokes vintage noir and faded California glamour. The record drifts through themes of desire, self-destruction, and melancholy, carried by Del Rey’s languid vocals and lush yet shadowy arrangements. Songs like “West Coast,” “Shades of Cool,” and “Brooklyn Baby” blend nostalgia with unease, embodying the album’s slow, intoxicating pull. Ultraviolence refines Del Rey’s cinematic aesthetic into something more mature and confident — less performative, more lived-in. Each track feels drenched in mood and atmosphere, like a film unspooling in slow motion. The album’s fusion of dream pop, psychedelia, and classic rock textures creates a sound that is both timeless and unmistakably her own. Nearly a decade on, Ultraviolence remains one of Del Rey’s most cohesive and emotionally resonant statements.

Reviews

“Ultraviolence is immersive, narcotic, and gorgeous — the sound of an artist fully embracing her obsessions.” – Pitchfork

“A stunning record of lush darkness and emotional honesty.” – The Guardian

“Lana Del Rey turns her cinematic sadness into something transcendent.” – Rolling Stone