Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence (2LP/Gatefold/180G)
Ultraviolence is Lana Del Rey’s third studio album, released in 2014, and a darker, more guitar-driven turn in her evolving sound. Produced primarily by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, the album moves away from lush pop orchestration toward a rawer, psychedelic, and alternative rock-influenced style.
The record features standout tracks such as West Coast, Shades of Cool, and Brooklyn Baby, showcasing Del Rey’s smoky vocals against reverb-soaked guitars, live drums, and vintage-inspired production. The songs unfold slowly and moodily, emphasising atmosphere, emotional tension, and introspective storytelling. Themes of love, obsession, vulnerability, and self-destruction run throughout, presented with cinematic intensity and lyrical ambiguity.
Ultraviolence has a deliberately analogue, hazy sound that gives the album a cohesive, immersive feel. The production favours space and texture over polish, allowing performances to breathe and adding to the record’s brooding character.
Often regarded as one of her most critically acclaimed releases, Ultraviolence is a bold and uncompromising album that deepened Lana Del Rey’s artistic identity. Its fusion of alternative rock, psychedelia, and confessional songwriting continues to resonate with listeners and critics alike.