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A Review of Lana Del Rey’s “Chemtrails Over The Country Club”

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mass Amherst chapter.

Lana Del Rey has struck again. Her new album’s release on March 19, entitled Chemtrails Over The Country Club, has officially marked the beginning of a new era. Having been a Lana stan since the early days, it would be an understatement to say that I have never been more excited to listen to this debut. Therefore, I took the liberty to produce my review of Chemtrails Over The Country Club, ranking each song in my preferred order. 

Lana Del Rey performing on stage
Photo by Justin Higuchi distributed under a CC BY 2.0 license

Taking the top spot is “Wild At Heart.” This song is simply perfection! It reminded me a lot of her Norman Fucking Rockwell album in terms of instrumentals and vocals. It is 100% my favorite song on the album. Coming in a close second is “Chemtrails Over The Country Club.” This song found its release in January, prior to the release of its album. In my opinion, it set the tone for the rest of the album, and what a high bar that was! Next, we have another one of my favorite songs “Tulsa Jesus Freak.” I would say that this song, as well as the album itself, is among some of her best work. The vocals in this song are simply beautiful. 

“Dark But Just A Game” takes the number four spot. Yet another hauntingly amazing song produced by Lana. This song has a lot of interesting contrast within it, diverging from her normal style, and essentially blends multiple songs into one. I, personally, loved the concept! In fifth, “Yosemite.” The melody of this song is seamless. I would characterize it as the perfect summer driving song. 

girl on roadtrip
Photo by averie woodard from Unslpash

 

Coming in a close sixth is “Dance Till We Die.” I think this song is flawless and I have absolutely no criticism. Again, seamless melody, and I loved the shift mid-song. “Let Me Love You Like A Woman” takes number seven. The instrumentals are nice and the harmonies are some of the prettiest I have heard from her.

The seventh and eighth are almost tied. In seventh, “Not All Who Wander Are Lost,” and in eighth, “Breaking Up Slowly.” Both songs have a peaceful sense and a slower rhythm to them, which I liked. Next, I would have to place “White Dress” in ninth. This song is especially unique in relation to Lana’s other music. Personally, I did not enjoy it as much as the other songs on Chemtrails Over The Country Club, but nevertheless, I was impressed by the fact that I encountered no bad songs in this release. 

Last, but not least, “For Free” takes the final spot. The harmonies in this song are astonishing, but I have to admit that it is my least favorite in regards to the others. 

Overall, Chemtrails Over The Country Club served Norman Fucking Rockwell mixed with Ultraviolence vibes – I really can’t complain about that! Overall, I would rate this album a solid 9/10. I think these songs are genius and beautiful, but still have a sweet spot for Lana’s early releases, such as Born To Die. Chemtrails Over The Country Club is not my favorite album, but it is definitely in the top three. Can’t wait to see what Lana will release next!

Ashley Rooney

U Mass Amherst '24

Ashley is a freshman studying political science and international relations at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is considering a minor in journalism. Born and raised in Boston, MA, Ashley enjoys the urban life, but spends her summers working on Cape Cod, offering her a nice break from the buzz of the city. She is a coffee connoisseur, dog lover, and avid historical drama watcher.
Contributors from the University of Massachusetts Amherst