As a die-hard Lana Del Rey fan, I had quite a difficult time writing this article. Ranking all her albums from my personal point of view was very difficult. Some preface: this is obviously subjective. I would have them all tied for number one, but that would be a pretty boring list!
The list doesn’t include unreleased singles or Lizzy Grant albums, and instead exclusively features what you can find on Spotify. With all that being said, here are all of Lana Del Rey’s albums from my least to most favourites.
#8 – Blue Banisters
I think some people would agree with this. Unfortunately, this album did not do it for me. “Thunder” is still one of my number-one Lana songs, but overall, the album almost fell flat. I appreciate the softer aspect that it took, and of course, the lyrics are great. It was just missing that extra something. Overall, I give it a 7/10.
#7 – Paradise
My justification for this is that the original Paradise is only 8 songs. This album is nostalgic, sexy, and dark, all at the same time. “Ride” is such an absolute cultural gem that it will forever be immortalized. Paradise is great, but it’s just not the best album Lana has ever put out. My rating is 7.5/10.
#6 – Honeymoon
I know this is controversially low… and I agree. I love Honeymoon, I just don’t think it’s better than some of her other works. “Salvatore,” “24,” and “God knows I tried” are all amazing and spectacular. This is when the list starts to get incredibly hard for me. Honeymoon is so smooth and jazzy compared to some of her other works—Lana has even said that her favourite on this album is “Terrence Loves You.” Overall, Honeymoon gets an 8/10! It’s an amazing album, but not her best.
#5- Born To Die
An absolute reset for young girls online everywhere. Born To Die is a genuine Tumblr staple—I can see the lyric text posts right now. Some lyrics are a little controversial, but to listen to this album is to go back in time and be young(er) again. “Diet Mountain Dew,” “Radio,” and “Million Dollar Man” are my personal favourites. But nothing screams 2012/2013 like hearing “Summertime Sadness.” Overall, the nostalgia factor really helped this one get an 8.5/10.
#4 – Chemtrails over the Country Club
As her second-newest release, this one really spoke to me. From the discourse I’ve seen online, this rating is a little disputed. This album feels raw, timeless, and true to her emotions, which really helps her connect to her listeners. Lana gets a little more experimental around this album, with “White Dress” and “Tulsa Jesus Freak” sounding a little different than other Lana classics—but still spectacular. My favourites are “Dark But Just A Game” and “Wild At Heart.” This album gets a 9/10 from me. It’s so special and will continue to be.
#3 – Lust For Life
I don’t think this pick is controversial at all, Lust For Life is an absolute, complete masterpiece. With more hip-hop influences and jam-packed features, this album tops a lot of Lana’s other work. Features from Stevie Nicks, A$AP Rocky, Sean Lennon, and of course, The Weeknd, all helped in this beautiful album. My favourite songs on this are “Get Free” and “Groupie Love.” Fan favourites are “Love,” “Lust For Life” (feat. The Weeknd), and “Summer Bummer” (feat. A$AP Rocky and Playboi Carti). Overall, this album is a jaw-dropping 9.5/10.
#2 – Ultraviolence
This is also an obvious choice for a top LDR album. Dark, emotional, and moving, this album took my little heart by storm the first time I listened to it. I’m currently grieving a relationship, so listening to this album during those emotional rollercoasters is super helpful, and I feel very connected to her. My current favourites are “Black Beauty,” “Sad Girl,” and “Old Money.” Whenever I hear “Brooklyn Baby” and “West Coast,” it brings me back to 2014. Some consider this album the figurehead for the 2014 grunge/emo Tumblr era. I give this album a full, deserving 10/10!
#1 – Norman F**king Rockwell!
DUH. This one is an obvious number one for a lot of people, I think. Every time I listen to this album, I feel like I am in California (a place I’ve never visited) late at night, reminiscing about old lovers and mistakes. This album is engrained in my memory forever and continues to be my number-one album of all time, by anyone. The whole album is cohesive and dark, but still smooth. It has that punch but still lets you ride the waves with it. It’s an absolute masterpiece from start to finish. This piece of art exceeds any rating system on my scales, so it gets a bright and shiny 12/10!
As you can tell, Lana Del Rey is my absolute musical icon. I’m so excited for her next piece of work, and will always be listening. Take a listen to her discography for yourself if you haven’t yet, and form your own list! Happy listening!