Ranking Lana Del Rey’s albums

BETH WOJCIECHOWSKI
Managing Arts & Culture Editor

I’ve been a big fan of Lana Del Rey’s since I was in middle school, which was almost 10 years ago. Unlike most of the other artists I enjoyed in middle school, my love for Lana Del Rey has only grown as I’ve gotten older and I’ve gained the ability to appreciate her music at a deeper level. So, without further ado, here is my definitive ranking of all nine of Lana Del Rey’s albums.

9) “Blue Banisters” (2021)

This album, unfortunately, isn’t Lana’s best because of how forgettable it is. However, Lana’s worst album is as commendable as some other artists’ best albums. There are a couple songs I enjoyed on this album when it was first released, but it isn’t an album I go back and listen to regularly, as a lot of the album sounds like others she has since released.

8) “Chemtrails Over the Country Club” (2021)

I really enjoyed this album when it first came out, but looking back on it, it no longer stands out to me. The only song from this album I still regularly listen to is the titular track, “Chemtrails Over the Country Club,” which totally gives me the old Hollywood Americana vibes I look for in all of Lana’s releases. 

7) “Lust For Life” (2017)

This album reminds me so much of seventh grade, to the point where it’s an album I only return to because of its nostalgia factor. There are some great songs on this album (“Cherry” and “Love” to name a few), but I don’t think I’d like this album as much as I do now if it weren’t for first experiencing it during my formative years.

6) “Lana Del Ray” (2010)

The album that started it all! To be honest, this is not my favorite album, which I think is mostly due to the fact that I haven’t gotten the chance to listen to it all that often since it’s not on Apple Music. I do have to give this album props because it started it all, and it’s easy to tell how big of an influence the songs from this album had on Lana’s later releases.

5) “Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” (2023)

This album is definitely my favorite of Lana’s more recent releases. I love the songs “The Grants” and “Let The Light In,” but I think “Margaret” is the album’s true standout due to its Jack Antonoff feature. In fact, the song is about Antonoff and his now-wife Margaret Qualley. This album shares the same Americana vibes as earlier albums, which is why I love it so much. I’ve listened to this album regularly since its release almost two years ago and I definitely think that it helped me get back into Lana’s music.

4) “Honeymoon” (2015)

There are definitely some flops on this album, but the flops are outweighed by songs such as “High By The Beach,” “Salvatore” and “Freak,” which are some of my favorite Lana songs of all time. With every one of her early albums, Lana adopts a new aesthetic, and I absolutely adore her aesthetic for “Honeymoon.” I can’t deny how simply iconic the album cover is, and I also really enjoy the music videos that are associated with the album.

3) “Ultraviolence” (2014)

This album feels so 2014 to me, but in a good way. This album would’ve ranked higher if it weren’t for the titular song “Ultraviolence,” which completely glamorizes domestic violence (Lana herself won’t even sing the lyric that fans found most problematic when she is performing the song live). I do really enjoy some of the songs on this album, such as “Brooklyn Baby,” which I’ve only grown to love more as I’ve gotten older, but I have to rank it third due to the amount of songs on this album that I skip while listening to it.

2) “Norman F***ing Rockwell!” (2019)

I absolutely adore this album. It’s a no skip album for me.  I can’t deny how simply iconic the songs “Mariners Apartment Complex” and “Venice B***h” are and how often I’ve listened to them in the five years since they were released. “Venice B***h” is Lana’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” in my humble opinion, and it’ll always be one of my favorite songs of all time. The only reason I haven’t ranked it in first place is due to the fact that Lana’s 2012 release, “Born To Die,” will always have a special place in my heart.

1) “Born To Die” (2012)

This is the album that got me into Lana’s music, and it’ll always be one of my favorite albums of all time. This is the album that started it all, and for me, this is truly the definition of a no skip album. Every song on the album and every music video that accompanies it are absolutely impeccable. I can’t deny the sheer artistry of every aspect of this album and I truly believe that this album kicked off a new era of pop music.