Three words: LANA. DEL. REY.

How can we ignore the now infamous Lana Del Ray? She went from a recording artist using a sudonym to the most talked about girl about hipster town in a matter of weeks. And she got this recognition on just a few lovely photographs, two tracks, and a youtube video. Most of my male friends are in love.

In her demo she channels some Nancy Sinatra, Kate Bush, and other similar female songstresses. She has some similarities to Marina of Marina and the Diamonds however, even in Lana’s early days she veared further down the hipster path while Marina strayed more towards pop. In her demo burlesque elements feature quite heavily which fit in perfectly with her hipster bedroom eyes aesthetic. In “Video Games” and “Blue Jeans” Del Rey evokes a subtle, but evocative sexiness. It seduces listener after listener. The evidence is pasted all over the internet.

Her new single “Born to Die” feels incredibly cinematic, reinforced by the soaring string opening. The song features a middle-eastern beat, string orchestra and few other instrumental back-ups. The music video, added to youtube just a month an a half ago, already received 13.5 million views, an unprecedented number for any artist with only three official track releases. I understand why it’s been watched over and over again though. Despite her poor stage presence on SNL, Del Rey does a splendid job acting in this video alongside her suicide boy. The cinematography is the most notable feature of the video, however– it’s filled with the most gorgeous tableaus.

Lana Del Rey gained her momentous popularity from a video. She created the “Video Games” music video out of found footage and raw shots of her. While some of the cut in footage does not seem to make much sense in the scope of the song, in total the video resonates. The time lapse footage of roses opening and the hollywood hills against Lana Del Rey’s portrait shots provides an appealing juxtaposition. It’s interesting and different from almost any other music video that’s been released lately.

Her full album releases in a couple of days and at that point in time we’ll see what place she’ll have in the 2012 music scene. I predict she’ll be 2012’s female songstress just as Adele was 2011’s, Florence and the Machine was 2010s and Adele was 2009’s. Why will Lana sit at the top this year? Because she actually makes some incredibly interesting, beautiful hipster music. And all the boys will buy her album because her music kinda makes you want to take your clothes off.

STORY BY KATIE BUNTSMA

Necessary Utensils

Utensils are necessary for eating just as the band S/P/O/O/N is necessary for any audiophiles lunchbox. Rife with ambient sound, raw vocals, and layers of accompaniments Spoon’s music, like a rich dessert, is a decadent listen you want to dig into. Just when you think the music or the desset might be too much something inside you rears up and demands, “take another bite.”

This month their free download, “I Could See the Dude”, from the 1997 EP Soft Effects has all those nearly trademark features that you love. It definitely feels a little more 90s in the guitar riff and electronic effects, but the rawness of the vocals translates through the decades. The heaviness and grunge of the music still encompasses the listener, though this feels a bit of a more hopeful melancholic tune. So, why am I talking to you about a track from 1997? Well….perhaps S/P/O/O/N has a new EP coming out soon….

Ears open people!

STORY BY KATIE BUNTSMA

New Wild Everywhere: Deluxe (Signed CD)
Pre-order the Deluxe version of New Wild Everywhere directly from Great Lake Swimmers and receive a numbered and signed copy. Not only will all orders come numbered and signed by the band, but if you bundle your copy with presale tickets to see the band live, you’ll receive a free limited edition lithograph not available anywhere else as part of your purchase.

To bundle New Wild Everywhere with your ticket purchase, you can do so below after you’ve selected the show you would like to attend. Lithographs are only available to ticket purchasers.

The Deluxe version of New Wild Everywhere comes in a gatefold digipak and contains a second disc with 7 bonus recordings.