However, Chemtrails is far from unoriginal; in fact, it is another refined addition to the tapestry of Del Rey’s work. Her sound hasn’t changed with the trends over the past ten years - it has been on a journey of filtering and purification. In an industry where music can often feel manufactured to fit whatever is in vogue, refreshingly it feels as though Lana continues to write what she wants to write to reflect her personal journey.
Her sound hasn’t changed with the trends over the past ten years - it has been on a journey of filtering and purification.
Hailed as “simply one of the best songwriters in the country” by Bruce Springsteen, the poetry of Lana’s lyrics is evident here as much as any of her previous work. Her music is rich with allusions to other artists: Kings of Leon, Joni Mitchell, Sun Ra and the White Stripes, which creates a rich musical moodboard as the backdrop to her music. She also refers to her own music, lifting chord progressions from her previous work into the music of this album, ('Wild at Heart' takes the bridge from ‘How to Disappear’).
This nostalgic mood is a signature Lana skill and in the opening track, ‘White Dress’ she reminisces on her time as a waitress when “maybe I was better off”, before the fame of her current life, where she is often less than perfect in her social media presence. However, her public image aside, this album shows Lana’s musical ability is still in its prime, and Chemtrails Over The Country Club is a fine addition to her discography.
(4/5)
