Lana Del Rey

This pic looks like it should be from Vampire Diaries!

Whoa... how did I miss Lana Del Rey? What kind of rock was I living under???

Quick-bio: a "gangsta Nancy Sinatra" American singer-songwriter often described as being noirish, a femme fatale, and retro. Born to Die (2012) is her first studio album. 

Born to Die

As dark and romantic as it seems in this music video, I hope I never have to see the day when Distracted Driving Legislation has to add 'making out' to it's list of driving no-no's.

...

LOLOL, I just checked, and it's NOT on the list! (I do not endorse kissing dangerously while driving) heh, and I always wondered how it was possible to drive while putting on mascara or texting or... reading a book??? For the love of all things literary, whyyy?


Video Games

This is the big "hit" of the album. I'm not sure, but I think she pieces these music videos together herself!


Blue Jeans

Fabadabadosy video if I do say so myself!


Interview


Remember kids: 

from Dan's Awesome Rage Maker

I've read a lot of online criticisms about Lana, and all I have to say is, that unlike product reviews for makeup or electronics, I don't usually like reading opinions about music because it's such a deeply personal thing. If I listen to a song and I like it, then I'm a happy music junkie! When I do research for my blog and a lot of the articles I read are negative and opinionated, it taints my opinion too. And yes, I could choose to not to read these articles, but I like to get a sense for what other people have to say. So to all you music lovers out there - keep listening to the musician for their music, and read for objectivity. 

Check out Lana's official website at www.lanadelrey.com

Cheers from your music blogger who is trying to budget her dolla-dolla-billz, but has been dropping big bucks on iTunes (but the music is soooo good),

iKaria


*** UPDATE Feb.24:
Okay, I think I understand where the controversy came from now. Here's an article from Billboard.com that gives a comprehensive and objective account (in my opinion) of her rise: www.billboard.com  

Die Antwoord Part II: TEN$ION

TEN$ION

Hello folks,

Well, it's that time of year again, winter Reading Break, which means two things:
1. I have no classes for the next week (w00t) and,
2. it's the 2nd anniversary of this blog (bigger w00t).

To celebrate, I've put together another post on everyone's favorite foul-mouthed South African rap-rave group, Die Antwoord. Their second studio album, Ten$ion, hit stores on February 7th, and the gossip surrounding this album is that they left Interscope records and released Ten$ion under their own record label, Zef Recordz.

Reception has been lukewarm from what I can tell, most reviewers commenting on their extreme persona, language and content, but I think they missed the boat on this band. The #1 mistake? First impressions. Like I said in my earlier post, it took me quite a few months to "get" them. They're an acquired taste, to be sure, but I think the most important thing is to listen to their music for what it is. It does them an injustice to be compared to other bands. The other thing is that coming from North America, I have no idea what South African culture is like. Their music probably speaks to the local audiences far better than it would half-way across the world.

But you didn't come here to read an essay - you came to see some fre$ and futuristik music...

a gif from Fok Julle Naiiers - tumblr

What do you think: can Die Antwoord break into the North American market? (The product endorsement of Dr. Dre Beats headphones has been noted) I'm not sure if North America can handle their Zef Fre$...

Die Antwoord on David Letterman (Feb.6.12)

Not the best example of their music, but I suppose if you have to censor 75% of the song lyrics (not that most of us can understand Afrikaans anyways) then you're going to end up with a different song. It feels unnatural for them.

Heads up: the rest of this post contains language not suitable for all readers.
Viewer discretion is advised.