NEW ADDS: Lana Del Rey and Isabella Lovestory
Lana Del Rey - Kintsugi
Genre: Pop, Alternative
RIYL: Joni Mitchell, Lorde, Samia
Lizzy Grant is back. Lana Del Rey released her 9th studio album on March 24 titled Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. Featuring a bevy of musical artists from across genres, the record is by far one of Del Rey’s most personal. Sprawling, featuring two lengthy interludes and a remix of Norman F*cking Rockwell!’s “Venice B*tch,” the album moves from the confessional to the referential on a dime. “Kintsugi,” far and away Ocean Blvd’s standout track, is a six minute epic in which Lana reckons with her life, the love of her family, and the overwhelming wave that is morality. The title, a reference to the Japanese art where broken pottery is remade by painting over the cracks, calls to Del Rey own’s heart. The cracks, to her, are “how the light gets in.” A subtle call to Leonard Cohen evokes a wash of feelings, cementing “Kintsugi” as a highlight of the career of one of the great (and with this record, perhaps the greatest) living songwriters.
Isabella Lovestory - Latina
Genre: Neoperreo, Electropop
RIYL: Tokischa, Ms Nina, Arca
After the release of her debut album last October, the Honduran-born Montreal-based Isabella Lovestory is back with a smashing single, “Latina.” Amor Hardcore, which featured reggaeton and perreo influenced pop hits like “Fashion Freak” and “Exhibitionista,” saw Lovestory reaching her widest audience yet, even getting scouted to write for big-budget Korean girl group Le Sserafim on their first hit single “Antifragile.” Known to be seen out and about at raves in Los Angeles, she clearly finds inspiration in dance, movement, and frankly, a good time. “Latina” stays in this vein with a celebration of being Latina. “Que rico se siente ser la más perra” (“It feels so good to be the baddest”) sings Lovestory on the second verse, and with her energy and natural star charisma, one has no choice but to believe this sentiment. Lovestory embarks on her first international tour later this year.
- Quinn Soltesz