American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey fully released her newest album “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” Friday, March 24. The album includes 16 tracks each with distinct features that bring fans’ interest.

After initially announcing the album about three months prior, it finally debuted with the release of two tracks “A&W” and “The Grants,” before the release of the full album. Del Rey previously produced nine albums with around 40 singles, all with a soft-spoken diction that fans thoroughly enjoy. 

“My favorite thing about the album is the way every album has a different vibe and aesthetic that comes with it. I love how this album feels like we are hearing the progression of her as a person. It’s orchestrated so beautifully and the lyrics are very sweet and heartwarming,” sophomore Elijah Smith said.

Her first album since 2021 conveys detailed storytelling including lust, heartbreak, death and other deep concepts. Storytelling becomes a major role in her songs, commonly with a slower beat and descriptive words.

“My favorite song is probably ‘Grandfather please stand on the shoulders of my father while he’s deep sea fishing,’ just because it explains that Lana Del Rey isn’t a character her label wanted to create in 2012-2014 during her ‘Born to Die’ era, but truly was her and she explains that with the opening line,” sophomore Nicolas Gomez said.

Several of the songs feature similar artists such as Bleachers, Father John Misty and Tommy Genesis. The album heavily involved the help of Jack Antonoff, who worked with Del Rey on the 2019 album “Norman F***ing Rockwell!” Antonoff, well-known in the music industry, also worked with several other famous artists, including Taylor Swift.

The album includes two interludes titled the “Judah Smith Interlude” and “Jon Batiste Interlude.” These tracks encompass melodic piano, both with muffled vocals underneath. They serve as strong points of storytelling and a break between songs. For example, in “A&W” Del Rey reflects on her self-image in life, showing her story from childhood to where she stands now. It includes topics such as family relationships and her appearance.

“The overall vibe of this album is acknowledging her sadness and past and coming to terms with it. I see this album as the turning point in her life and getting out of a depression. The orchestral background choir-like choruses, and the reference to religion, make this feel like a very uplifting album,” Smith said.

A majority of Del Rey’s songs range from four to seven minutes, longer than typical artists’ songs. Although whimsical and gentle vocals at lengthy times do not meet everyone’s liking, a specific group of people does enjoy her music, as they can often relate to or sympathize with the intense subjects. Del Rey will hopefully continue to release further singles and albums after this release which numerous listeners consider her best work of this year.

“This album isn’t too far off from her last three projects but is entirely different from anything she’s done before. She’s becoming more of a poet and singer-songwriter and it’s working out well for her. The overall vibe of her album is definitely dark and sad and gloomy, but her lyricism sometimes contrasts that entirely,” Gomez said.

The Chant’s Rating: A