SO GOOD, and truly the moment where the critics decided to start taking Lana
seriously as an artist rather than writing about her as a slightly awkward, and often misogynist, joke that they happened to agree had a few good songs. Pitchfork declaring that "she is one of America's greatest living songwriters" in their NFR! review basically said it all.
And what an album to emerge as a career-high
That the title alone is 'Norman Fucking Rockwell!' is quite
and the album cover is totally iconic.
The run from Cinnamon Girl - The Greatest is just PERFECTION! Soaring career high after soaring career high.
Venice Bitch was that experimental moment that she needed to show an element of versatility and movement, and I do think 'Hope Is A Dangerous Thing for a Woman Like Me - But I Have It' could possibly end up one of her most enduring songs - similar to the likes of This Woman's Work and 'Both Sides Now' - if it gets picked up for use somewhere as a pop culture moment at some point in the next 20-odd years.
The only real weak spots for me are Bartender, which joins the likes of White Mustang and Wild At Heart as being a bit TOO Lana-by-numbers for me, and Doin' Time which just isn't a personal favourite. But I appreciate neither are BAD, or need removing from the album.
08 Norman fucking Rockwell
09 Mariners Apartment Complex
10 Venice Bitch
08 Fuck it I Love You
07 Doin' Time
08 Love Song
10 Cinnamon Girl
09 How to Disappear
09 California
10 The Next Best American Record
10 The Greatest
06 Bartender
08 Happiness is a Butterfly
10 Hope is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman Like Me - But I Have it