Lana Del Rey - Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd - LP

TAS Rated 4.5/5 Music, 4.5/5 Sonics in the September 2023 Issue of The Absolute Sound

Consequence Top 50 Albums of 2023 - Rated 25/50
Rolling Stone 100 Best Albums of 2023 - Rated 21/100
Pitchfork 50 Best Albums of 2023 - Rated 11/50

Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd is the ninth studio album from acclaimed singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, comprising 16 tracks and interludes with features including Father John Misty, Tommy Genesis, Jon Batiste, Bleachers and more. It follows the prolific artist's 2021 albums Chemtrails Over The Country Club and Blue Banisters.

Did you know? is sprawling, drifting through swells of chamber pop, skittish acoustic/electronic pieces, and plaintive piano ballads. Del Rey balances intimacy, largely conveyed through her agile and emotive vocals, with a gentle feeling of community. She frankly and lovingly gestures toward her favored Americana muse through images of John Denver, Long Beach, A Tribe Called Quest, Paris (Texas), and many others, each as passing characters in the tales she tells. On Did you know?, Americana is no longer the focus, but instead the background to the rich, personal stories Del Rey conveys like a troubadour.

Ninth album Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd finds Del Rey returning to the powerful level of song sculpting she reached on NFR!, and feels like a strong step forward as much as it does a worthy follow-up to her best record.