Lana Del Rey’s ninth studio album “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” exudes an essence of vulnerability while reflecting on themes of family and loss. The majority of the 16 songs are acoustic, a pairing of Lana’s soft melancholy vocals paired with a deep unsettling piano. The songs’ simplicity adds to the album rather than takes away from it, spotlighting Lana’s heartfelt lyrics.

The beginning of the album opens with a tidal wave of emotions introducing two songs, “The Grants” and “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd.” Both of these songs start slow, building upon Lana’s voice by adding strings and backup vocals, and finally bringing-down-the-house in a grand chorus at the tail-end of each song.

Compared to some of the later songs on the album, “The Grants” and  “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” roar like thunder. The chorus in “The Grants” is accompanied with vocals by Melodye Perry and Pattie Howard, Whitney Houston’s former backup singers. Their passionate vocals left me mesmerized and solidified both of the songs as a strong foundation for the rest of the album to build off of.

For the next 14 songs, Lana shifts away from powerful choruses and mainly opens up about experiences from her past through powerful and heartbreaking lyrics. The lyrics, combined with soothing notes from a piano, work together to ground the album as an emotional reflection of someone’s life, rather than something that feels artificially overproduced.

A few of the songs such as “A&W” and “Fishtail” juxtapose the album’s gentle tone by introducing more aggressive lyrics. The songs are peppered with electronic elements reminiscent of Lana’s old work. Though they differ, they still work well to break up the songs and add another layer of depth to an already emotionally moving album.

Speaking of old work, Lana incorporates the vintage feel found in her sixth studio album, and even revisits her past songs throughout the album. By reviving her old work, it ties back to the theme of reflection which makes the album feel cohesive and unrelenting in its message.

Overall, the album is incredibly deep and moving, signifying the importance of taking a moment to reflect on the past and to live in the present.