The self-proclaimed “gangster Nancy Sinatra” delivers icy, heartbroken songs that linger like smoke clouds

Filled with torch songs influenced by hip-hop, Lana Del Rey wrote and recorded Born to Die in a chilling fashion. These noir-shaded numbers are mostly built on orchestral accouterments and subtle vocal samples. Del Rey’s husky narrative lingers like smoke clouds, leaving wafts of rhythmic phrasings delivered by an icy, heartbroken femme fatale.