What is the best Lana Del Rey album to start with?

The best album to start with is "Born to Die" (2011). It's the most representative of what makes Lana Del Rey worth hearing.

What are the best Lana Del Rey albums?

The essential Lana Del Rey albums include "Born to Die" (2011), "Born to Die" (2012) and "Ultraviolence" (2014).

How many albums does Lana Del Rey have?

Lana Del Rey has 70 releases in their discography, including 24 albums and 4 EPs.

Photo: Mike Monaghan from Seattle, United States · CC BY 2.0

Lana Del Rey

Q: Who is Lana Del Rey for?

If you're into indie pop and indie rock, Lana Del Rey is worth your time. Del Rey's music conjures a slow-motion sway, where languid melodies intertwine with intricate textures, creating an intoxicating blend of tension and release.

Del Rey's music conjures a slow-motion sway, where languid melodies intertwine with intricate textures, creating an intoxicating blend of tension and release.

indie pop · indie rock · trip hop

United States

Read about Lana Del Rey on Bookshop

Start here

The album

Born to Die (2011)

Captures Del Rey's signature sound with lush production and introspective themes, making it an accessible entry point into her music.

The song

“Video Games”

Immediate hook and representative of her style, blending cinematic elements with emotional depth, serving as a strong introduction.

See the full guide

About Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey's significance in contemporary music lies in her ability to evoke a haunting nostalgia that resonates deeply with listeners.

By weaving cinematic narratives into her work, she captures the complexities of romantic longing and melancholy, creating an emotional landscape that feels both personal and universal.

By weaving cinematic narratives into her work, she captures the complexities of romantic longing and melancholy, creating an emotional landscape that feels both personal and universal. Her music has shaped the discourse around femininity and vulnerability, inviting a generation to explore darker, more introspective themes in their own lives. Del Rey's approach to songwriting is marked by a deliberate melding of vintage aesthetics with modern sensibilities, constructing sonic environments that feel like dreamlike reveries. This innovative use of lush instrumentation juxtaposed with stripped-back vocal delivery allows her to create a space where beauty and despair coexist. Her performances further enhance this experience, as she often embodies the characters within her songs, drawing audiences into her world through a combination of raw honesty and theatrical flair. In her lyrics, Del Rey often explores themes of love, loss, and the pursuit of happiness amidst chaos, employing a voice that oscillates between confessional and elusive. Her storytelling tends to lean into impressionistic imagery rather than straightforward narrative, balancing sincerity with subtle irony. The result is a rich tapestry of emotions that lingers long after listening.

24 studio albums· 70 total releases· 1 decade· United States

Full discography

Lana Del Rey's albums in order, from earliest releases to latest.

70 releases • 24 albums • 4 EPS • 2008–2026

Type:

Studio albums ()

EPs ()

Singles (44)

Grouped by decade — 3 eras.

2020s ()

2010s ()

Fuck It I Love You / The Greatest album by Lana Del Rey

Undated ()

Arcadia

No releases match the current filters.

Songs to start with

If you'd rather pick a song than an album.

1

"Born to Die" — from Born to Die (2012)

establishes the sonic palette early
2

"Cruel World" — from Ultraviolence (2014)

establishes the sonic palette early

Continue your journey

If you liked Lana Del Rey, start with Angel Olsen

A guided entry point we think you'll like.

Listen

Apple Music Deezer Soundcloud Spotify Youtube

Facebook Instagram Reddit X

Reference

Official site Wikipedia MusicBrainz Wikidata Discogs

Lana Del Rey

About Lana Del Rey

Full discography

Studio albums ()

Stove (demos)

Stove

Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

Studio 365 Sessions

Blue Banisters

Blue Banisters Demos

Chemtrails over the Country Club

Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass

Norman Fucking Rockwell!

Lust for Life

Lust for Life Demos

Honeymoon

Ultraviolence

The Singles

Born to Die – The Paradise Edition

Sirens

Born to Die

Born to Die Demos

Lana Del Ray a.k.a. Lizzy Grant

Lana Del Ray Demos

Non-Album Demos

Young Like Me

EPs ()

Tropico

Paradise

Lana Del Rey

Kill Kill

Singles (44)

2020s ()

Bluebird

Henry, Come On

Candy Necklace

Say Yes to Heaven

The Grants

A&W

Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

Watercolor Eyes

Text Book (Lana Del Rey song)

Wildflower Wildfire

Tulsa Jesus Freak

2010s ()

Fuck It I Love You / The Greatest

Hope Is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman like Me to Have – but I Have It

Venice Bitch

Mariners Apartment Complex

Groupie Love

Summer Bummer

Coachella - Woodstock In My Mind

Love

Freak (Lana Del Rey song)

Music to Watch Boys To

Terrence Loves You

High by the Beach

Salvatore

Swan Song

Black Beauty

Brooklyn Baby

Shades of Cool

Once Upon a Dream

Cruel World

Young and Beautiful

Dark Paradise

Ride

Blue Velvet

National Anthem

Summertime Sadness

Blue Jeans

Carmen

Born to Die

Off to the Races

Video Games / Blue Jeans

Video Games

Diet Mountain Dew

Undated ()

Arcadia

Songs to start with