Last year I wrote an article anticipating the release of Lana Del Rey’s ninth studio album; Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard. It was mainly filled with predictions, either potential tracks and features, or what sort of theme the record would convey. That was back in December of 2022. Finally, after multiple pushbacks, on March 24th, 2023, the album officially released. 

That morning I woke up eagerly, along with many other fans, and didn’t miss a beat to stream the record. So, what did I get correct?

The album was whimsical and full of surprises. While we didn’t get the Taylor Swift feature I had hoped for, we got tons of other features including Jon Batiste, Bleachers, Tommy Genesis, Father John Misty (whom she had collaborated with before), whilst also sampling instrumental from artists such as SYML. Even though Del Rey has barely had any features on her more recent records, fans will recognize that this follows similar patterns to her fourth studio album, Lust for Life, in which she had tons of collaborations with famous artists.

Besides collaborations, what about the tracks I had predicted? I was correct with songs like “The Grants,” “A&W,” and “Sweet,” but the “Rockefeller” track I predicted turned out to be titled “Candy Necklace.” “Say Yes to Heaven,” a previously unreleased song of hers that I predicted, was also heavily speculated to be released alongside the album due to its surging popularity . While it wasn’t on the album, it was released further into 2023 in May as a surprise single. What she did surprise us with on the album was an extended demo version of “Venice B****”, titled “Taco Truck x VB”, a fan favorite among many since she released the song in 2019 on her album Norman F***ing  Rockwell!

Additionally, the record has seen critical acclaim and positive reviews across the board, and has earned five nominations for the Grammys. (the most in Del Rey’s career)

Now, onto my personal review of the album. I will be ranking each of the songs, from my least favorite to my favorite, all with detailed explanations on why it’s at its certain slot. Note, I will not be including the two interludes present on the record, reducing the ranking to fourteen songs.

14. “Kintsugi” –

I will be honest here, I can count how many times I’ve listened to this song on one hand. It’s a nice soft melody, but the long runtime of six minutes gets old pretty quick. The song is also very static, even at the ‘buildup’ at the end. 3/10. 

13. “Fingertips” –

I believe there are very powerful lyrics here and compelling, which show a deeper side of her including her dark past. Her voice is so mesmerizing and beautiful as she sings this song like a longful ballad. As much as the song is impactful, she is very static… Meaning this is a song that is very hard to just listen to on the fly. You just have to appreciate how the song feels like a diary entry and how we are listening to this girl’s story. 4.5/10.

12. “Margaret” –

A song written for Del Rey’s close producer, Jack Antonoff, wife Margaret Qualley. It’s a nice little love song full of admiration and soul. The Bleachers feature on this song is alright, but Del Rey makes up for what he lacks. 5/10. 

11. “Sweet” –

This song is about embracing the simplicity in life, while also being your own person. Just like the title, the instrumental and lyrics are all sweet and pretty. It’s almost as if she is singing me a lullaby. However, this song loses points ironically due to its simplicity. 6/10. 

10. “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard” –

This was the first single released off the album in December 2022. She draws inspiration from her other popular albums, such as Norman F***ing Rockwell! (which is a prevalent theme in this record), but uses it in such a unique way that it doesn’t feel redundant. It builds to such a beautiful climax about not wanting to be forgotten, just like the Ocean Boulevard  tunnel succumbed to eventually. 7/10.

9. “Taco Truck x VB”-

The concluding track of DYKTTATUOB brings the ‘Taco Truck’ portion first, which is not only mellow, but groovy at the same time. Then it transitions into the demo version of “Venice B****” mentioned earlier as one of her previously released songs that is a fan favorite among many. However, I am not a part of that group, so it lands in ninth place overall. 7/10. 

8. “Fishtail” –

This song is heavily influenced by autotune with other electric distortions to Del Rey’s voice and the instrumental. On paper it sounds like it wouldn’t be enjoyable, but it is. She sings about her partner not truly caring for her while pretending to be, showing how the word ‘Fishtail’ is a double meaning word. 7/10.

7. “Paris, Texas” –

The song takes the direct instrumental from SYML song, “I wanted to Leave,” which also correlates with the meaning of “Paris, Texas.” The song is about Del Rey feeling like she doesn’t belong at home anymore, and she travels aimlessly until she finds her footing again. The instrumental and her melodic singing really bring the piece together, giving the vibe that the listener is truly lost. 7.5/10. 

6. “The Grants” –

“The Grants” is a song about Del Rey’s, even name dropping her real last name in the title of the song. It’s about cherishing the memories you have with family, and her promise to always hold dear to them. She name drops several family members who have died, including her uncle, grandmother, and niece, which add to the emotional impact this song brings. 8/10. 

5. “Grandfather please stand on the shoulders of my father while he is deep sea fishing” –

Even though the title seems very daunting, the song is very lyrical and enchanting, adding to its meaning of finding spiritual connections through lost loved ones. Even though it starts off soft, it builds to a beautiful ending, and it has moved me to tears multiple times. 9.3/10. 

4. “Peppers” –

Featuring Tommy Genesis, this song is about embodying the confidence and seductive nature of popular actress Angelina Jolie. It’s groovy and stylish, as if the instrumental is reflecting the meaning of the song. 9.5/10. 

3. “A&W” –

No, this song is not about root beer; instead the title stands for American Wh**e. The first half of the song is extremely sad, and details Del Rey being very vulnerable about over-sexualization. To add how fragile this vulnerability is, the song starts off with gentle guitar, and builds/morphs up to the second half of the song which takes a completely different approach. All of a sudden, hard trap beats are in your face, and she sings more girlish, reminiscing her earlier career when she went by the stage name Lizzy Grant. Put all of these elements together, and you have yourself a perfect mashup. 9.8/10. 

2. “Let the Light in” –

This song, which has become quite popular, is about being in love with someone who doesn’t reciprocate the same effort. It’s a great contemporary style song, with the song not only being upbeat but whimsical at the same time. Additionally, the Father John Misty feature adds onto the longfulness of this song. 10/10. 

1. “Candy Necklace” –

This song is masterful. It’s a metaphor about a toxic relationship, on how a candy necklace can give you a short sugar rush, and then crash, paralleling a bad relationship. The song also goes up and down, as the instrumental and Del Rey’s singing sometimes quickens then slows down dramatically. Finally, the piano instrumental and solo by Jon Batiste is perfectly crafted. 10/10. 

Overall, the record is phenomenal. While I personally didn’t connect with all of the songs, I can see how others can. The mix of so many different melodies and experimental storytelling also feels purposeful, making an album that feels refreshing. Truly, when you listen to this album in order, it feels like you are actually going through a tunnel, adding an experience like none other. With that being said, I have to give Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard a 7.4/10.