Grammy-nominated alternative pop singer/songwriter Lana Del Rey returns with her first original new solo single of 2018, “Mariners Apartment Complex.”

Few do the dark and the mysterious better than alternative pop musician Lana Del Rey.  After earning a Grammy-nomination in 2017 for Lust for Life, she’s back with a brand-new single, “Mariners Apartment Complex.” Hmm, the name doesn’t exactly roll of the tongue. Unsurprisingly, the record has an alt-folk, singer/songwriter vibe.  It’s not totally far-fetched from the singer/songwriter’s previous work, yet a bit different in some respects. As always, Del Rey serves up strong vocals; she gives a playful, nuanced, rich performance.

Lyrically, “Mariners Apartment Complex” gives you about what you would expect from a Lana Del Rey song. Notably on the first pre-chorus, she references beaches.  If you’ve kept up with Del Rey, she has several songs that reference beaches, including “High By the Beach” (Honeymoon) and “13 Beaches” (Lust for Life). In addition to referencing beaches, there’s a bit of wordplay as well:

“And who I’ve been is with you on these beaches

Your Venice bitch, your die-hard, your weakness

Maybe I could save you from your sins.”

Notably, Lana Del Rey goes on to reference Jesus, but, it doesn’t seem like she’s being genuine from a spiritual perspective. On the chorus, she sings:

“You lose your way, just take my hand

You’re lost at sea, then I’ll command your boat to me again

Don’t look too far, right where you are, that’s where I am

I’m your man / I’m your man.”

On the second verse, she references her kindness being mistaken for weakness, characterizing herself on the second half of the verse (“Think about it, the darkness, the deepness / All the thing that make me who I am”). The second pre-chorus makes references to spirituality once again, even if it’s subtle:

“And who I am is a big-time believer

That people can change, but you don’t have to leave her

When everyone’s talking, you can make a stand.”

Final Thoughts

“Mariners Apartment Complex” is an alluring record with some great moments that should appeal to Lana Del Rey fans.  Is it the most exciting record? No, but many would argue that Del Rey can sometimes be a bit… um… boring.  All and all, it’s good, if not necessarily show stopping.

Lana Del Rey • Mariners Apartment Complex – Single • Interscope • Release: 9.14.18

Photo Credit: Interscope