Lana Del Rey slams NPR critic Ann Powers' review of new album

Del Rey did not mince words on Twitter Wednesday night when she replied to Powers' post sharing her provocative article, which called Del Rey's lyrics "uncooked" in comparison to those of artists such as Joni Mitchell and analyzed Del Rey's reliance on a "persona as a bad girl to whom bad things are done."
"Here's a little sidenote on your piece," the "Venice Bitch" singer wrote. "I don't even relate to one observation you made about the music. There's nothing uncooked about me. To write about me is nothing like it is to be with me. Never had a persona. Never needed one. Never will."
"So don't call yourself a fan like you did in the article and don't count your editor one either," Del Rey added in another tweet. "I may never never have made bold political or cultural statements before-because my gift is the warmth I live my life with and the self reflection I share generously."
Powers' deep dive went on to laud the album as containing "Del Rey's most artfully constructed narratives, extending the arc of apparent self-realization also evident in widely framed narratives that stood out on her previous album." But among the praise Powers also noted the music's "needy," "disempowered," "self-sabotaging" and "unwoke" tones.
Revered as a pioneering critic, Powers has weathered plenty of controversy sparked by her scintillating criticism , particularly during her stint at The Times. The tweet sharing her Del Rey analysis was flooded with support from fellow critics, along with dismissive notes from Del Rey's admirers. Critic Jessica Hopper noted Powers' long history of championing female artists and leading the charge to take their work seriously.
Powers responded to the brewing backlash in a follow-up post Thursday morning, writing: "I really appreciate all the support today. I still think NFR is a deeply compelling, crucial album and hope everyone spends time listening to it (and goes back to Ultraviolence and Lust For Life too)."
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