Trash Magic is a song by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. The song was included on her sixth studio album, "Norman Fucking Rockwell!" which was released in 2019. Trash Magic is a haunting and introspective track that showcases Del Rey's unique songwriting style and mesmerizing vocals. The song explores themes of nostalgia, love, and identity, typical of Del Rey's music. The phrase "trash magic" can be interpreted in various ways. It could refer to finding beauty or meaning in unexpected or unconventional places, similar to the saying "one person's trash is another person's treasure".
It’s only when Ethan helps her take out the trash – by which I mean the comatose body of her first stalker – that Ravenna gets the idea that there’s more to Ethan than initially appeared. Which is, of course, more than true.
Who were people with psi powers as portrayed in the Victorian and contemporary set Arcane Society series and its offshoots, which were published under the author s Amanda Quick and Jayne Ann Krentz pen names. The necessary parts of the background history are always explained, while the occasional mention of a particular person or incident is more in the form of an Easter Egg that brings a smile if you know but lack of that knowledge does not detract from enjoyment of the book in hand.
It could refer to finding beauty or meaning in unexpected or unconventional places, similar to the saying "one person's trash is another person's treasure". This idea is reflected in the lyrics of the song as Del Rey sings about finding magic and beauty in mundane or unconventional aspects of life. Moreover, "trash magic" could also allude to Del Rey's penchant for blending elements of different musical genres and eras to create her signature sound.
Review: Sweetwater and the Witch by Jayne Castle
Welcome to the world of Harmony, where--despite its name, things are anything but--danger lurks just beneath the surface in this new novel by New York Times bestselling author, Jayne Castle.
If there's something Ravenna Chastain knows, it's when to end things. And after she almost winds up the victim of a cult that believes she's a witch, it's easy to walk away from her dead-end career, ready for a new start. But where to find a job that would allow her to use her very specialized skill set? The answer is clear: she becomes a matchmaker.
But even a successful matchmaker can't find someone for everyone, and Ravenna considers Ethan Sweetwater her first professional failure. After nine failed dates, Ravenna knows it's time to cut Ethan loose. But Ethan refuses to be fired as a client--he needs one final date to a business function. Since Ravenna needs a date herself to a family event, they agree to a deal: she will be his (business) date if he will be her (fake) date to her grandparents' anniversary celebration.
What Ethan fails to mention is that attending the business function is a cover for some industrial espionage that he's doing as a favor to the new Illusion Town Guild boss. Ravenna is happy to help, but their relationship gets even more complicated when things heat up--the chemistry between them is explosive, as explosive as the danger that's stalking Ravenna. Lucky for her, Ethan isn't just an engineer--he's also a Sweetwater, and Sweetwaters are known for hunting down monsters.
My Review:
When I originally saw the title of this latest entry in the Harmony series, at first I thought it was going to be a Western – or at least a Weird West – kind of story. (The rhythm of the words in the title keeps taking me back to the movie McCabe & Mrs .Miller which was a sort of Western. I digress. Again. I know.) Harmony is absolutely wild enough and definitely weird enough to resemble the Weird West, but it’s a far-future lost colony world that presented some unique challenges to the first settlers and still does to their descendants even two centuries later.
The planet of Harmony – which doesn’t generally exhibit all that much harmony or we wouldn’t have this marvelous series – was settled by a group of human colonists that included members of the Arcane Society and their allies back on Earth. Who were people with psi powers as portrayed in the Victorian and contemporary set Arcane Society series and its offshoots, which were published under the author’s Amanda Quick and Jayne Ann Krentz pen names.
(If the setup sounds a bit familiar, it’s also the setup for the Celta series by Robin D. Owens, so if you like one you’ll like the other.)
By the time in Harmony’s history when this story takes place, Harmony has lost all contact with Earth, and the upheavals of that loss have settled back into a history that is still well-remembered but no longer as influential as it once was. Not that there aren’t some people looking to recreate the past glories of their ancestors. Even if those so-called glories are only in the minds of past – and present – psychopaths.
Which is what this entry in the series turns out to be about. Two people who think they can do their criminal predecessors one better, and two people who stand in their way. And eventually stand together to do it.
Escape Rating A-: What makes this entry in the series so much fun is the witty banter and slowly building romance between Ethan Sweetwater and Ravenna Chastain. She’s a police profiler turned matchmaker, and he’s the client she’s supposed to find a match for but it’s not working. At all. Which he refuses to acknowledge or let the project go for reasons that Ravenna doesn’t see but the reader probably does.
It’s only when Ethan helps her take out the trash – by which I mean the comatose body of her first stalker – that Ravenna gets the idea that there’s more to Ethan than initially appeared. Which is, of course, more than true.
He presented himself as a mild-mannered, kind of dorky engineer. And he is. But underneath that unassuming persona lurks a man who knows just who to call and how to dispose of a not-quite dead body. Ravenna is worried that he might be connected to the mob.
Ethan, on the other hand, knows that she’s his match. Lucky for him – in a twisted sort of way – the deadly adventures that keep finding them give them plenty of chances to bond into a relationship where they both know they’ll have each other’s backs through thick, thin, nightmares and flame-throwers.
All they have to do is convince each other it’s for keeps. And keep fighting to make sure that they will be a “keeps” to have.
That this turns out to be a delightful romance to go with the deadly danger has to do with the personalities of the three protagonists; Ethan, Ravenna, and Ravenna’s dust bunny Harriet. They make one hell of a team where each has a crucial part to play in taking down the villains and having a bit of fun along the way.
Dust bunnies excel at finding the fun in EVERYTHING!
One final note; there is obviously a long and storied history to Harmony but each book stands pretty much on its own. The necessary parts of the background history are always explained, while the occasional mention of a particular person or incident is more in the form of an “Easter Egg” that brings a smile if you know but lack of that knowledge does not detract from enjoyment of the book in hand. The romances are always self-contained to the individual book. That being said, the books in the series are a bit like potato chips in that you won’t want to read just one.
And I guarantee you’ll wish you had your own dust bunny to chortle at your side as you read!
Related Posts:
- Review: All the Colors of Night by Jayne Ann Krentz
- Stacking the Shelves (504)
- Review: Guild Boss by Jayne Castle
She often incorporates nostalgic and retro vibes into her music, seamlessly blending elements of pop, rock, and hip-hop. This unique fusion can be seen as a form of "trash magic" – turning seemingly incongruous elements into something compelling and enchanting. In terms of the overall meaning of the song, Trash Magic can be interpreted as an exploration of Del Rey's own experiences and emotions. It delves into the complexities of love and relationships, and touches on themes of self-discovery and personal growth. The lyrics paint vivid imagery and evoke a sense of longing and introspection, creating a captivating and relatable listening experience. Ultimately, Trash Magic is a standout track on "Norman Fucking Rockwell!", showcasing Lana Del Rey's distinctive musical style and her ability to craft introspective and emotionally resonant songs. The phrase "trash magic" encompasses the essence of the song's themes and Del Rey's artistic approach, adding depth and intrigue to her music..
Reviews for "The Lyrical and Sonic Progression in Lana Del Rey's "Trash Magic"
1. John - 2/5 - I have to be honest, I didn't understand the hype around "Trash majic Lana Del Ret". The meaning of the song seems to be lost on me. The lyrics are vague and cryptic, and I couldn't connect with the message that Lana Del Ret was trying to convey. The production also felt messy and lacked coherence. Overall, the track left me feeling confused and disappointed.
2. Sarah - 3/5 - I had high hopes for "Trash majic Lana Del Ret" based on the buzz it received, but it fell short for me. The song felt disjointed, with random shifts in melody, and it was difficult to follow along. Lana Del Ret's vocals were also drowned out by the overpowering instrumental, making it hard to fully appreciate her talent. While I appreciate the experimental nature of the track, it just didn't resonate with me personally.
3. Michael - 2/5 - "Trash majic Lana Del Ret" is a prime example of an artist trying too hard to be unique and edgy. The song lacks a cohesive structure and the lyrics are obscure, making it hard to connect with the message. Lana Del Ret's vocals are drowned out by the overproduced instrumental, which detracts from the overall listening experience. Unfortunately, I found the track to be more of a messy compilation of sounds rather than a coherent piece of music.
4. Emily - 2/5 - I was excited to listen to "Trash majic Lana Del Ret" after hearing so much about it, but it left me underwhelmed. The song lacks a clear direction, with abrupt shifts in tempo and melody that felt jarring and disjointed. The lyrics also left me confused, as I struggled to decipher the meaning behind them. While I appreciate Lana Del Ret's experimentation with the track, it fell short of my expectations and didn't resonate with me.