Sirens (May Jailer album)

Sirens is an unreleased demo album by American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey, under the pseudonym May Jailer. It was recorded in 2006. The entire album was leaked through YouTube in May 2012.[1]

Sirens
Demo album by May Jailer
Released	May 31, 2012 (2012-05-31) (internet leak)
Recorded	2006
Studio	Jim Cushman Studio (by Alex Frizzell)
Genre	Folk acoustic
Length	53:17
Producer	Elizabeth Grant
Lana Del Rey chronology
Young Like Me (2005) Sirens (2006) Kill Kill (2008)

Composition

Composed entirely of acoustic tracks, the album is devoid of the hip hop beats, electronic tones, and experimental music found on Born to Die.[2][3][4] The vocals are "granola-style". Most of the album's songs have the same tempo.[5]

Critical reception

Tom Breihan of Stereogum said it was not confirmed whether the tracks were recorded by Del Rey, but if they were not, they were believable fakes.[6] Over acoustic guitar, the vocals are tremulous and full of "languid mystique", he said, noting that they are "...a different sort of fragile Lee Hazlewood narco-haze vibe."[6] Idolator likened the Jailer album to Jewel's debut, Pieces of You.[2] Further, Idolator said: "Though her vocals are often weak and shaky, her tone sounds delicate and sweet on all these simple tracks...[The] songs [are] written in her range, so she doesn't have to sing (and sing-talk) in her head voice and resort to that cutesy, flirty baby coo so prominent throughout Born To Die."[2] Pop Crush reviewer Amy Sciarretto said she could imagine Del Rey singing the album's tracks in a coffeehouse. Calling the tracks themselves "folky and fragile", Sciarretto noted that they did not even come close to comparing to the synthesizer-heavy songs on Born to Die.[5] Further, she likened Del Rey's voice to that of a "little bird", saying it was no wonder that songs called "Birds of a Feather" and "Aviation" appeared on the album.[5]

Track listing

Track listing attained from an NME article.[7]

All tracks are written by Elizabeth Grant.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Drive By (for K, Part 1)"	2:51
2.	"Next to Me"	2:41
3.	"A Star for Nick"	2:43
4.	"My Momma"	3:25
5.	"Bad Disease"	3:42
6.	"Out with a Bang"	3:19
7.	"Dear Elliot"	4:33
8.	"Try Tonight"	3:35
9.	"Peace"	5:48
10.	"I'm Indebted to You"	3:59
11.	"Pretty Baby"	3:39
12.	"Aviation"	3:11
13.	"Move"	4:13
14.	"Junkie Pride" (re-recorded from Young Like Me EP, originally entitled "Junky Pride")	2:52
15.	"Birds of a Feather"	2:46
Total length:		53:17

References

1. "Lana Del Rey's first album 'Sirens' leaks". Strut.com. May 31, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
2. Bain, Becky. "Lana Del Rey's First Album: Listen To Songs She Recorded As May Jailer". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
3. Copsey, Robert (November 23, 2011). "Lana Del Rey: 'People didn't take me seriously with a high voice'". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
4. Ryan, Damien (September 14, 2011). "Track Review: Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans". So So Gay. Archived from the original on January 3, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
5. Sciarretto, Amy. "Listen to Lana Del Rey's May Jailer 'Sirens' Album". Pop Crush. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
6. Breihan, Tom. "Hear Lana Del Rey's Debut LP As May Jailer". Stereogum. Buzz Media. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
7. "Another early album from Lana Del Rey leaks online?". NME. June 1, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.