Lana Del Rey’s Studio 365 Sessions is not an album built for radio. It is a set of takes, versions and scraps pulled from a studio session, and it plays like a demo tape left on the shelf. The record runs 54 minutes across 18 tracks, and it asks listeners to sit through multiple versions of the same songs to hear what made the final cut. That is the whole point.
The record is less a finished statement than a window into the process. Del Rey recorded “Disco,” “For K, Pt. 2,” “Get Drunk,” “Let My Hair Down” and “Oh Say Can You See” in full takes, then offered additional takes and outtakes alongside them. The result is a collection that rewards patience and punishes skimming.
Disco and the Opening Run
“Disco” opens the record with three full takes — 4:04, 4:21 and 4:05 — before moving into four brief outtakes that clock in at 1:19, 0:46, 0:08 and 0:06. The longer takes show a song finding its shape over several passes, while the outtakes are fragments, sketches that never quite cohere. Together, they make up about half of the record’s runtime, and they are the clearest example of what Studio 365 Sessions is doing: presenting a song’s evolution from start to finish.
“Disco” is a dance-pop track, and the three full takes let you hear the arrangement settle. The shorter takes are less revealing, but they add texture to the picture. None of them stand alone as a standout, but as a group they establish the album’s method.
For K, Pt. 2 Through Raise Me Up
“Get Drunk” follows the same pattern: a take at 4:38, a second at 4:40 and an outtake at 2:22. The two full takes are nearly identical in length, which suggests the song was locked in early. The outtake is shorter and looser, more like a working draft than a finished product.
“Let My Hair Down” gets two takes — 3:01 and 2:51 — plus a 0:54 outtake. These are the most straightforward listens on the record, and they hold up better than the disco material. “Oh Say Can You See” is a take at 4:37, and it carries the weight of its title without overstaying its welcome.
“Raise Me Up (Mississippi South)” closes the record with three takes: 4:00, 3:52 and 3:54. This is the strongest stretch on the album, and it shows Del Rey at her most controlled. The three versions are close enough in length that they feel like variations on a single performance, not separate attempts.
What Works and What Doesn’t
The record’s strength is its honesty. By putting out multiple versions, Del Rey lets listeners see the songwriting process unfold. That is a rare gift, and it makes the record more valuable than a standard release.
Where it stumbles is in the filler. The outtakes are often too short to reward attention, and some of the takes repeat each other without adding anything new. The record could have been tighter, and a few cuts would have sharpened the experience.
Verdict
Studio 365 Sessions is a niche document. It is best enjoyed by fans who want to see how a song moves from idea to record, and it is best avoided by anyone looking for a polished listening experience. The strong moments — “Let My Hair Down,” the three takes of “Raise Me Up (Mississippi South)” — are worth the listen, but the weaker ones drag the record down.
Key Facts
– Artist: Lana Del Rey
– Album: Studio 365 Sessions
– Release: 2021
– Tracks: 18
– Total running time: 54 minutes
Track Comparison
| Track | Length | Role |
|—|—|—|
| Disco (take 1) | 4:04 | Full version |
| Disco (outtake 1) | 1:19 | Fragment |
| Get Drunk (take 1) | 4:38 | Full version |
| Get Drunk (outtake) | 2:22 | Working draft |
| Raise Me Up (take 1) | 4:00 | Strongest stretch |
Verdict: 7 of 10.
- Disco (take 1)4:04
- Disco (take 2)4:21
- Disco (take 3)4:05
- Disco (outtake 1)1:19
- Disco (outtake 2)0:46
- Disco (outtake 3)0:08
- Disco (outtake 4)0:06
- For K, Pt. 2 (take 1)4:54
- Get Drunk (take 1)4:38
- Get Drunk (take 2)4:40
- Get Drunk (outtake)2:22
- Let My Hair Down (take 1)3:01
- Let My Hair Down (take 2)2:51
- Let My Hair Down (outtake)0:54
- Oh Say Can You See (take 1)4:37
- Raise Me Up (Mississippi South) (take 1)4:00
- Raise Me Up (Mississippi South) (take 2)3:52
- Raise Me Up (Mississippi South) (take 3)3:54
