This track is the spiritual center of the Japan Edition. Lyrically, it is a devastating sequel to "Pretty When You Cry."
The AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) codec, encased in the M4A container, is more efficient than MP3. At 256 kbps, an AAC file sounds virtually indistinguishable from a CD-quality WAV file to most human ears, but at half the file size. This is crucial for Ultraviolence, an album drenched in reverb, fuzzy guitar pedals (courtesy of Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys), and Lana’s layered, breathy vocals.
On a low-bitrate MP3, the dense production of tracks like "Cruel World" and "Sad Girl" collapses into a muddy, garbled mess. The hi-hats become washy, and the bass loses its tectonic plate shift. In iTunes Plus AAC M4A, every cracked amp distortion and room echo is preserved.
The Japan Edition of Lana Del Rey's Ultraviolence (released June 18, 2014) is a highly sought-after collector's item primarily due to its unique tracklist, which includes the rare fan-favorite bonus track "Flipside" . Key Features of the Japan Edition
The Japanese release—available both as a physical CD and a digital "Japanese iTunes Store" version—offers the most comprehensive tracklist of all global editions .
Exclusive Bonus Track: It features "Flipside" (Track 15), which is not available on standard worldwide digital or physical releases . While it also appeared on the US Target and French Fnac editions, the Japanese version is often cited as the definitive way to own the song .
Digital Exclusives: The Japanese iTunes version includes "Is This Happiness" (Track 15) and "Flipside" (Track 16), bringing the total runtime to approximately 74:25 .
Physical Packaging: The CD edition (Catalog No. UICS-1280) includes a traditional Obi strip, a 16-page color booklet, and a black-and-white 6-panel insert containing Japanese lyric translations and liner notes . Tracklist Comparison
The Japanese Edition effectively combines the tracks from the global "Deluxe" and "Special" editions: Standard Album Tracks Black Beauty Deluxe Bonus Guns and Roses Deluxe Bonus Florida Kilos Deluxe Bonus Is This Happiness iTunes/Digital Bonus Flipside Japanese Bonus
See the unique packaging and full track listing of the Japanese physical release in this unboxing video: [UNBOXING] Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence (Japan Edition) UNBOXIFY CD YouTube• Mar 23, 2025 Purchase Options
If you are looking to add this specific version to your collection, it is primarily available through import sellers:
eBay: You can find various listings for the Japan Edition CD with prices typically ranging between $25 and $37 .
Discogs: Often lists both promo and retail versions for collectors . Lana Del Rey Ultraviolence -Japan Edition- -iTu...
Lana Del Rey's Ultraviolence (Japan Edition) widely considered a collector's masterpiece and an essential version of the album for dedicated fans
. Critics and listeners alike praise its raw, guitar-driven sound, produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, which marked a significant, moodier departure from the pop-focused Born to Die Why the Japan Edition is Special Exclusive Tracks : This edition includes rare fan-favorites like " Is This Happiness
," which are not available on standard physical releases elsewhere Collector's Appeal : It typically features the iconic Japanese
and a booklet with translated lyrics, making it a highly sought-after physical item Superior Sound
: Some listeners find the CD pressing of this edition to have a slightly richer, better audio quality compared to standard streaming versions Album Highlights
Album Review: Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence (Japan Edition)
The Pinnacle of Hollywood Sadcore
In the summer of 2014, Lana Del Rey released Ultraviolence, an album that effectively shattered the polished, cinematic pop persona she had cultivated on her major-label debut, Born to Die. Trading the orchestral swells for distorted guitars and Dan Auerbach’s gritty production, Del Rey delivered a record that was darker, messier, and undeniably hypnotic. For collectors and audiophiles, the Japan Edition of the album remains one of the most sought-after pressings, offering a distinct sonic character that complements the album’s brooding atmosphere.
A Sonic Shift: From Gloss to Grit
Where Born to Die was a meticulously constructed melodrama, Ultraviolence feels like a hazy, drug-fueled fever dream captured on faded film. The Japan Edition, often prized for its high-quality mastering (typically pressed at Sony Japan’s renowned facilities), brings out the nuances in this textural shift.
The album opens with "Cruel World," a track that sets the tone: reverb-drenched vocals float over a slow, thundering drum beat. The pressing captures the isolation in Del Rey’s voice with startling clarity. On tracks like the title track, "Ultraviolence," and "West Coast," the vinyl fidelity highlights the psychedelic rock influences, allowing the bass to breathe and the guitars to shimmer without becoming muddy. The infamous "loudness" of the digital production is slightly tamed here, offering a warmer, more analog listening experience that suits the retro aesthetic.
The Tracks: A Journey Through the Underworld This track is the spiritual center of the Japan Edition
Side A is a masterclass in mood-setting. "Shades of Cool" stands out as a highlight; the pressing captures the soaring high notes and the turbulent instrumental break with dynamic range. The transition into "Brooklyn Baby" is seamless, with the Japan Edition preserving the lo-fi, 60s pop vibe that makes the track an earworm.
However, the emotional core of the record—and perhaps where the Japan Edition shines brightest—is Side B. The physical format demands a flipping of the record, forcing the listener to reset before diving into the somber beauty of "Pretty When You Cry" and the jazzy, melancholic "Money Power Glory." The clarity of the piano and string arrangements on "Old Money" is breathtaking, stripping away the noise to reveal the naked vulnerability in Del Rey’s songwriting.
Packaging and Aesthetics
Visually, the Japan Edition is a treat. Housed in a standard gatefold sleeve but often including the superior obi strip and Japanese lyric inserts, it feels like a premium artifact. The iconic cover art—Del Rey standing in a sheer white dress on a pier, looking away from the camera—is rendered with high contrast and gloss, emphasizing the vintage, sun-bleached look she was aiming for. It is an object that feels tactile and real, much like the music contained within.
The Verdict
Ultraviolence remains a divisive but influential album in Del Rey's discography. It bridged the gap between her pop sensibilities and the indie-folk direction she would later embrace. While the standard digital release is polarizing due to its production choices, the Japan Edition offers a refined listening experience. It transforms the album from a collection of songs into a cohesive, immersive soundscape.
For fans of Lana Del Rey, owning the Japan Edition isn't just about collecting; it’s about hearing the "Hollywood Sadcore" queen at her most raw and atmospheric, presented with the fidelity the material deserves. It is a dark, beautiful, and essential chapter in the story of modern pop.
The Japan Edition of Lana Del Rey’s 2014 masterpiece, Ultraviolence, is the definitive version of the album for collectors. Released through Universal Music Japan, this edition is prized for including the exclusive bonus track "Flipside," which was largely omitted from digital and physical releases in other territories. Key Features of the Japan Edition
Exclusive Bonus Track: Includes "Flipside," a moody, guitar-driven track that perfectly encapsulates the album's desert-rock aesthetic.
Expanded Tracklist: Features the standard 11 tracks plus all bonus tracks found on the Deluxe edition (Black Beauty, Guns and Roses, Florida Kilos), totaling 15 tracks.
Physical Collectibility: The Japanese pressings typically include the signature Obi strip, a lyric booklet with Japanese translations, and high-quality SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) formatting for enhanced audio clarity. The Sonic Identity
Produced largely by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Ultraviolence marked a departure from the "baroque pop" of Born to Die. The Japan Edition highlights this shift toward: This is the true emotional climax of the Japan Edition
Psychedelic Rock & Blues: Heavy use of live instrumentation, distorted electric guitars, and hazy, reverb-soaked vocals.
Cinematic Themes: Lyrics exploring tragic romance, power dynamics, and the dark side of the American Dream, delivered with Lana's signature melancholic "femme fatale" persona. Tracklist Highlights
Cruel World: A sprawling, chaotic opening that sets the gritty tone.
West Coast: The lead single, famous for its mid-tempo shift and surf-rock influence.
Ultraviolence: The title track, blending strings with a slow-burn jazz sensibility.
Flipside (Japan Bonus): A "lost" fan favorite that offers a more somber, stripped-back conclusion to the record.
This is the true emotional climax of the Japan Edition. A piano ballad so fragile it sounds like it was recorded in an empty church, “Is This Happiness” directly interrogates the persona Del Rey had built. “Is this happiness? / You wanna kiss me, but you won't” – she isn’t playing a character here. She is the actress looking at herself in the mirror after the film wraps. It is a devastating companion to “Black Beauty.” On iTunes, the lack of physical surface noise allows the sorrow in her vibrato to cut directly through the mix.
Often maligned by critics as the weakest track on the album, “Guns and Roses” functions differently in the Japan Edition. Stripped of context, it’s a lethargic ode to a tattooed rockstar. But placed at the end of the sequence, it acts as a comedown. The lyric, “He used to call me DN… That stood for Deadly Nightshade,” encapsulates the album’s thesis: beauty as poison. On iTunes, the crisp digital master actually highlights the backing vocals and the subtle organ swells that get lost in the vinyl’s noise floor.
The "Plus" in iTunes Plus meant "no DRM" (Digital Rights Management). When you purchased this Japan Edition in the early 2010s, you truly owned the file. You could transfer it to any device, burn it to a CD for your vintage car (as Lana would approve), or archive it on a NAS drive. Streaming services can delist "Flipside" tomorrow; your M4A file remains.
To understand the iTunes Japan edition, one must first understand Japanese music retail law. For decades, the physical import market in Japan has been notoriously expensive. Because imported Western CDs (like the standard US Ultraviolence) are priced significantly higher than domestic releases, record labels add "incentives" to the Japanese market—usually bonus tracks—to discourage fans from buying cheaper international imports.
However, this tradition bled into the digital era. When iTunes launched in Japan, the rules remained: the digital edition must offer more than the US counterpart.
For Ultraviolence, this meant two distinct advantages for Japanese listeners (and savvy VPN users).