The album is available for purchase on iTunes, as well as other digital music platforms.
Released on June 13, 2014, through Polydor and Interscope Records, this specific digital release stands as a holy grail for fans. It seamlessly merges the raw, cinematic desert-rock production of Dan Auerbach with two of Lana's rarest, most melancholic exclusive tracks: "Is This Happiness" and "Flipside" .
Tracks like "West Coast" and "Shades of Cool" anchored the global tracklist, but the album's emotional spectrum was not fully realized until the inclusion of its rare bonus tracks. In the music industry, Japanese physical and digital editions frequently receive exclusive bonus tracks. This practice incentivizes local listeners to purchase official releases rather than opting for cheaper international imports. For Ultraviolence , this marketing strategy resulted in the preservation of two of Del Rey’s finest, most melancholic works. The Crucial Japanese Bonus Tracks
: The iTunes Japan Deluxe Edition includes "Is This Happiness" and "Flipside" as part of its 16-track expanded list. Lana Del Rey Ultraviolence -Japan Edition- -iTu...
: A fan-favourite that leaked early but found its home here. It captures the melancholic essence of the album perfectly.
: Digital files formatted specifically for the Japanese iTunes store during this era often carried distinct metadata and optimization tweaks tailored for high-fidelity playback on Apple devices.
These tracks were not included on the physical European or US deluxe editions, making the digital Japanese release highly coveted. Exclusive Tracks: "Flipside" In-Depth Look at Exclusive Bonus Tracks The album is available for purchase on iTunes,
Commercially, the album was a resounding success. It debuted at number one in 12 countries, including the US and UK, and has since been certified Platinum. Its success proved that "anti-commercial subject matter can be commercially adored," paving the way for a wave of darker, more introspective pop music that would dominate the latter half of the 2010s. Billboard noted that with the album's success, "expect more brooding, rock experimentation and mystique from mainstream music's biggest stars".
If you listen to Ultraviolence on Apple AirPods in a noisy subway, the difference between a standard MP3 and the iTunes Plus M4A is negligible. However, if you listen on wired IEMs (In-Ear Monitors), studio monitors, or a high-end car stereo, the Japan Edition M4A reveals the ghost in the shell.
When Lana Del Rey released Ultraviolence in 2014, it marked a seismic shift in her career. Moving away from the "Baroque Pop" and hip-hop infusions of Born to Die , she dove headfirst into a hazy, psychedelic world of desert rock and distorted guitars. But for the "Lana stans" and serious collectors, the standard release wasn't enough. The real prize was—and remains—the . Tracks like "West Coast" and "Shades of Cool"
To understand the true value of the Japanese iTunes edition, one must look at the full landscape of Ultraviolence releases. Beyond the standard and deluxe CD editions, there existed a multitude of retailer-specific versions:
Academics have also analyzed the album through the lens of post-modern feminism. Some early critics decried its depiction of submissive women in abusive relationships as anti-feminist. However, a more nuanced reading suggests that the album highlights female independence and the freedom of choice, even when those choices are uncomfortable or self-destructive. By refusing to present a didactic or "empowering" message, Del Rey allows her characters to be complex, flawed, and human, which is a radical act in the world of mainstream pop. As one scholar noted, the album illustrates how a woman can be "empowered through her independence, she is free," even if she chooses a role that others might find degrading.
This track is perhaps the most beloved of all Ultraviolence bonus tracks. It is a slow, hazy, melancholic ballad that showcases Lana’s higher vocal register and poetic songwriting. The song feels reminiscent of the Born to Die era's melancholy but with the slower, more experimental tempo of the Dan Auerbach-produced Ultraviolence sessions. It is characterized by soft piano, slow drums, and dreamy, introspective lyrics. 2. "Flipside"
In the era of streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, region-locked digital releases have become incredibly rare. The Japan iTunes version of Ultraviolence is highly regarded for several key reasons:
Since the mid-2010s, the Japan Edition has become version to hunt down. Flipside remained region-locked to Japanese digital stores for nearly five years, forcing fans to rip low-quality YouTube audio or pay premium import prices ($30–50 for the SHM-CD). When Lana finally released Flipside on Western streaming services as part of Ultraviolence (Deluxe) in the late 2010s, the mystique slightly faded—but owning the original iTunes metadata (with the correct 2014 release date and Japanese retailer tags) remains a point of pride for digital archivists.