Spring Break
REVIEW: Lily Allen's new album nothing short of brilliant
5 out of 5 stars
Stephen Ortiz
Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: Focus
On her debut album, Lily Allen established herself as poster child for the post feminist hipster movement. Young, witty and chock full of dry wit and sass, Allen crafted a top notch British export made up of potty words paired with ska-pop tunes reminiscent of the No Doubt of old.
Now, just over two years later, Allen returns with the genius "It's Not Me, It's You," an album that is still very much her own, yet very different.
The biggest change between "Alright, Still…" and "It's Not Me, It's You" comes in the music. Long gone are the ska-infused cuts that made her debut so bubbly and contradictory to the dark and dirty lyrics. Instead, they have been replaced by electro-pop instrumentals made up of drum loops and synthesizers. Then there are the few tracks that stand out from the rest, like the rejection ridden "Never Gonna Happen," which combines an accordion, bells and hand clapping to give off a circus-y vibe that is oddly infectious.
These changes in sound may be heavily influenced in the drastic production changes made between the "Alright, Still…" and "It's Not Me, It's You" - this time around the album, was largely produced by Allen herself (with the help of producer Greg Kurstin), and her personal roller coaster life (the topless shots, drunken fights with Elton John and her miscarriage) shines through the music.
While a lot of the source material carries over from "Alright, Still…," there is more of an emphasis on tabloid culture (something Allen is no stranger to), bad hook-ups and our wildly hypocritical society. While to some, it may seem as if Allen is bored and is simply working today's pop-music clichés, she speaks from personal experience and finds a way to make it fresh all over again thanks to her undeniable charm and clever lyricism.
"It's Not Me, It's You" takes the form of two different monsters here. Half the tracks are these almost danceable pieces of social commentary, and the other half ooze this slowed down, somber, emotional sound that are going to have people stopping and saying, "This is Lily Allen? I didn't know she had it in her." It really is a work of art and surely won't be forgotten at the year's end when all of those "Best Of" lists start popping up.
Now, just over two years later, Allen returns with the genius "It's Not Me, It's You," an album that is still very much her own, yet very different.
The biggest change between "Alright, Still…" and "It's Not Me, It's You" comes in the music. Long gone are the ska-infused cuts that made her debut so bubbly and contradictory to the dark and dirty lyrics. Instead, they have been replaced by electro-pop instrumentals made up of drum loops and synthesizers. Then there are the few tracks that stand out from the rest, like the rejection ridden "Never Gonna Happen," which combines an accordion, bells and hand clapping to give off a circus-y vibe that is oddly infectious.
These changes in sound may be heavily influenced in the drastic production changes made between the "Alright, Still…" and "It's Not Me, It's You" - this time around the album, was largely produced by Allen herself (with the help of producer Greg Kurstin), and her personal roller coaster life (the topless shots, drunken fights with Elton John and her miscarriage) shines through the music.
While a lot of the source material carries over from "Alright, Still…," there is more of an emphasis on tabloid culture (something Allen is no stranger to), bad hook-ups and our wildly hypocritical society. While to some, it may seem as if Allen is bored and is simply working today's pop-music clichés, she speaks from personal experience and finds a way to make it fresh all over again thanks to her undeniable charm and clever lyricism.
"It's Not Me, It's You" takes the form of two different monsters here. Half the tracks are these almost danceable pieces of social commentary, and the other half ooze this slowed down, somber, emotional sound that are going to have people stopping and saying, "This is Lily Allen? I didn't know she had it in her." It really is a work of art and surely won't be forgotten at the year's end when all of those "Best Of" lists start popping up.
Be the first to comment on this story