i’ll come clean, i have a strange love-hate relationship with lily allen.
when she burst onto the myspace scene all those years ago (ie 2!), she was a breathe of fresh dirty talk air, her pre-release mark ronson assisted mixtapes were blast and hugely enjoyable, as indeed were the girls first few singles.
i wont deny it, i was smitten.
here was a sassy young girl telling us old’uns what was what, and talking directly to her rabid fanbase in no uncertain terms.
needless to say, the record label, and media, got behind her, and gave the album all they could.
the album initially thrilled and spilled. the cheeky lyrics, the bouncy moods all fit, making me really think here was a pop star i could invest my time and emotion in.
then i started to listen a little deeper, and something clicked.
i fell out with the album, it was like listening to a teenage tantrum, something i didn’t find enjoyable.
so i filed the album away, and never went back to it, thinking my connection with the girl was well and truly over.
however, as is often the case, time and distance heals.
in the last couple of years, my heart has gone out to her on several occasions (we all know the stories), and i have been looking forward to hearing the impact that such a public growing up would have on her.
and here it is, the years first big pop album.
as opposed to the debut album, this time lily has decided to work with just one producer, greg kurstin throughout the 12 tracks, giving the album a sense of consistency and flow. taking some influence from the ongoing working relationship between the loud girls and xenomania perhaps ?
anyway, whatever the reason, i think it makes for far more enjoyable album than i ever expected.
vocally, lily is on fine sweeter than a humbug form, with her to be expected digs at lovers past/present/future (press/serious media are quoting certain lines all over the place of course), open heart confessions , and more emotional honesty that you can shake your daily mail at, and despite my earlier documented reservations, i love it.
the turnaround kicked in when i heard, the fear. something in the electro-pop excellence, the soft whisper just made me melt.
musically, lily and greg have run around the musical fairground having a go on all the rides.
modern nu-rave electro noises (back to the start), pet shop boys styled electro, madness styled rump-a-thump piano chords, oompah accordions to a tango beat (very finnish!) in never gonna happen, that take that song, and i can guarantee after 2 listens you’ll have the fuck you riff in your head for days.
you were right lily, it’s not you, it’s me, and even though you have told the world that you don’t make money from making records, i really hope you continue to make records as enjoyable as this.
quite simply, this is a cracking pop album.
more detail : here