Review: Lily Allen (2/2) - It's Not Me, It's You

It's Not Me, It's You, Lily Allen(2009)

The unique nature of Allen's work and her very critical lifestyle meant that the second album was always going to be quite different from the original. Despite being a very loosely popular celebrity, Allen was a popular figure in the tabloid press for the duration of her three-year career, mostly for inconsiderate statements, drunken embarrassments and blatant law-breaking. The name of the album is perhaps consequential; a call out to the tabloids to get off her back. Anyway. Let's look at the contents.

Well... it's better in some areas and worse in others. The songs are generally palatable and less droll but the contoversial songs, albeit less in number, are quite vulgar. Maybe witty on an isolated listening, but if listened to recreationally they may seem highly inappropriate. For example, "Not Fair" deals with the topic of Premature Ejaculation. Perfect for all those little kiddies.

There does remain some politcal commentary, in the form of "The Fear," which deals with materialism in society. What I love is that while the previous album fell flat in terms of relationships, some of this album's strongest offerings cover that very subject, such as "22" and "I Could Say". It's a good sign that she knows how to improve based on past mistakes, and one of the things that I found endearing.

And then there're the terrible songs. "Fuck You," for example, is a return to the sheer silliness of Alright, Still's "Alfie," upbeat profanities with a pretense of having something to say about society, but are in fact rotten apples on an otherwise unspoilt tree. "Who'd Have Known" is taken directly from Take That's "Shine", literally, something that I would have thought Ms. Allen would have avoided with her unconventional approach.

In terms of style, this album has far more techno than previously, maybe as a sign of Ms. Allen moving more into mainstream material. It does improve the album, although "I Could Say," a typical ballad, is still moving without it.

It's a shame that Allen packed up her career, for typically greedy reasons (She aparrently couldn't see any way of making any more money from it.) She was improving, certainly, and she had a very unique outlook on the country and of modern britain, as well as having a lovely voice and a quirky fashion. I can only hope that if she does make a third album, she learns from her past results and makes something to be truely proud of.

Thanks.