A great deal of the music I’ve reviewed this year has been a bit somber, to say the least. This week, I thought I’d review an album that doesn’t require an antidepressant post-listening. Today I bring you Lily Allen, a sprightly Brit with a much more pleasant disposition.
Allen combines pop vocals, dope beats and a healthy dose of UK swagger on her new release, “Alright, Still.”
Boasting production from Mark Ronson (Nikka Costa, Amy Winehouse), she has an upbeat sound that matches her pop-friendly voice. The bright tone of the album makes it sound like it should’ve come out in the summer (and actually it was released last summer in the UK).
The album’s first single, “Smile,” is a reggae and hip-hop influenced tune. The song is a sort of “I’m-over-you-so-now-I-can-laugh-at-you” anthem. Its lyrics are aimed at an ex-boyfriend trying to get back with her. It’s actually a bit sadistic when she sings the chorus, “At first when I see you cry/It makes me smile…At worst, I feel bad for a while/ but then I just smile.” She does it in such a jovial manner that you don’t feel bad; you actually smile along.
One of my favorite tracks is “Knock ’em Out,” a witty song about being approached by an undesirable suitor. The track is comprised of a piano loop and broken-beat-type drums accented with horns. Her lyrics are playful and witty, a perfect match for the music. It’s the type of song that you play when you’re on your way out to a club, a nice marriage of dope lyrics, a dope beat and mad style.
Her next single, “LDN,” is another Caribbean-influenced track with hip-hop drums. This song has more of a “day-in-the-life” feel as she describes a bike ride through the city. You can’t help but nod along as she sings, “Sun is in the sky/Oh why oh why/would I wanna be anywhere else.” It’s the type of song that makes you smile when you hear it, despite the description of crack whores and an old lady being robbed. It does a great job of capturing the ugly yet beautiful experience that is urban life.
Another standout track is “Everything’s Just Wonderful,” a bouncy little tune about a lack of self-acceptance. The track comes in like a ’70s game show theme but morphs into a beach movie-esque extravaganza. She sings, “All the magazines they talk about weight loss/If I buy those jeans I can look like Kate Moss,” then sarcastically replies to herself, “Oh I’m just fine/Everything’s just wonderful/I’m having the time of my life,” all in a happy tone. She does a fantastic job of having a message without sounding preachy.
Overall, the album is able to keep a playful tone without being silly. I wish more pop artists knew how to walk this line. Allen proves that you can have pop sensibility and still have decent lyrical content. At the same time, she’s not beating you over the head with a message. Bottom line: It’s worth the loot, so buy it already.
