Album Reviews

Lily Allen :: "It’s Not Me, It’s You"

by Sara

For a while, Lily Allen was famous just for causing late-night scenes at clubs or for being carried out because she was too intoxicated to get out on her own. But did you know she actually released an album earlier this year? “It’s Not Me, It’s You” came out this past February and though it’s not as good as her 2006 debut, “Alright, Still” her sophomore attempt deserves a bit of recognition from me.

“Alright, Still” is a great album that experiments with pop, ska, punk and electronica. “It’s Not Me, It’s You” sees Allen straying away from some of that though, and gets rid of a lot of the ska. This decision is not in my favor but hey, it’s her album, not mine. The album is still alright … still.

The album starts off with “Everyone’s At It,” an immediate pace setter for the change in direction the album takes. There are definitely a whole lot more synthesizers and computer production. But if you’re a fan of her sweet British voice, then there is no need to worry because that is still present.

One of the album’s singles, “The Fear,” is one of those annoying songs about celebrities complaining about how hard their life is. Look, I can imagine having the paparazzi following you around is a huge burden and nuisance but I also know that when making decisions about your career, you have to know what you’re getting into. Especially when it comes to stardom. This song was probably a response to famed blogger Perez Hilton making her a laughing stock by highlighting all her drunken debauchery and includes more layered synths and beat machines on top of acoustic guitar.

“Not Fair” is another single released off of “It’s Not Me, It’s You.” For some reason this song has a Western influence and I can’t figure out why. I’m not complaining but it seems out of place with the light whistling and banjo. The subject matter of the song is fun as Allen sings about having the guy who is perfect in every way … Except the bedroom. Is she selfish for wanting more as a result of his selfishness?

The albums slows down with songs like “I Could Say” and “Chinese,” both of which feature slower tempos. “Chinese” actually has a sound that’s quite pretty thanks to the long notes on the synths and guitars.

Interestingly enough, the Western sound isn’t the only genre that makes a surprise appearance on the album. In “Never Gonna happen,” Allen turns Gypsy on us by including claps and accordion during slow versus. The chorus picks it up by adding a really thick electronic beat that will definitely get your head bobbing! It may sound out of place, but it’s still a pretty cool song.

Finally, there are a few songs on “It’s Not Me, It’s You” that show (to me, anyway) that Allen is influenced greatly by the female artists around her.

Her song “22” has a really great beat and features more piano than most of the songs on the album. These factors make me feel that Allen was inspired greatly by Fiona Apple, especially since the beat sounds almost exactly the same as Apple’s “Tymps (The Sick in the Head Song” off of her 2005 album, “Extraordinary Machine.” The downside of this song though is that it seems to be another song about celebrity. Her wikipedia page says that this song is about women in general, but I think it could also represent Allen’s life and the fact that she may not like where life has gone (complaining about celebrity, announcing her retirement, etc).

Another song that shows Allen’s influences is “Him,” a song about God and/or a higher power. The lyrics take on the big questions that remind me of Joan Osborne’s “(What If God Was) One Of Us?” Allen asks: “Do you think he’s any good at remembering people’s names?/Do you think he’s ever taken smack or cocaine?/I don’t imagine he’s ever been suicidal/His favorite band is Creedence Clearwater Revival.”

Lastly, an Amanda Palmer (a la “Oasis”) inspired “Fuck You” uses that same irony technique in songwriting. Meaning, the music is sweet and upbeat but the lyrical content isn’t exactly flowery (“Fuck you, fuck you very very much/Cuz your words don’t translate and it’s getting quite late so please don’t stay in touch”). The phrase “fuck you” is said at least 20 times and in many different effects.

Overall, “It’s Not Me, It’s You” is an okay listen but not as good as “Alright, Still.” She took on a more adult perspective, which usually happens during a sophomore attempt that has artists finding themselves after their debut. The loss of the ska influence definitely didn’t work in her favor but it’s nice to see those other female artists finding their way onto Allen’s influence list (whether she may realize it or not).

If you’re familiar with either of these albums and want more, you’re out of luck because Lily Allen has supposedly retired from the music scene. We’ll see how that plays out, though. How many musicians have you heard retired then saw them out on tour within the next few years?

“Fuck You”
“The Fear”
“Not Fair”

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