Drew Beringer
02/12/09, 04:23 PM
Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You
Release Date: February 10, 2009
Record Label: Capitol
Lily Allen is just too cute. Her charming smile and “fuck-you” attitude is every boys dream. She’s a sassy one, and it was very apparent on her 2007 debut, Alright, Still, a buzzworthy album that was just a bit too poppy. For her second effort, It’s Not Me, It’s You, Allen enlisted Greg Kurstin to produce her “new direction,” as she wanted to be more mature, electronic, and self-reflective. With some artists biting her previous style (coughKatyPerrycough), a rehash of Alright, Still could have been disastrous. Thankfully, the change of pace resulted in some of her best work.
It’s Not Me, It’s You is a deliciously dark 12 track adventure full of bite and sass. Musically, it sounds a lot more refined, substituting bubbly pop songs for a moodier vibe. Right away the album hits you over the head with hard-hitting drums that crescendos into Allen’s haunting “ahhh’s.” You can hear the difference immediately in Allen’s approach. She has also grown up a bit lyrically, as she criticizes the celebrity life on “The Fear.” Smooth grooves pace “22,” while “I Could Say” channels Allen’s inner ballad. Complete with an upbeat drum machine and programmed strings, it is one of her stronger songs to date.
The hyper-spastic “Back To The Start” follows, causing some people (read: me) to bust out the robot thanks to the ridiculously catchy chorus. The most unique track on the album is “Never Gonna Happen.” Allen’s vocals deliver, as they are incredibly snappy and poignant. How can someone sound so incredibly sweet while be so brutally honest at the same time? Allen pulls it off with ease as she politely explains, “I don’t love you.” Other standouts include the lighthearted “Fuck You,” and the disgustingly cute “Chinese.” Closer “He Wasn’t There” is minimal in music, as it has a sort of retro feel to it.
It’s Not Me, It’s You features a more vulnerable Allen. She opens up and describes her fears, her pettiness, and her love life; all with brutal honesty. She maintains her trademark sassiness, but it’s more mature this time around. While there are a few clunkers (I’m looking at you “Not Fair”) and some cheesy lyricism, the 12 tracks display enough variety and diversity to you keep you interested for multiple listens. Basically, Lily Allen delivers an album leaps and bounds better than Alright, Still. So if you dislike this album, it’s definitely your problem, not hers.
Track Listing:
1. Everyone’s At It
2. The Fear
3. Not Fair
4. 22
5. I Could Say
6. Back To The Start
7. Never Gonna Happen
8. Fuck You
9. Who’d Have Known
10. Chinese
11. Him
12. He Wasn’t There
Produced by: Greg Kurstin
Offical Myspace ( http://www.myspace.com/lilymusic); Official Website ( http://www.lilyallenmusic.com/)
Release Date: February 10, 2009
Record Label: Capitol
Lily Allen is just too cute. Her charming smile and “fuck-you” attitude is every boys dream. She’s a sassy one, and it was very apparent on her 2007 debut, Alright, Still, a buzzworthy album that was just a bit too poppy. For her second effort, It’s Not Me, It’s You, Allen enlisted Greg Kurstin to produce her “new direction,” as she wanted to be more mature, electronic, and self-reflective. With some artists biting her previous style (coughKatyPerrycough), a rehash of Alright, Still could have been disastrous. Thankfully, the change of pace resulted in some of her best work.
It’s Not Me, It’s You is a deliciously dark 12 track adventure full of bite and sass. Musically, it sounds a lot more refined, substituting bubbly pop songs for a moodier vibe. Right away the album hits you over the head with hard-hitting drums that crescendos into Allen’s haunting “ahhh’s.” You can hear the difference immediately in Allen’s approach. She has also grown up a bit lyrically, as she criticizes the celebrity life on “The Fear.” Smooth grooves pace “22,” while “I Could Say” channels Allen’s inner ballad. Complete with an upbeat drum machine and programmed strings, it is one of her stronger songs to date.
The hyper-spastic “Back To The Start” follows, causing some people (read: me) to bust out the robot thanks to the ridiculously catchy chorus. The most unique track on the album is “Never Gonna Happen.” Allen’s vocals deliver, as they are incredibly snappy and poignant. How can someone sound so incredibly sweet while be so brutally honest at the same time? Allen pulls it off with ease as she politely explains, “I don’t love you.” Other standouts include the lighthearted “Fuck You,” and the disgustingly cute “Chinese.” Closer “He Wasn’t There” is minimal in music, as it has a sort of retro feel to it.
It’s Not Me, It’s You features a more vulnerable Allen. She opens up and describes her fears, her pettiness, and her love life; all with brutal honesty. She maintains her trademark sassiness, but it’s more mature this time around. While there are a few clunkers (I’m looking at you “Not Fair”) and some cheesy lyricism, the 12 tracks display enough variety and diversity to you keep you interested for multiple listens. Basically, Lily Allen delivers an album leaps and bounds better than Alright, Still. So if you dislike this album, it’s definitely your problem, not hers.
Track Listing:
1. Everyone’s At It
2. The Fear
3. Not Fair
4. 22
5. I Could Say
6. Back To The Start
7. Never Gonna Happen
8. Fuck You
9. Who’d Have Known
10. Chinese
11. Him
12. He Wasn’t There
Produced by: Greg Kurstin
Offical Myspace ( http://www.myspace.com/lilymusic); Official Website ( http://www.lilyallenmusic.com/)