It's Not Me, It's You
Lily Allen
It's Not Me, It's You
(EMI Music)
By Serene Ho
Choice Cut : Everybody's At It, The Fear, Not Fair, I Could Say, F*ck You, Who'd Have Known
Official website: http://www.lilyallenmusic.com/
It is easy to write this off as yet another pop album overladen with infectious tunes. However, listen carefully to Brit popstar Lily Allen's sophomore effort It's Not Me, It's You, and you'll end up pleasantly surprised and charmed by the many stories that she weaves into it. It's like a storybook you can't guess the ending to.
Prattling off with synth-pop number, "Everybody's At It," it's an anti-drugs song at best, dished out in a catchy ditty with clever lyrics to boot. Thereafter, she moves off to taking a jab at the fame game, with the first single off the album, "The Fear," and how she is just "a weapon of massive consumption."
Despite its country twang and irrepressible beat, "Not Fair" is all about the sad reality of falling in love with an absolutely wonderful boy who is, unfortunately, quite awful in bed. "22" has a very jazzy beat to it as Allen laments all about society's perception of women. Things begin to slow down slight with "I Could Say," an electro-pop ballad that is about lost love, making you want to whirl around in swirls of sadness.
Electronica number, "Back To The Start" hides an apology to a person from her past, amidst dance-worthy beats. Jumping into the realm of love again, "Never Gonna Happen" is cheekiness personified as she breaks out into a highly swingy tune about a guy who won't stop chasing her despite her obvious and blatant hints.
It's sing-a-long time next with "F*ck You," a highly infectious song about homophobia and racism. Its crazy melody will have you humming along in no time. The mood dips with "Who'd Have Known," a ballad all about the beginnings of a new relationship that tugs at the heartstrings with all the hesitation and love oozing forth.
"Chinese" evokes a fairytale feel at the beginning, and this electro-pop track will soon have you floating with the lightheaded-ness that comes with being in love, bringing forth a gentler and softer side to Lily Allen. After being surrounded by the magic of love, she croons to the folksy "Him," wondering just what God is like. Evoking a Charlie Chaplin-feel, "He Wasn't There" is a coming-of-age song about her relationship with her Dad, and ends off the album with a good touch.
Two and a half years after Lily Allen's debut album, Alright, Still, this infamous potty-mouth still manages to wow listeners with her contradictory music of happy, head-boppity tunes and dark lyrics. This new album shines out with the many themes it develops, and is a refreshing breath in an industry full of recycled tunes.
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