Sassy, sweet, profane and utterly British, Lily burst onto the pop scene in 2007 and immediately disarmed listeners with catchy ska-esque tunes occasionally fused with hip-hop and a potty mouth you can't help but smile at. Album opener "Smile" sets the tone immediately:
When you first left me I was wanting more
But you were fucking that girl next door
What ya do that for?
Thrown in a few more songs about dealing with unwanted suitors ("Knock 'Em Out"), life in a gimme-gimme world ("Everything's Just Wonderful") and a plea to her slacker brother, "Alfie," and you have a charming debut, but not too charming.
It's Not Me, It's You - A-
It's Not Me, It's You - A-
For her follow-up, Allen doesn't stray too far from her formula, but still grows up and out a bit, mixing in stronger social commentary with her usual cheeky attacks on bad lovers ("Not Fair"), small-minded people ("Fuck You"...nothing left to the imagination there) and the celebrity drug culture ("Everyone's At It"). Along the way she even gets downright romantic on "Who'd Have Known" and "Chinese." I look forward to where this gal can go in the future.
I was introduced to her on your "Best Of" a couple years back. Hey...if I get a 30th Birthday mix...you should throw something from the follow-up on there. ;)
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