I have been this album's arrival for MONTHS. I am so happy to report it was well worth the wait. Lily Allen's sophomore effort "It's Not Me, It's You" is as humorous and quirky as her first. Although more polished, a little less indie rock sounding, and a bit more grown up, Lily's brutal honesty is still in the forefront.
There isn't a single song on the album that I didn't like...this is a very rare occurrence. Kudos Miss Allen. Here are some of the high points of the album:
"Everyone's At It" asks point blank how people can be so blind to their own addictions as they look down their noses at others' problems. She's absolutely right, when will we admit to ourselves that everyone's at it? I love the line "I'm not trying to say that I'm smelling of roses, but when will tire of putting shit up our noses?" It's a painfully honest song placed over a upbeat pop melody...and it makes me wonder if I'm a bad person for fighting back a smile and the urge to dance around my living room when I turn this track on. Brilliant job Lily.
"The Fear" BY FAR my favorite track of the album. I love that Lily is so unafraid to just put it out there for all of us to listen to. "I want to be rich and I want lots of money, I don't care about clever I don't care about funny." By the time she gets to the chorus you are anxious to hear what she has to say and then she says simply "I'm being taken over by the fear."
"I Could Say" One of those brilliant break up songs that takes you back in time in your own memory, not one of those I'm so sad times either. One of those empowering moments where you walked away from someone who was bad for you, you knew it, and you were better for it. Lily tells the story beautifully.
"Who'd Have Known" It's a great song about the beginning of a new relationship. You know, that great time in the very beginning when you can't get enough of each other. "You're quite affectionate in public, in fact your friend said it made her feel sick." "Today you accidentally called me 'baby'".
"Him" A theological conversation. Comical, yet serious. Genius.
"It's Not Me, It's You" is out in North America on February 10th. BUY IT. It's fantastic, it's amazing, it's nothing short of what I had hoped for.