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Lily Allen

It's Not Me, It's You
2009
Capitol

Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Torgo
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Published on February 27th 2009

Lily Allen divides people, plain and simple. Some people think she’s a snarky firecracker who transcends genre, while others view her as nothing more than Katy Perry without the Zooey Deschanel resemblance. There are well-read arguments for both sides, but one thing Allen proves on her sophomore disc is that she can be more mature and eloquent than Perry -- but only when she wants to.

The songs about sex and relationships with wildly blunt and inappropriate language that caught the eye of many people on her first album, Alright, Still, gets a little tiresome here. “Not Fair,” with its spaghetti western beat complete with banjo solo could be a sequel to Alright, Still’s “Not Big.” About a guy who is great in every aspect of their relationship except for his selfishness in the bedroom, it gets a little cringe-worthy: "Oh I lie here in the wet patch in the middle of the bed / I'm feeling pretty damn hard done by, I spent ages giving head." Announced to be the second single, I can’t wait to see how that couplet works on radio.

The album’s two lead-off tracks, “Everyone's at It” and “The Fear” are acceptable, though not distinctive, which tackle, respectively, the prevalence of drugs and the spoiled culture of young female celebrity (“I want loads of clothes and fuckloads of diamonds / I heard people die while they’re trying to find them”). They’re polished, clean and single-ready (indeed, “The Fear” is the record’s first single) but ultimately disposable.

It’s Not Me, It’s You takes a turn for the better on track 5 with the sublime “I Could Say,” starting a block through track 10 of the album’s best songs. Here is where her well-written, offbeat style meets maturity to a satisfying level. “Who’d Have known,” the album’s best track, bears a White Album-era Beatles piano stomp that looks at a budding relationship through a sophisticated lens. It’s followed by the dreamy “Chinese,” which paints a fully realized portrait as well as Lily ever has.

This album will appease Lily Allen fans who loved her first record, even if this is more dance-oriented versus her debut’s more ska leanings. But one has to wonder if on her third album she needs to litter it with “controversial” tracks like “Not Fair” and the awful “Him,” which ponders, among other things, if God is ever suicidal or tried cocaine. She’s established enough to where her mature tracks can top the charts; Lily should be able to move away from doing Eminem’s trademark of making the over-the-top, funny, zany song the lead single to hook the record-buying public. This will set her apart from the Katy Perrys of the pop world.

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Posted by judoandrew on 2009-07-16 02:00:37
My Score:

this shit suuuuuuucks

Posted by SilentStorms on 2009-03-05 09:15:08

Apparently this isn't Punknews anymore. This isn't real music, especially punk music. I submitted a review for Protest the Hero's first EP a couple of years ago and it never made it onto this site. This is fucking bullshit. This was my homepage, let's hope it still is next month. Aubin and Adam and the rest, stop posting this shit! I've been a devout Punknews fan for years, but I'm getting to the end of your road, and all I see is prodigious cliffs. Score is for recent content. Score is for this site.

Posted by damnitsderek on 2009-03-04 23:30:33

katy perry is teh fug.

This.

Posted by DreeeamWeaver on 2009-03-03 10:13:52

KurtTGS needs hiz bawwwls reattached!

HAW HAW HAW

Posted by AlexPardee on 2009-03-02 15:33:53
My Score:

I want to die! (Right now)

Posted by chrisafi on 2009-03-02 14:52:33

This is wank

Posted by KurtTGS on 2009-03-02 11:38:16

For anyone who hasn't heard her: http://www.myspace.com/lilymusic

The Fear kinda sucks, but her other two old songs on here are great.

Posted by DreeeamWeaver on 2009-03-01 23:43:38

katy perry is teh fug.

Posted by inagreendase on 2009-03-01 19:32:49

I don't see why Paris Hilton's "ska esque" song shouldn't be reviewed here either.

Because we don't really do single song reviews.

Posted by DrBino on 2009-03-01 17:40:34
My Score:

God i hate this pompous bitch. Get your fake chav accent off the fucking radio! Fuck you Lily Allen.

Posted by Grue on 2009-03-01 16:53:20

where the hell is the new BTMI review? People must know how much it kicks ass!

Posted by the_other_scott on 2009-03-01 14:38:11

mikexdude

i try to stay away from the misogynistic commenting. but katy perry is hot. you're wrong. 100% wrong.

Posted by mikexdude on 2009-03-01 11:13:33

Okay, two things:

1. KATY PERRY IS NOT ATTRACTIVE. Stop. Really, she isn't.

2. I thought this was a very good review.

Posted by scorpiondeathlock on 2009-03-01 01:23:03

based on pure physical attraction alone...id take katy perry.

Posted by skarocks on 2009-02-28 22:45:18

I'm not surprised with this review on the site, but I have to question if Lily Allen hadn't had "ska sounds" on her first album, would you have reviewed it for the site and more importantly would Punknews have considered posting it on their site. Lilly Allen doesn't do anything for me but if her album gets reviewed here then I don't see why Paris Hilton's "ska esque" song shouldn't be reviewed here either. Also the comparison to Katy Perry is stupid. There is no way you could get those two mixed up, they look different, one is English the other American and their music styles are totally different.

Posted by the_other_scott on 2009-02-28 20:14:54

i'm not feeling this one as much as I dug Alright, Still. that shit was on a pop-genius level.

p.s. to those complaining, Lilly Allen has as much to do with punk as half of the mall-punk bullshit reviewed on this website. don't look at it as "lilly allen is punk" look at it as "a lilly allen review from the perspective of a punk rock fan"

Posted by leecorsoisapenis on 2009-02-28 20:01:51

ChadReligion FTW! This review was so worth it!

Jim

Posted by ChadReligion on 2009-02-28 19:30:23

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Media/Pix/pictures/2009/02/2 3/qmagazine550.jpg

Posted by Deadpan on 2009-02-28 17:56:11

I can understand that it's not your opinion that she's similar to Katy Perry, but the fact is that it's a ridiculous argument to make in the first place, and to me it seems like you've kind of legitimised it by not only acknowledging it in the review, but seemingly pandering towards the people who would make those comparisons by devoting such a relatively large portion of the review to it. Really, all you'd need to do would be to say something like "To all those who compare her to Katy Perry: you are dumb."

There aren't well-read arguments for both sides - the two acts, beyond being female pop-artists, share nothing in common beyond hair colour.

Posted by damnitsderek on 2009-02-28 17:38:06

I thot thiz ws PUNKNEWS lulz.

Posted by inagreendase on 2009-02-28 16:57:03

What Torgo said.

Posted by torgo on 2009-02-28 16:29:56
My Score:

For the "omg not punx!!" people: I reviewed this mostly on the basis that her first album was fairly ska, and you know your Britney Spears comparisons are hyperbole. Also, if Kanye is reviewed on here, this is fair game.

For the people saying Lily has been around longer than Katy: I know that, I'm just saying a lot of people view them as one in the same.

And yes ozmanx, that picture I believe is the main reason no one should be hatin' on this review

Posted by ozmanx on 2009-02-28 16:22:47
My Score:

Score is for that Zooey photo.

Posted by IanIsSuperRad on 2009-02-28 15:57:48
My Score:

Fucking love this album. I don't even care. One of my favorites so far this year.

Posted by martinNZ09 on 2009-02-28 15:40:11
My Score:

Lily Allen has been around a lot longer than Katy Perry

Posted by Archangel on 2009-02-28 15:04:57

WHAT

the

FUCK

Posted by Cos on 2009-02-28 14:42:43

Whenever someone posts a review of something mainstream-related, the whole community goes nuts. This site has ALWAYS posted reviews like this. Get over it.

I loved Lily Allen's first album and would rather listen to that than anything that editor fav's Weezer has put out in the last 10 years. This one was a little bland the first go around, but maybe I'll like it later.

Posted by cheesetits on 2009-02-28 14:35:31

I get this girl and Katy Perry confused, even though I've never heard this girl. I imagine it being the same though. Is that wrong.

Posted by FrankReich on 2009-02-28 14:30:54
My Score:

Not bad. A couple of stinkers like "Him" and "Back To The Start" but I'd take any 6 songs from this over the crap on the new Loved Ones EP

Posted by givemeamuseumandillfillit on 2009-02-28 14:11:14

Did Britney Spears or Katy Perry have Joe Strummer mentoring them?

Posted by telegraphrocks on 2009-02-28 14:08:58

well.....Joe Strummer was her godfather. Score is for Strummer.

Seriously? Wow.

I was just listening to Global A Go Go yesterday again.... sooo good.

Posted by Apeman_on_the_moon on 2009-02-28 13:55:46

I don't want to be one of those guys who complains about reviews but......Lily Allen does nothing in her music that would warrant her record being reviewed on this site.

Posted by oskorei on 2009-02-28 13:31:43

really punknews.org?? Is this the best you can come up with this week?

Posted by Deadpan on 2009-02-28 13:28:35

How was she ever compared to Katy Perry? Her debut was released, in the UK at least, long before anyone had ever been irritated by the vapid twat who pretends to have kissed a girl. So uh... what?

I dunno, it's hard to take this review seriously on that basis alone.

Posted by skitzo on 2009-02-28 13:28:07
My Score:

well.....Joe Strummer was her godfather. Score is for Strummer.

Posted by teaessare on 2009-02-28 13:09:23

Zooey Deschanel is much hotter to me.

Posted by CCSummers on 2009-02-28 13:01:53

The sites review section is quickly becoming a joke

Posted by holyromanstile on 2009-02-28 12:59:29

Great album. Better than Alright, Still.

Posted by ChadReligion on 2009-02-28 12:58:50

I thought the first album was well put together.. It always put me in a good mood and made me want to get high and go to London and hit on cute british girls. I'm not sure about this release, but I hope she sticks with he little dancehall/ska vibe without going totally Chemical Brothers.

cute chick... nice ass

check out the cover of Q magazine

Posted by punknewscommenter on 2009-02-28 12:42:05

She's performed with Terry Hall and Lynval so thats good enough for me.

Posted by INDESTRUKTIBLE502guate on 2009-02-28 12:38:39

this fucking site is going fucking down.

PUNKnews.org my ass!

Posted by DreeeamWeaver on 2009-02-28 12:00:56
My Score:

where's my Lady GaGa review?

Posted by telegraphrocks on 2009-02-28 12:00:40
My Score:

Get the fuck out of here!

Posted by ChokingVictim on 2009-02-28 11:57:23

i like her music, a lot. i shouldn't but i do. eat a dick.

Posted by misterspike on 2009-02-28 11:57:07

Uppin' the Punx. Waiting on the new Amy Winehouse review ...

Posted by crackpotdemagogue on 2009-02-28 09:10:41

popnews.org? I actually quite like the song 'the fear' which you describe as disposable.

also, OMG LOL at the guy below who said "this should be deleted off the website". we have a radical in our midst!

Posted by mevsall on 2009-02-28 09:07:52

if you're gonna review something that's not punk, it should be something good. i could write a bad review for nickelback or something, but what would be the point?

Posted by ridebikesnothorses on 2009-02-28 07:16:52

This should be deleted off the website.
Lily Allen is a mockney disgrace, and punk!?

Posted by pricey123 on 2009-02-28 05:44:15

ouch. this shouldnt be posted here

Posted by anarchyadam on 2009-02-28 05:27:07

Why is this reviewed here? Like, seriously, there have to be dozens of albums waiting for their reviews to be published. The shitty kanye west nightclub rap reviews are horrible enough, but this britney spears bullshit is somehow worse.

I'm joking, but are you guys actually going to post my review of the new britney spears album? I worked extra hard, and listened halfway through the album. I pooped on a piece of paper and mailed it to you. It should be there soon. It's in a box. look out for it.

I can't wait until next week, when the top review is the new Stone Temple Pilots album. That's the closest thing I could think of that is this far from what should be getting reviewed on this site.

Seriously though, I did mail you my poop when I saw this review.

Expect it.

Posted by insinceredave on 2009-02-28 04:51:02

Well, I dont normally like shouting 'this doesn't belong here! oi oi oi!' but come on.... come on....

Posted by strickland on 2009-02-28 04:36:46

Im pretty disappointed that this has featured on this website. I thought here was somewhere i could go to get away from mainstream popshite like lily allen. Get a hold of yourselves punknews. I can understand the hip hop reviews, but this is plain ridiculous.

Posted by punknewscommenter on 2009-02-28 04:13:44

Disappointed by this one. I hope she gets all the experimenting out on this record and decides to go full on two tone for the next one. .. and hopefully writes better lyrics.
For me, Lily Allen has so much potential that has yet to be lived up to. She just needs to stop trying so hard to be controversial.

Posted by holy_balls on 2009-02-28 02:23:44

is lily allen hot? if so, i want to do her. if not, i don't.

Posted by thegimper on 2009-02-28 01:45:47

Yeah, I haven't taken the time to listen to this album yet since she has reportedly moved away the Ska sound of Alright, Still. I need to get my hopes down low enough before I can pop it in.

Posted by KurtTGS on 2009-02-28 00:48:23

I loved Alright Still...this one, I just don't know.

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