Lily Allen - Alright, Still
Lalalalalalalalalalalalalala. Lily Allen has a delicious perkiness about her. The British have personified her as the epitome of all that is gorgeous, the epitome of the pop genre. While, these levels of glory may be just generally British gloating that their music scene is generally better than ours and that ours feeds off it (which is true, but honestly), they make two valid points. One is valid to this review but to all men everywhere: Lily Allen is attractive. The other, however, is valid to this review and that is Alright, Still is the an excellently composed pop album. Did you hear that? My credibility went out the window as I applauded all that is Lily Allen. Who cares? This album is stellar.
Lily Allen's Alright, Still almosts pans out like a ska album, with hip-hop/pop influences. She soothingly delivers lyrics in a gentle tone. Her high notes are enjoyable and aren't piercing. She sings almost as if she is talking with a naturally rhythmic, toe-tapping voice. In "Smile," her 'lalalalalas' are drawn out but calculated and she doesn't try getting brave. "Knock 'Em Out" is this little anthem with a jittery little jazz piano intro, while Allen informs us that "This is a song about anyone, it could be anyone." It's her little pissy tell-all to the media to fuck off. It's delicious. Why can't I have her number? Either because she hates me or "cause I lost my phone!"
The single, "LDN," is almost radio-ready and shows us that Allen is alert to her surroundings. This little narrative of the society is composed as if it's the happiest it could be but the lyrics describe this pretty miserable set of situations. The poppy contradiction is wholy enjoyable. "Take What You Take," flipsidedly, is her little ballad that only aspires but never really achieves. It's features her angrily saying "What the fuck do you know?" and I know that this song had potential, but she doesn't really embrace the emotion in the song as well as she could.
On the whole though, Alright, Still is a very wholesome experience. You will bob your head, you will sing-along to the catchiness of the lyrics. The happiness is infectious, the album, more than herpes. More enjoyable than an Aaron Carter release. You can't not enjoy it. Or, you can't unless you are El Diablo.
See more at www.musicemissions.com
