"Alright, Still" ...by Lily Allen

By now I'm sure you've heard of this wit of a Brit. So this review is late on two accounts: it's the perfect summer album. But better late than never.

I was introduced to Lily Allen by her "Smile" single and video which made me chuckle a little, and of course ogle at this adorable vixen. But she's got much more than a cute countenance: the hype around her is actually well-founded, for a change.

Allen has composed (well, I'm not sure how much of that she did, but anyway) a pretty brilliant pop record. She infuses pop, R&B, and hip hop, creating an album that is both fun to listen to and perpetually fresh--i.e. it doesn't get old. Maybe that's because of the variety on the album; I played it start to finish countless times over the summer, because I like each track a lot, and they're all so damn catchy.

LDN is my favorite track, a satirical take on the pleasantries of Allen's hometown of London...which simultaneously shows off Allen's talent for rhyming and coming up with uplifting pop hooks and choruses. In fact, a lot of this album comes across as rather ironic, in its sordid subject matter but pleasant backing melodies.

The subject matter of this album is somewhat bitter, mostly disappointed and angry (i.e. downright mean), and occasionally regretful, centering mostly on failed relationships with inadequate men, and also people who aren't as good as Lily. She's got a big, cocky, forward personality, but she's cute, smart, and talented. And she doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks. You love her or you hate her, apparently, taking into account the attention she's garnered from the media.


But it's gotta be impossible to hate her music. Sure, she continuously comes up with increasingly creative ways to deny and denigrate men, but her wit is so sharp you can't help but appreciate it, or at least laugh and sing along. Her music is so fresh and addicting that it appeals to people who like all sorts of music, which is why, if you haven't already, you should give her a listen.

Try out LDN, Everything's Just Wonderful, and Littlest Things streamed at her official website or her myspace page.