Put Another Dime in the Jukebox, Baby: Music Reviews

Lily Allen's Debut CD Alright Still

Slassy Pop Music That You Won't be Embarassed to Put on Your Ipod
(well...not too embarassed)

The first time I encountered Lily Allen it was through an ad on myspace. That's not a great start. I listened to a couple of songs and at the time really didn't think she was doing anything special. But I decided to give her another try because there has been so much buzz surrounding her new full-length album. I must admit that she has really grown on me over time. Its like putting on Fergie's The Dutchess but with some actual indie cred...and when she writes a song about London it makes sense because she actually lives there. The highlights are definitely the post-breakup anthem "Smile" and "LDN", a biting tribute to the dirty city she loves so dearly. Unfortunately there are times when she tries a little too hard and misses the mark. Seriously, why must everyone try to put their own spin on the "reggae" genre? No matter what you do its gonna be sucky. But I digress.

I love how outspoken this album is and how she's not afraid to present herself as a drunken emotional wreck. Its a nice change from the uber-image-conscious ladies of American pop. Allen has gotten herself thrown out of bars for fighting, flashes her tits at the paparazzi and all that other good stuff that keeps celebrity bloggers in business. You might be saying to yourself, "Haven't I seen LLo thrown out of a bar or two? And for that matter, how many times have I seen Paris Hilton's titties?" What I like about the Lily Allens of the world as opposed to these typical American barsluts is that she's so honest about it. She doesn't go on Oprah two days after she's been in the hospital for "exhaustion" claiming she parties just as much as the rest of the 20 year olds in North America. Umm...I'm 20. And I've been known to go out dancing with my friends and yeah things get a little crazy sometimes. But you don't see me checked into a hospital because of it.

When to listen to this album?
While primping for a night out on the town or to lighten things up when you're cleaning the dirty clothes off of your bedroom floor.