Getting away without sounding like a Sex and the City chick

Lily Allen - It’s Not Me, It’s You | 4/5

Lily Allen’s second album, It’s Not Me, It’s You was released in Ireland on February 9.

It wasn’t as well received here as in the UK, where it landed at the top of the download charts in its first week. Even if the Irish public prefer Lady Gaga for now, Allen’s album is definitely worthy of some praise too.

It’s been three years since the release of Allen’s debut album, Alright, Still. Musically, the singer has been quite quiet since then, but this hasn’t affected the high level of media coverage she’s received.

Three years under scrutiny from the press has definitely influenced Allen’s music.

Though her new album doesn’t contain any Britney-esque rants about paparazzi, it’s clear the singer has grown up a bit. Tracks like Who’d Have Known show a softer, more contented side to Allen.

It’s Not Me, It’s You is less mouthy than the singer’s first offering. However Allen still finds time to insult ex-boyfriends, potential boyfriends, and former American presidents (it’s rumoured that one track, abruptly titled Fuck You, was written about George W Bush).

Not Fair makes it clear that Allen still has some fight left in her when it comes to writing about failed relationships. Though musically it’s not the best of what the album has to offer, lyrically the track is a gem.

Only Allen could get away with saying that erectile dysfunction left her feeling “pretty damn hard done by” without sounding like a character from Sex and the City.

The album goes down a few new routes when it comes to musical influences. Allen’s first album relied on a blend of ska and pop for the majority of tracks.

A change of producer this time around has pushed Allen to explore electronica, disco, and even folk sounds on songs like Never Gonna Happen.

In the last three years, Allen’s loud-mouthed music has become a style of its own, with artists like Katy Perry and Kate Nash successfully following suit. However by changing direction on this album, Allen has probably left Perry and Nash wondering who they’re supposed to imitate now.