Alright, Still [CLEAN]

Lily Allen

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 30, 2007)
• Original Release Date: January 30, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Clean
• Label: Capitol Records
• ASIN: B000KGGF12
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,794 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk
Being, as she is, the daughter of prominent British actor Keith Allen, the cynics could easily dismiss the rise of Lily Allen as an act of backroom nepotism, a talent-free starlet helped to the stage by the right connections. But one listen to her debut album Alright, Still dispels any doubts about young Ms. Allen's star quality. Possessed of a feisty wit and taste for urban storytelling that should see her compared to Mike "The Streets" Skinner, these 11 tracks of sunshine-friendly reggae-pop cover topics including frustrating potential closing-time suitors ("Knock 'Em Out"), being happy when your ex is having a bad time ("Smile"), and having a little brother who likes a bit of a smoke--and not just of the tobacco variety ("Alfie"). Wisely, however, Allen doesn't let the grittiness of the subject matter tarnish the golden pop suss of the songs, a suite of gleaming productions by names including Mark Ronson and Gwen Stefani collaborator Greg Kurstin that take inspirat! ion from the lighter end of reggae and vintage rocksteady. Doubtless some corners of the press will pillory her as a poor role model, but there's an engaging honesty to the likes of "LDN"--a love song to a city filled with teenage muggers, pimps, and crack whores, narrated by someone who's cycling because "the filth took away my license." Like father, like daughter. --Louis Pattison

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love her!, February 1, 2007

By	S. Thompson "casual reader" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Bought this on the strength of the track "Smile" (an MTV featured new single, and once a free single on iTunes). Not dissapointed. If you've heard Nellie McKay's stuff, then you'll dig her. She's like Nellie McKay, only more pop-ish, and with a fierce sense of humor that can only belong to a Brit. Each song has got this great humourous voice (In LDN, she waxes nostalgic about London's crime rate; in Knock 'em out, she addresses the unwelcome advance at a bar; in my personal favorite, "Not Big", she gives the speech many a lady wishes she had given her ex-boyfriend, and you can guess from that title what the song's about). These songs typically have a great beat, you'll immediately want to memorize all the hooks and all the choruses.

I'm always looking for a fresh female voice to add to the pop lanscape (no offense to Fergie or G. Stefani, who I also listen to) and people, this is definately a welcome addition.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Irreverent and just plain fun, June 7, 2007

By	Paul Allaer (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

21 yr. old Lily Allen shot out of nowhere last year in the UK with a number 1 hit "Smile" and her debut album "Alright, Still". After it became clear that this was not a one hit wonder, and single after single kept riding the UK charts, the decision was finally made to also release the album in the US earlier this year.

"Alright, Still" (13 tracks; 43 min.) starts off with that smash-single "Smile" and it immediately sets the tone for the album: the song has an easy flowing reggae undertone (though not all songs on the album are reggae-flavored), and it deals with guys and a failed relationship, both of the singer's favorite topics throughout. "Ldn" (2nd UK single) is an ode to Allen's hometown of London, and another irresitable reggae hum-along, with a splash of Spanish/Mexican musical undertones. "Shame for You" (4th single) is something that Fiona Apple could've done. "Littlest Things" (3rd single) is the most introvert song on the album, a ballad Lily Allen-style. "Alfie" (to be released in July in the UK as the 5th single) is another little ditty. Not to say that the non-single tracks are no good. Check out for example "Friend of Mine", "Friday Nights" and the closer, a souped-up reprise of "Smile".

In all, this is really fun album to listen to, and at 43 min. it clips by in no time. I happen to catch Lily Allen at the Coachella festival in late April, and her live show is simply irresitable, she won the crowd over with her easy going manner and her live band was just outstanding.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good girl fun!, July 7, 2007

By	M. Strohl "PMTColorado" (Outside Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

These songs are great to share with all of your girl friends! We have all been there one time or another! It has a lot of variety of music and the lyrics are hysterical. ENJOY!