| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that Lily Allen's undeniable charm lies in her biting wit, which also produces some pretty ribald lyrics. But the four-letter words are considerably less noticeable than they would be on, say, a gangster rap album, because Allen's lilting voice breezes right through the vulgarities. The four-letter words (f--k, s--t, c--t, and whore) only pop up a few times, however, and what's left is a sweet, breezy album that's loads of fun. Allen keeps its simple and personal, and because of that, girls of any age, and even their male counterparts, can relate to her songs.
Within the first 15 seconds of her debut album, ALRIGHT, STILL, Lily Allen will make you smile and do a double-take in a "did she just say that?" way. Over a ska-flavored beat and using a sweet, almost shy delivery, Allen starts the opening track, "Smile," with "When you first left me/I was wanting more but you were f--kin' that girl next door, what'd you do that for?" The line and the song offer the perfect window into Allen's fresh talent. The girl's got a mouth on her but the four-letter words are relatively scarce, and this is one of the wittiest albums to come out in recent memory. Allen loves throwing honest verbal jabs, whether it's at past loves, her hometown of London, or even her grandmother, whose coupon-cutting and bingo-playing ways get the treatment on "Nan, You're a Window Shopper," the disc's best song.
The songs on Alright, Still stick to what Allen knows, whether it's deflecting the advances of the opposite sex in "Knock 'Em Out" or pointing out her former partner's "shortcomings" in the bluntly titled "Not Big." Allen's singing style--it never seems like she's trying too hard--perfectly matches the horn-soaked, breezy songs. But her biting wit is what stands out most, bolstered by the fact that she clearly doesn't take herself too seriously. She's a bit rough around the edges at times, but the 21-year-old Allen has made a delightful pop album that is easily relatable and loads of fun.
Families can talk about Allen's honesty about being hurt by a breakup and how it's okay to admit vulnerability in those situations. Families can also discuss the ability to use humor in a variety of ways to get your point across.
| Artist: | Lily Allen |
| Release date: | January 30, 2007 |
| Label: | Capitol |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Parental advisory: | Yes |
| Edited version available: | Yes |