Lily's Second

I quite like Lily Allen's new album It's Not Me It's You. It's not as good as her debut Alright, Still, but she's managed to write some catchy new tunes, some of which are the kind that echo in your head for days, like F*ck You.

The album is a mishmash of styles: balkan, country and burlesque-type tunes. Her lyrics and London accent are still her unique selling point, although I feel she's had a harder time coming up with the lyrical goods this time than the first.

Lily is currently touring. I had the (dis)pleasure of seeing her live at the Paradiso here in Amsterdam a couple of years ago. That was a bit of a let-down as she performed rather lethargically in a track suit, smoking throughout the entire concert yet complaining that her voice was letting her down. She seemed to be plodding through the setlist, eager to leave the venue a.s.a.p. Not someone who 'takes the stage'.

The video below shows her performing at the Bowery in New York. At least she dressed up for this gig and seems a little more motivated, but now her stamina (or nerves?) seem to be letting her down as she's not reaching those notes and her stage presence is not particularly strong either.

Don't get me wrong, I still like Lily Allen, but I think her music is best enjoyed as a high volume singalong in the car rather than as a live act.

Everyone's At It - Live @ Bowery Ballroom / MySpace Secret S