Lily Allen, IT'S NOT ME, IT'S YOU

"A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." This line from Mary Poppins applies quite well to It's Not Me, It's You, the latest album from Lily Allen.

Lily Allen has a sweet, melodious voice and a charming British accent. She wields them to take the listener on a trip through a world of lousy men ("Not Fair"), superficial delights ("The Fear"), racists (the peppy "Fuck You"), rampant drug use ("Everyone's At It") and family problems ("Back to the Start," "He Wasn't There"). Even the optimistic songs are about staying in and watching television.

Backed by mostly synthesizer music, Allen's songs are pleasant enough diversions through the dark sides of life. She takes on different personas for the songs, not so much preaching about problems as living them out -- or being the problem. It's Not Me, It's You is a good pop album for music lovers who like their sweetness with a bit of cynisicm mixed in.

Overall grade: B-
Reviewed by James Lynch