Four years since her last release, Lily Allen has released her fourth album, No Shame. And, it’s our Album of the Week. So, if you’re wondering what to expect before you give it a listen, here’s Mariella’s take!
Since the beginning of her career, Lily Allen has been known for her clever, tongue-in-cheek lyricism and colourful pop melodies. Both her first and second albums were released to commercial and critical success, and it wasn’t long before this solidified her as a British household name. However, as a result, Allen has experienced constant scrutiny from the press over the years. From her party lifestyle to her very public divorce, all these moments have been captured by the press, and are addressed in her latest LP, No Shame. Dropping four years after Sheezus, her inconsistent and lyrically lacklustre previous album, Allen returns to reaffirm her status as a highly respected musician, and to prove that she is still in her prime.
The album begins with ‘Come On Over’, which addresses her tabloid reputation. Over an erratic trap-pop beat, Allen sets the tone for the rest of her album, boasting a reclaimed sense of confidence and challenging the listener to “put your money where your mouth is”. ‘Trigger Bang’, the lead single from the record, also tackles her turbulent past and the toxic people she has tried to leave behind. As her first ever feature, Giggs makes an excellent addition to this track. Having been a big supporter and fan of Allen’s over the years, his verse adds a symbolic meaning as well as grabbing the listener’s attention by virtue of it being an unexpected addition. Although it may have been considered an unlikely collaboration, the verse, as well as the varied production of Fryers, adds a dose of flavour.
Another major theme in the album is Allen’s breakup from her ex-husband, Sam Cooper. The subsequent two songs, ‘What You Waiting For’ and ‘Your Choice’, express her mentality after the separation. While the former revisits the reggae influences which were heard more prominently on her first album, Alright, Still, the latter features Afrobeat singer-songwriter Burna Boy. This is another well structured collaboration, and sees both the artists’ voices complementing each other well on the refrain. At times, ‘What You Waiting For’ feels like a plea for forgiveness, but Allen seems to show more peace of mind on ‘Your Choice’, saying: “If you really wanna go, that’s fine” over a light-hearted, bubblegum melody.
There are many touching moments on the album, for example, the dual-released ‘Higher’ and ‘Three’, which detail aspects of Lily’s emotional struggles. ‘Higher’ is a simple, tranquil track featuring an uncredited intro from her partner Meridian Dan, but this is so muffled it is almost unnoticeable. Lily’s voice sounds angelic over the delicate guitar, and the loose pronunciation of “higher”, on the chorus and pre-chorus, give the track a pleasantly unreal quality. ‘Three’ is a more heartfelt piano ballad, delivered from the perspective of her young children as they address her: “you say you love me, then you walk right/out the door” and “please don’t go…It’s not my fault/I’m only three”. The lyrics are heart-breaking, but morbidly comical in their articulation and sincerity, especially with Allen embodying the viewpoint of such young children.
‘Family Man’ is one of the shining stars of the LP, and explores the breakdown of Allen’s marriage from a raw perspective, having been written only a few months before the divorce in 2015. This is another ballad, but here the bluesy tones demonstrate the strength and richness of Allen’s vocals. Her emotive lyricism is especially powerful, and untainted, despite the abrupt ending making the track feel unfinished. Whilst ‘Apples’ is a personal favourite of Allen’s, its simplicity leaves the song bare, almost as if she is merely reciting a poem. The outro emphasises her fear of being like her parents, both of whom had multiple failed marriages; however, this repetition quickly becomes tiresome.
The final song, ‘Cake’, is an uplifting end to a roller-coaster of emotion. Inspiring women to “have your cake and eat it” with its dreamy synths and backing vocals, this lyric seems like a perfect summary of what Allen has been trying to say throughout the whole album. Despite being scrutinised by the public for so long, and suffering through numerous hardships, Lily Allen is showing the world and the press, that “when you take shame off the table, they have nothing”.
Article: Mariella Bevan
Editor: Alex Sheriff
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