Initial thoughts on this album from yours truly: holy fucking shit, I love Lily Allen.
I have been a fan of Lily Allen since the “Alright, Still” days. Her flow has always pulled me in and her lyricism has kept me a fan for years.
Allen’s mid-career works were less memorable for me, but still had some hits in my eyes (such as Sheezus and Waste off of some of her other albums).
Album Review:
First off, starting out strong with half a phone call conversation in the first song “West End Girl”. I love this trope in songs and think it is almost always so fun when done correctly – Allen does this here the right way.
The favorites in my opinion, in order, are “Pussy Palace”, “Dallas Major”, and “Relapse”. Each is a total banger in their own right – according to me, at least.
I go into depth on my favorite songs below. Essentially, you can try to tell me there is a bad song on this album and I will ignore you wholeheartedly. Each song gives a unique perspective of the difficult situation that Allen has found herself in this go around and each line is thoughtfully selected to share her version of the reality that has happened.
Top Songs:
“Pussy Palace” outlines her discovery of her husband’s apartment being a place for his promiscuity rather than a “dojo”, as she had previously assumed it to be. The beat and the chorus really make this song for me, though the storytelling is lovely as well. Her raw portrayal of the betrayal she faced was jaw dropping and so real – especially in this song.
“Dallas Major” takes me baaaack to the days of the album “Alright, Still” – especially making me think of the hits “Smile” or “Not Big” of that era. Her flow in this is lovely. It has a smooth and buttery sound that is, quite literally, music to my ears. The story in this song is of how she tries to play the game of non-monogamy that she and her husband at the time had agreed to try out.
Lastly, for this review at least, is “Relapse”. A tale of how she feels the need to fall back into old habits of self-medicating with drugs or alcohol to cope with the reality that she has found herself stuck in. It is a great story-telling moment for her in this album that shares her struggles with her own self-worth as she navigates the troubled marriage she is dealing with.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I adored this album. There is not a skip track on the whole thing for me. I hope you give it a listen and let me know your favorites!!
Love,
Beth
Bethany Exists 
Leave a comment