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Lily Allen Wireless Festival

Lily Allen at the Wireless Festival Lily Allen performs live at the 2010 Wireless Festival at Hyde Park dated July 5, 2010.

There was quite a lot of good pop music in the decade that launched the new millenium. But it didn't half evolve over the ten years - at the start of the new century it was steps-esque pop that reigned supreme and now it's a more red-one Lady Cuckoo type vibe that takes over the charts (although frankly Joe's The Climb could have been out in 2000 and not sounded any different)... So here are some of my favourite pop stars born in the 2000s (ie, didn't have any music out before January 1st 2000 - few exceptions to that non-rule though!) in alphabetical order...

A*Teens: Now I'm pretty sure that the A*Teens were going before 2000, but I almost always ignore their first album of Abba covers and delve straight into the original material (littered with more covers) that they recorded. As Steps and S Club were dying off, A*Teens were the best place to go for some pounding, in your face, melodic, singalong, brilliant swedish pop music.
Best tracks: Halfway Round The World; Hi and Goodbye; One Night In Bangkok; Perfect Match

Lily Allen: Who would have thought that an actor's gobby daughter would make such delightful pop? Her debut album was a spunky treat, and her follow up album showed that she had the makings of a fine popstar once her tunes had been given a glossy production. Always outspoken yet strangely charming, I'm hoping she doesn't give up on pop and makes at least one more album...
Best tracks: LDN; Alfie; The Fear; Fuck You

BWO: To me (even though really they were nothing alike), BWO were the mature version of Steps (though I can see Steps banging out a corking version of Chariots of Fire). Their uptempo pop was just insanely euphoric, while the ballads were lush and sincere (and could easily have been shopped around to Mariah, Leona and the ilk). Visually creative as well, this is one pop group that was perhaps too quirky for worldwide domination. Yes it can be a bit samey, but when the bar is set this high, who cares?
Best tracks: 16 Tonnes of Hardware; Chariots of Fire; Bells of Freedom; Destiny of Love

Simon Curtis: Ah the young Mr Curtis isn't even fully formed yet as a pop star yet is still leaps and bounds ahead of many of his contemporaries. I addressed Alter Boy on new years eve, so won't go into that again. His turn in Spectacular was both cute and witty, and showed that he had a pure pop voice under all his love of electronica pop. And this is something that has merged best on the AMAZING 2010 anthem Diablo. I suspect 8 Bit Heart will be just incredible.
Best tracks: Put Your Make Up On; Broken; Pop Messiah; On The Wings of A Dream; Diablo

The Feeling: Bringing together Wilson Phillips esque harmonies (only from dudes, and two of them quite attractive :P), mixing that with a love of 70s pop and rock, focusing on huge melodies and an organic band sound, The Feeling couldn't fail to be amazing. Their debut album was completely massive and although not as big commercially, I thought the second album showcased not only what fine songsmiths the lads were, but that they had a huge knowledge of how to create brilliant pop music. Can't wait for album number three in 2010. Oh and their live shows are just so energetic and fun!
Best tracks: Fill My Little World; Love It When You Call; Without You; Join With Us

Girls Aloud: It seems incredible now that such an exciting, ground breaking and revolutionary pop act would come out of the popstars format (or considering Joe, any of it's ilk)! But yes, One True Voice were just that! I kid i kid! Girls Aloud were a breath of fresh air and really shooed away the last of the turn of the century pop for a brand new era. Finding the perfect partners in xenomania, they weren't afraid to take chances and just throw in completely off kilter out there pop that shouldn't work but did (Biology - one of my top ten songs of the decade). And long may they reign - or at least til Greatest Hits volume two...
Best tracks: Sound of The Underground; Biology; The Promise; Sexy No No No; Loving Kind

The Killers: Well they certainly have been busy since they stormed the scene with the blistering Somebody Told Me back in 2004 haven't they? 3 albums, a b-sides collection; a live album + dvd and numerous Christmas songs and soundtrack donations! And while some say that they haven't matched the giddy heights of Hot Fuss, I disagree. I think their evolution has been quite fun to watch. They haven't rested on their laurels and each album features some great tunes. Plus Brandon was wearing "creative" fashion choices (remember the shocking pink blazer?) way before Lady Cuckoo took her performance art pop. And All These Things... is another of my top ten songs of the decade...
Best tracks: Somebody Told Me; All These Things; Human; Great Big Sled; When We Were Young

Kylie 3.0: well there was S/A/W Kylie, then 90s Kylie and now Kylie that ruled the decade with a mixture of sleek dance pop and fluffy disco tunes. As I've mentioned before, everyone always has an opinion on what should and shouldn't be on a kylie album (partially because most of the stuff that doesn't make it is leaked) but that's just because people love her. She's the Madonna who would hug you rather than slice you with her arm muscles! 4 albums plus change, some great live shows and a dignified and mercifully successful battle against cancer make this a lady to be reckoned with. And she'll be back for more soon.
Best tracks: Your Disco Needs You; Can't Get You Out Of My Head; I Believe In You; The One; Red Blooded Woman; White Diamond

Maroon 5: It wasn't just the allure of the fine fine Adam Levine that kept me drawn to this group; oh no - it was their ability to make great pop tunes by sourcing inspiration from funk, pop, rock and r'n'b and yet making it seem like it was all their idea!! They may only be two albums old, but they were stellar albums, ones I still play quite often and a whole host of other tracks have been released in the mean time. The third album is out early 2010, and I really couldn't be any more excited.
Best tracks: This Love; Harder To Breathe; Makes Me Wonder; Wake Up Call; Pure Imagination

McFly: Although their punky boy pop with guitars (and drums. Harry. Rar.) was the temporary nail in the coffin (til JLS clawed their way out) for traditional sounding boy bands, McFly soon proved they were way way more than a Busted clone by producing some of the greatest pop this decade. Had they been an indie band, they would have had far more favourable press than they did and it's a tragedy that they are so underrated as performers and writers. Motion in the Ocean remains their finest achievement, but don't write them off just yet. Talent like this always resurfaces with something brilliant...
Best tracks: All About You; Ballad of Paul K; Sorry's Not Good Enough; Transylvania; Last Song

Nerina Pallot: Why on earth she has to restart her career with each album is beyond me. Here is a great singer, brilliant lyricist, wry observer of life and creator of some amazing pop tunes, complex balladry and inventive songs; yet she isn't quite the megastar she should be. She's really quite charming and witty in person too as her embracing of video blogs has proved - and I love how she reinvents her songs in different genres for her fans too. Make sure you don't skip her aces debut record, it's got some wonderful tunes on there...
Best tracks: Jump; Watch Out Billie; Geek Love; Sophia; When Did I Become Such A Bitch

Same Difference: The only one album act on here, and perhaps (rivalling Shayne) my biggest obsession to come from the X Factor. There was something about Sarah and Sean that made it ok to love pop whatever the format, and though their debut album Pop was somewhat steered by Simon Cowell, they had some really great original tunes on there that hinted at a longer career than We R One might indicate. Their new image, new record label and some brilliant new music should serve them well in Europe and Asia in 2010 as long as they don't forget to come back to England soon!
Best tracks: Better Love Me; All Roads Lead To Heaven; Turn It Into Love (PWL Mix)

Scissor Sisters: My god, they were brilliant when they came out with their first album. It just seemed to knock socks off everything else pop at the time and was like an icy blast of water in the face - thoroughly invigorating. Another act that were visually creative long before giant pianos and bathtubs, they were seen to go a bit tame on their second album, though I absolutely loved it and could have easily milked it for six or seven singles. And again, another act returning in 2010. Hurrah. PS - their work with Kylie (particularly the ballad White Diamond) was examplary.
Best tracks: Laura; Filthy/Gorgeous; I Don't Feel Like Dancing; I Can't Decide; Just Might Tell You Tonight

Take That 2.0: A documentary about the post take that years (and the massiveness of Robbie) relaunched the group in a wave of nostalgia. Soon the greatest hits album was a top seller and a tour sold out. However, had they not come back with some incredibly accomplised pop that, with The Feeling and Coldplay, puts them at the forefront of composition in the UK, it all could have ended there. Luckily two albums in and some amazing tunes that reflect the talents of all the band and Take That are arguably bigger now than they were in the 90s. And it's not easy to replicate - many reunions have taken place and failed since. Their live shows are a theatrical wonder to behold.
Best tracks: Shine; Rule The World; Greatest Day; The Garden; How Did It Come To This?

Shayne Ward: Poor Shayne. He won the X Factor the year after Steve Brookstein, potentially saving the show from becoming an embarrassing footnote in the history of reality music tv. He was by far the best hope for pop (at the time) that the show had produced and his weekly performances were far more contemporary and exciting than anything recent acts have done. Then Leona happened and being a star in England wasn't enough anymore and Shayne got shuffled to the sidelines. Still two albums of pop - the second being quite good indeed has endeared me to Shayne and news that he is recording in Sweden has me very pleased indeed.
Best tracks: That's My Goal (remains best XFactor winner's song to date); Over The Rainbow; If That's Ok With You; Melt The Snow; Damaged

William Young: Despite not being flavour of the month anymore, Will just plods along like a male Annie Lennox - churning out quality timeless pop that will stand the test of time. He's picked his collaborators perfectly and managed to produce some wonderful tunes. The fact that his Hits album (with minimal promotion) continues to be a perennial seller over the Christmas period is proof that people are just now remembering how very brilliant he can be. The disco album though - I'm still impatiently waiting.
Best tracks: Your Game; Leave Right Now; Switch It On; Hopes and Fears; Let It Go

The five that got away...

And here are five acts from the 00s that only and tragically had one album (or in some cases didn't even make it that far :/)

1. AllSTARS ~ they possibly just came to the scene a little too late to replicate the success of Steps, S Club and the like, but that doesn't mean their debut album didn't have lots of fun moments including the very fine Love Is. Plus Back When was an ace ballad that Cathy Dennis should have been proud of :P
2. Digital ~ they could have been Boys Aloud but it all fell apart :( They had some great pop tunes that were feisty, punchy, filled with electro-dance moments and more importantly memorable. Sadly it was not to be, but I still have a good singalong to Get Your Kit Off in the shower on an almost weekly basis :)
3. Mohair ~ quite simply a brilliant rock-pop act who had some killer tunes that came across like a rockier McFly on their splendid debut album Small Talk. End Of The Line was excellent bombastic pop and Stranded showed their softer, more melodic side but all the tunes were a riot to listen to and managed to capture their live energy in a studio setting. I miss them :(
4. Upper Room - it was really the first act that XO and I bonded over, so I'll always like them for that. However, they also had some quite brilliant melody driven indie pop on their album Other People's Problems. Black and White and All Over This Town could quite easily have been big top ten hits if Britain was paying attention. Sadly Britain was not. Dammit.
5. V ~ ah V. Five lads. Brilliantly camp in your face pop. And yet some more accomplished moments on the album too. Chills in the Evening (with McFly) really showcased their voices while Fools and Earth Wind And Fire showed their cooler xenomania side off. But Hip to Hip, Can You Feel It and Blood Sweat and Tears remain a fine trifecta of singles to make you dance, smile and sing.

Picking my favourite albums is quite difficult. There are those albums that I like that are critically acclaimed and I recognise the genius of them, yet they are not my favourite favourite albums. Then there are those albums that are largely ignored but I end up loving anyway. And then there are albums that are generally massive and everybody loves them. So rather than have a specific order for the top 25, I've just listed them alphabetically and then done the top 10 in order of preference if (as Shayne Ward once said) that's ok with you... :P

• Alphabeat ~ The Spell: They mixed 90s rave and house energies with the pop sensibilities of the noughties and came up with a winning combination that didn't even come close to outstaying it's welcome or being samey over the 10+ tracks. Minimum of 4 massive singles should be forthcoming...
• Bananarama ~ Viva: Ian Masterson did a bang up job with this album and then it was grossly ignored by the public. The swines. The girls had some future classics on here that were designed to be danced to - Love Don't Live Here, had it been by Kylie, would have been top ten for weeks...
• Michael Buble ~ Crazy Love: He was always quite popular, but this year he has hit the stratosphere and quite rightly so. Excellent stage presence, great voice, thoroughly nice chap but with the personality to back it up and duetted with Stacey. Plus had a bonafide pop hit with crazy catchy Haven't Met You Yet. It's only the beginning - this album will run throughout 2010...
• Alexandra Burke ~ Overcome: Well I had no interest in her at the start of the year and then gosh darn it she comes back with a banging pop tune and one of the more interesting X Factor winner albums in a long time. By keeping the tempo up and varied, Alexandra is assured a longer pop career than the boy who stole her crown...
• Dragonette ~ Fixin To Thrill: It was one of the pop delights of 2009, and they took the bold route of giving away half the songs on it before it was even out. You'd have been a fool not to buy the whole thing - in a year bereft of new Girls Aloud, this filled the smart-pop void perfectly and should have been entirely more massive...
  

• Florence + The Machine ~ Lungs: It's both a demanding and seductive debut album that is a joy to listen to; full of nuances that add dimension and layers to each song, it's powered forward by a voice that is both mesmerising and intoxicating. Critics were gushing all over it and luckily fans snapped it up in their droves to. Phew...
• Gossip ~ Music For Men: Not just an amazing album of catchy disco pop, a smart album that sent a message to a still disappointingly homophobic world. Luckily that message is overburdened with seriousness - it's about getting on your feet and dancing, because let's face it a wise woman once said 'music brings the people together'. No one is doing more for that cause than the Gossip on this ace cd...
• Erik Hassle ~ Hassle: Didn't it seem like every few weeks a new Erik Hassle video appeared for either Hurtful or Don't Bring Flowers, and that he was about to be very big indeed? The world is still waiting for that moment, but that didn't make this any less of an astonishing debut for such a young chap. Brilliant lyricist able to match his passionate outpourings to clever music. 2010 must be his big break...
• Whitney Houston ~ I Look To You: The voice was a little different. A lot had happened over the decade. Yet when Whitney returned it was like she never went away, and while it was not quite the triumphant comeback it should have been, it certainly wasn't subpar. Million Dollar Bill (particularly the freemasons mix) powered her to heights she hadn't seen for a while, but there is plenty more to come from this album yet...
• Natalie Imbruglia ~ Come To Life: Has this actually been released yet? Frustratingly delayed, it soon became a torrent favourite. tragic really because the first half of the album plays like side A of an LP. Cohesive, some brilliant tracks and all single worthy, particularly the amazing scars. Side B (or the last 5 songs) are more experimental and don't work quite as well, but for the first 5 alone this features strongly...
  
  

• JLS ~ JLS: You know, I was a little disappointed with this album at first, but the more I have listened to it, the more it grew on me. And a large part of that is to do with just how charming and enthusiastic the lads are. They make me want to love their songs and they make songs that are easy to love. Enough said ;)
• Blake Lewis ~ Heartbreak on Vinyl: Blake came back with an album that pillaged the 80s but in a loving tribute way, not in a La-Roux aren't I unique and ace (no) sort of way. The title track was by far the best, but the rest of the stuff was pretty fine too. His new 80s hair was not though. Minus one point for that!
• Nerina Pallot ~ The Graduate: It pains me that Nerina seemingly has to build her popularity up from scratch with each album release. She has a winning writing style, amazing melodies and lyrics and an enticing voice. Plus she's lovely and witty to boot? She's given you gro-lite and mineral supplements, whaddyawant from her, blood?! BUY IT ALREADY!! :)
• Westlife ~ Where We Are: I didn't really have high expectations for this album, but if you liked Westlife already it was ideal for you and if you don't, then why continue blathering on about it? They are probably not gonna change now, are they?!
• Mans Zelmerlow ~ MZW: Horribly chosen singles didn't really help the album but overall it was a great pop effort with some outstanding tracks on there that deserve a worldwide audience. Hope and Glory remains a magnificent anthem to this day...

Honourable mentions: Darin-Flashback; Marit Larsen-If A Song Could Get Me You; Neo-Neo; Annie-Don't Stop; Danny-Set Your Body Free; Julian Velard-The Planeteer; Leona Lewis-Echo...

10 ~ Mika, The Boy Who Knew Too Much: It was the year that Mika should have come back in a blaze of glory, but returned amidst general apathy and disinterest. Not from me though ~ I was quite happy to see him back with his bombastic Belinda Carlisle meets Chumbawamba We Are Golden and am still revelling in the other pop gems on the album. Rain is absolutely lovely. I could easily milk 5 singles from this :)
09 ~ Paloma Faith, Do You Want The Truth?: I was surprised by how much this album stuck with me throughout the year. I found myself wanting to return to it over and over again. XO has had some of the most passionate coverage of her, and is right in his assessment of the complexity and beauty in her work. Hopefully her medium range popularity will increase into fervent critical devotion next year - based on this excellent collection of tunes, she deserves it...
08 ~ Pet Shop Boys, Yes: If I combine this with their Christmas EP, then it gave me two number one singles this year (Love etc., and It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas) and hours of delicious pleasure. Filled with amazing innovative yet totally PSB tracks like All Over The World, Beautiful People and the lush Did You See Me Coming, it was an album that solidified they have lost none of their pop edge. Plus dear god please someone leak a demo of The Loving kind...
07 ~ Alcazar, Disco Defenders: Oh my gosh but this album was overflowing with pop sensibility and dancefloor heavenliness. Overflowing with singles, attempts at nearly every pop genre going and shameless pastiches to Abba it was definitely hard not to love this album. In a perfect world this would have spawned five top ten hits in England and made the world see that lovely a fella as Joe is, he's got a long way to go before he can do pop like this. Thank You. In every sense of the word/song...
06 ~ BWO, Big Science: It was the "difficult" post greatest hits album and kicked off with the gothic You're Not Alone. That was a bit of a misnomer really in terms of the entire album because they still had their big Chariots of Fire moments (right here right now) and epic Open Door ballads (Kings of Tomorrow) to thrill the fans. Basically even when they are operating at less than 100%, BWO are still miles better than alot of other pop groups. And quite simply one of the best pop-births of the 2000s (post on that coming soon!)...

• 05 ~ Take That, The Garden: Released in late 2008 on the back of the inspiring, anthemic Greatest Day, this was the album that kept giving throughout 2009 - largely aided by the visually stunning and highly entertaining tour they put on to accompany it. Sure, Up All Night was Shine part 2, but there were plenty of other gems on the album (including the title track, the Jason Orange led How Did It Come To This and showstopping Hold Up A Light For Me) that merely proved that Gary and the boys are some of the finest tunesmiths to come out of Britain at the moment. Lovely stuff.
• 04 ~ Little Boots, Hands: It was the album that Kylie could have recorded and been a lot more massive than the ridiculously hyped Little Boots ever was. The music was actually great - so many ice cool, radio friendly electro-pop tracks that were seemingly made for extensive radio play. An utterly enjoyable album - it was the persona of Little Boots that seemed to be at odds with being a pop princess. She lacked any of the sparkle Sophie Ellis Bextor or Kylie add to their performances and seemed more intent on being a serious, rarely smiling musician. Still, Remedy, Earthquake and Hearts Collide are top notch tunes!
• 03 ~ Lily Allen, It's Not Me, It's You: Brilliant album title and odd quitting music statements aside, I totally enjoyed this album despite (like Mans Zelmerlow) an odd choice of singles. The Fear and It's Not Fair were ace tracks, F*** You improved on the demo from last year, Chinese was a sweet ode to recession induced nights in (with a gorgeous choral tribute floating around) and Lily continued her knack for providing witty, insightful lyrics set to lovely singalong melodies. It's ace because it's true - I mean, no one likes the wet patch in the middle of the bed...
• 02 ~ Same Difference, Pop: Another remnant from 2008, Pop was the album that encapsulated all that was amazing about the charts at the turn of the millenium and bought it back with an updated beat. Sean and Sarah were two of the nicest people you could wish to have gracing the charts and put out an album of singalong tunes that would have done so much better had it been marketed completely differently. There were at least 5 singles here that could have been flying up the UK charts, and I'm just relieved they get a second nibble of the cherry in 2010. Bring it on I say...

01 ~ Robbie Williams, Reality Killed The Video Star: It wasn't so much a comeback, more of a reaffirmation that Robbie was one of the nation's most reliable pop acts who was maturing nicely with age, rather than chasing fashions and trends he had no business dabbling in. It's an album that gives more with each listen, has some great melody driven songs and has Robbie still sounding absolutely ace. You Know Me is one of his more lovely mid-tempo ballads, Morning Sun is almost a Take That tribute sounding song and Difficult for Weirdos is the anthem of many and proudly so. So get hysterical and historical over this album because I suspect it will feature on next year's list too...

Lily Allen The Ivy Pictures

The pictures of Lily Allen wears a bright red scarf to dinner at The Ivy dated 4 November 2009.

Kate Moss St. Tropez Photos

The photos of Model Kate Moss with her daughter Lila Grace Moss seen out at Club 55 with Lily Allen and Jean-Yves Le Fur in St. Tropez, France pics pictures.

Lily Allen New Jewelley Range Pics

The pics of Lily Allen attends afternoon tea to launch her new jewelley range at Claridges Hotel on July 27, 2009 in London, England photos pictures.

UNIMPORTANT EDIT: Oh dear Whitney Houston :( And to think I was saving her to lead off the August fizzypop chronicles in style :( As a massive fan I'm quite sad!

I am SO not feeling July as I am an anomaly. I do not "do" the sun. It is too hot and bright for my delicate disposition. I prefer to draw the curtains ("drapes" for my american compatriots) and sip iced tea (that is only me being pretentious. It's really the cheap tesco diet lemonade). If I was being really pretentious I would say I then listen to depressing music like The Smiths or The Cure. Everyone who visits here would know that to be a lie, as I am more likely to be found in a darkened room bopping to Same Difference or Industry, or pumping fist over the dirty ads at the back of the latest Attitude (I jest of course. Ahem). To top off the outpouring of love I have for these summer months, a sceptic pipe has leaked at work so I am literally swimming in my and others own plop and piddle. And am not even allowed to go home. I draw the line if a used sanny pad floats past :/

Clearly, that is all utterly charming so I will get onto the musical musts for the month tout de suit. Tootle pip.

MUSICAL MUSTS FOR JULY:


01 - Preston, Dressed To Kill: I always knew Preston Ordinary Boy had it in him - a brilliant pop career. Under the ska overtones of most OB tracks lay the heart of true pop musicians focused on melody and catchy lyrics. This shines through on solo Preston's synth charged electrolicious debut single where his voice sounds glorious and the 80s vibe still comes across as unique and quirky. Love the middle eight where Preston positively purrs "you make me come..." before pausing just a fraction of a second to add "...undone". The whole single is a sex kitty kat that has been sprayed in kitty kat juice. Ergo entirely astonishing :)
02 - The Baseballs, Umbrella: I wrote about this on Sunday so I really don't have that much more to say about it. The genius of this type of group is that they take songs you love/know; deconstruct them and rebuild into their own genre. See also The Puppini Sisters (40s big band) and G4 (popera). This is still mega by the way :)
03 - Anders Fernette, Hungry Eyes: Ah my favourite song from Dirty Dancing (apart from the bit where they go "1-2-3 cha cha cha, hey! Where's my frame? Where's my pleasing arms?" Love) given a dance makeover and some tip top Swedish pop production values. It's all very ace indeed. Tragically if Westlife came back with something as brillo and enjoyable as this, they would be slated. Life is so unfair sometimes :/
04 - Dolly Rockers, Gold Digga: Channelling the spunk of Bananarama, the sass of the Spice Girls, a dash of Vanilla and even the lyrical genius of the Arctic Monkeys and you have the Dollies. Their first single proper (criminally not Je Suis...) is all feisty, taking a pop at those lazy girls who just coast through life on being married to someone famous. The video had better be amazing is all I can say :)
05 - Star Pilots, Higher: Well they keep churning out the dance orientated, smash hits don't they and in general the world keeps ignoring them. Not entirely true, but I can't help but feel if these songs were performed by big busted women in bikinis then they would be a lot more omniscient than they are now. Evacuate the dancefloor indeedy.
06 - Danny, Set Your Body Free: Let's ignore the frankly ludicrous fact that silly Danny released the tepid Emely as his third single in Sweden because that is positively bonkers. This track (the old Avenue song) is far more uplifting, danceable, paletable and screams "international pop hit" from the very first second. Some people, eh?!
07 - Britney, Kill The Lights: I can't have Radar as her fourth single because i allocated it as her fourth single from Blackout. Lazy bitch. And honestly, I'm as shocked as the next person at her "sexy horse" video. God forbid the directors cut leaks where she is wanking off a stallion :/ So i'll focus on this song instead which is about paparazzi. Not the Lady Gaga single.
08 - Sugababes, You On A Good Day: I'll continue mining the latest not as terrible as everyone thinks album even if no one else can be arsed! This (if paired with their recent cover of Teardrops) would be a nice addition to the charts with it's stomping Northern Soul production values and lyrics about the erstwhile partner. Men eh? Can't live with them, etc.
09 - Girls Aloud, Rolling Back The Rivers: I could have picked any of a number of tracks from the fine OOC album, but settled on this mid paced delight. Mainly for the aaa-ooos that proliferate it. Now don't get me started on the Cheryl solo album/one year off debacle because my ears will start to steam with rage and impotence...
10 - Lily Allen, Who'd Have Known: Well thank god she lost the awful grammar that marred the title of the demo version floating around last year! The official next singles are F*** You/22 but I am in love with the more loved up Lily trying to lure her man into the sack, all set to a tune that's a bit reminiscent of Shine. All in all, it's quite lovely.
11 - Anastacia, Defeated: I'm still trying to work out why she let Mary J Blige be on the cover of her latest album. Once i'm done working that out, i'll start on pondering why i like this entirely generic mid tempo r'n'b groove when surely there is much better out there. I'm clearly settling here, but sometimes that's enough to get you through the next 3 minutes...
12 - Daniel Schuhmaker, Anything But Love: Mein Gott! following on from the musical rape of Hallelujah by both British and Dutch X Factor winners, and the entirely generic but still brilliant winners single by Kevin Borg, comes the best entirely generic but still almost brilliant winners single from Germany. It's they type of big booming ballad that I sort of wish Mariah Carey would remember she can do quite well once in a while, only everyone would moan about how she never moves forward if she did that. Pop - it's a delicate balance isn't it?
13 - Erik Hassle, Don't Bring Flowers: Well flap me sideways and bugger me gently. Music Week informs me (not personally, I just read it) that this generally incredible dark booming 80s synth track will be the first single in the UK, with the equally genius Hurtful being released closer to Christmas. I bow to their wisdom because while Hurtful gets all the press, this is equally bonza and actually there is not one dud track on the dudes album. The hair still bothers me though :)
14 - Paolo Nutini, Coming Up Easy: Sunny Side Up is convincing me less and less with each listen which is quite distressing for me as I was in total adoration of These Streets. This track staves off the diminishing love somewhat as it's quite a nice motown style tune which sounds quite nice in a car with the windows down in the summer... The boy can write a decent lyric still though :)
15 - Leon Jackson, All In Good Time: All in all, as I come to the point where I have exhausted all possible single releases for poor underrated Leon (this is his 5th on my "chronicles") I have decided that perhaps Leon was too much like a male Vonda Shepard for the world. He could probably get a job singing songs in a bar to lawyers who see dancing babies. This sounds like an insult, but believe me it's not. All hail Leon (no a, hence no record company money invested in him).
16 - The Gossip, Heavy Cross: I'm all over the new Gossip album like a rash. The lead off single which, yes, I'm a bit behind on, sounds like a montage of all the great 80s songs performed by a time travelling Debbie Harry. It's utterly stomping and a great track to convince you to buy the epic and culturally significant Music For Men. End of sermon. amen.
17 - Franz Ferdinand, Can't Stop Feeling: I only sort of remembered that the Franz were still going when I heard this new single on Radio one t'other day. Which sort of speaks volumes for their marketing campaign doesn't it? This is an entirely decent single from their latest album yet no one even knows it exists. Incredible.
18 - Kaiser Chiefs, Addicted to Drugs: Ditto everything I said above, but with a Robert Palmer sampling chorus and the sad news that they won't be working with the one and only Sophie Ellis-Bextor Hyphen Jones. :(
19 - The Killers, Dustland Fairytale: Has my love for the Killers diminshed since they were one of the three groups I fell in love with in 2004 (along with Maroon 5 and the Scissters)? Not a jot. I still find them effortlessly entertaining no matter what musical genre they attack and no matter what B-Flo chooses to dress up like. This is less instant than Alex Rybak's Fairytale but a bit more pleasing over all.
20 - Keane, Disco 2000: Keane are very good at performing almost note for note cover versions that don't deviate much from the original. This can be quite good, when they add a bit of rollicking piano in there for good measure, but a bit boring otherwise overall. This is a perfunctory cover of the Pulp classic that makes me want to listen to the Pulp classic. Oh :(
21 - The Feeling, This Is Love: The Feeling boys do better than Keane at cover versions, but they honed their skills in an austrian ski lodge for a few years so have probably had more practice at it. Dan sounds positively filthy as he growls some of the lyrics and if I weren't so enamoured with Richard right now i would lust after him all over again. A decent little tune to keep me going til the third album arrives.

See you Sunday with pics from gay pride, London Sty-leeeee...

Doing any sort of "best of" list is a bit of a nightmare really. It's objective and subjective! It's hard to set parameters - do I limit it to songs that only got released in 2009 (thereby perhaps missing out on acts that released songs last year, but I didn't discover til recently)? And how have songs stood the test of time - I might have loved them when they were released in January but be more enthusiastic about more recent songs because they are more fresh in my mind?! Good gravy. So ultimately, I've just done it. The top 21 songs that i have enjoyed most in the first half of 2009, regardless of when they were released :) And I guarantee that this will change dramatically by year end - not just because of 6 months worth of new songs, but also because I'll have a new perspective on how songs have stood the test of time throughout the year. So enjoy - and let me know if you agree or are thinking "no Lady Gaga? Are you a mentalloid?"...


TOP 21 SONGS I HAVE ENJOYED MOST IN 2009:

21 = Pussycat Dolls, J'Ai Ho/Hush Hush: Well i'm as bloody surprised as you are as I really don't care for PCD. But J'Ai Ho has the ace Slumdog Millionaire connection and Hush Hush is such a marvy disco epic, that I had to make an exception. Hell must be so cold right now...
20 ~ JLS, Beat Again: I just can't get bored with this song - it becomes more appealing and more-ish with every single listen. It really shouldn't work (using the medical metaphor of being heartbroken with lines like "i need you back in my arms/I need love CPR"!) but the charm of JLS oozes through and totally won me over. Hurrah, etc.
19 ~ The Days, No Ties: Explain to me again why this song wasn't massive? Possibly because it was released early in the year when anyone who listens can tell that actually it is a huge summer anthem just waiting to happen.
18 ~ Julian Velard, Love Again For The First Time: Rollicking piano riffs, witty lyrics and chorus harder to shake than swine flu. Plus I'm a sucker for songs about overcoming heartache and finding love again. He's like a more relevant Billy Joel and with better popstar hair. Ace.
17 ~ Erik Hassle, Hurtful: I suspect that this song will still be hovering around this point or higher by the year end. It's just lyrically poetic and instrumentally enticing. I've tried to hold off playing it too much because I suspect Erik is going to be mammoth by 2010...
16 ~ Pet Shop Boys, Love Etc: What a brillo comeback this turned out to be - and while the masses didn't really come running this song showed that Neil and Chris are just as culturally insightful today as they were 25 years ago. Now lets all chant "don't want to be/a big bucks hollywood star"...
15 ~ Jason Mraz, Try Try Try: I wrote about this already on Sunday. It's the optimism that shines through this melodic gem that makes it a real winner. Plus Jason Mraz really is the best sunshine singer this side of the Magic Numbers.
14 ~ Jordin Sparks, Battlefield: It's Ryan Tedder colour by numbers writing and production, but really the guy does it so well that it doesn't seem to matter. Great lyrics, epic chorus and a belting delivery from Jordin means this will be played long after summer is gone...
13 ~ Same Difference, All Roads Lead To Heaven: Industry have shown that pop can flourish and thrive in the era of 80s synth throwbacks, and this ignored classic from the bro-sis duo's debut album Pop was and is an unheralded Steps-esque pop masterpiece.
12 ~ Simon Curtis/Victoria Justice, On The Wings Of A Dream: Talking of pop masterpieces, what would Simon sound like if he went pure pop for a while? The answer is this great tween sing a long ditty from Spectacular. Simon's vocals have never been more clear showing the boy really can sing :)
11 ~ Elouise, One Night Only: Oh boy am I obsessed with this old song. I could have chosen any one of a number of versions but for me Elouise transports me into the song. Perhaps it's her spot on vocal delivery or her swinging sixties chick dance moves? Or maybe i'm just mesmerised by the glittery dresses she wears each time she performs it. Whatever, it's magic.

10 ~ BWO, You're Not Alone: Another BWO comeback single, another triumph. The group mix some gothic fairytale magic into the song which ultimately makes it perhaps their most ominous yet glorious sounding single to date. Worldwide domination has probably passed them by, but I will never forsake them :)
09 ~ Taylor Swift, Love Story: Even if the rest of the song was absolute crap (and i'm sure some people think that it is!), the key change and doe eyed romanticism of the line "marry me juliet you'll never have to be alone" gets me tingly every single time. Every. Single. Time :*)
08 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, Hope & Glory: There are many reasons why this works. Great hook. Fun production values. Oddly done but appreciated key change. Smooth and enthusiastic vocal delivery. All coming out of one of the most genetically perfect human beings to currently walk the planet. The defense rests...
07 ~ Little Boots, New In Town: It wasn't quite the mammoth debut single I'd hoped for but there was something entirely likeable about Victoria's first single proper. It was just quirky enough to stand out from the crowd and perhaps i liked it most because, like me, LB tried to cram far too many words (into the chorus) when fewer would have sufficed. I'm wordy. What can I say?!
06 ~ Lily Allen, The Fear: Lily transcends from perhaps one off album wonder to proper pop star with her lushly produced song about how life can be a bit crushing at times. Genius video with it to boot, and perhaps the most prophetic credit crunch lyrics this side of Shania's Ka-ching. Definitely a big "F*** You" very very much to the doubters :P
05 ~ Kelly Clarkson, My Life Would Suck Without You: It's just blooming euphoric pop genius. It may be Since You've Been Gone 2.0 but when you've got a chorus this giving and a vocal that powerful these trifling little matters seem not to make a jot of difference to the fun factor contained within :)
04 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, I Am Not A Robot: There's a delicate vulnerability about this pretty, ethereal, floating jewel of a tune that I am addicted to. It's been quite the year for robots in pop, and this is by far my favourite contribution. A bit out there, slightly bonkers and utterly utterly brilliant.
03 ~ Sugababes, Every Heart Broken: I often sit and ponder why this excellent tune was not a single. It's based around the most simple of melodies and the most simple of metaphors (one that works better than JLS, although theirs is more endearing). Definitely not the sort of song I could listen to just once and evidence that the 'babes still have it in them to create brilliant pop tunes 6 albums into their career.
02 ~ Benny Andersson Band, Story Of A Heart: Abba remain one of my most beloved pop acts of all time. I have yet to tire of their music. This is as close to a new Abba song as I will probably get. Exquisite lyrics, gorgeous arrangements, beautifully sung and ultimately a little bit devastating. The only minor thing wrong with it is that it isn't the lovely ladies singing. If I don't see them live on Saturday in London then I am an entire disgrace unto myself :(
01 ~ Hotel Rival, Second Best To None: It's not really a pop song per se, but one can see how it really could be. As it is written by the boys of Abba, it has brilliantly catchy chorus, bonkers lyrics and quite a nice love them within the verses. Production is probably about 20 years ago in sound but it's just all too charming and totally designed for me to fall in love with it. Adore the video too, especially the love affair between the only-looks-good-between-my-thighs sexy barman, the slutty blonde and the eye brow raising dwarf. I would die to see what someone like BWO, Industry or Simon Curtis would do to this song :)

JONAS BONUS MENTIONS:

Best "by the numbers" ballads (but beautifully executed): The Saturdays - Issues; Alesha Dixon - Breathe Slow

Best non-album comeback cover versions: No Doubt - Stand & Deliver; Scissor Sisters - Do The Strand; The Feeling - This Is Love; Taio Cruz - Everybody's Changing

Best squandered opportunity: The Saturdays - Just Can't Get Enough (It was totally fun and did it's job, but if it was all as brillo as the harmonised moment at 2m16 on this video, then it would have a lesson in astonishingosity)

Best old songs resurfacing: Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer (SEB now with Freemasons from last June); The Show (Lenka from last June now slowly breaking the UK); F*** You (Lily Allen's demo from last June is now a European single and still delightful); Single Ladies (Beyonce tune that I didn't like last year but now love).

See you Thurs for the July Fizzypop Chronicles kicking off the second half of the year.

Lily Allen Radio 1's Big Weekend Photos

The photos of Lily Allen at the Radio 1's Big Weekend Day 2 performance held at the Lydiard Country Park in Swindon, England pics pictures.

I had a whole pre-amble written today how someone at work pissed me off royally by stating (during an epic whining session) that they thought they were done learning all lifes lessons (It was much longer than this and I deleted it by mistake!) Uh, excuse me? If you think you have learnt all lifes lessons by your thirties, you are either too freaking arrogant for words or too stupid to know any better! The great thing about life is you are constantly learning and evolving and growing. Good grief. I said as much, and then of course the people pleaser in me felt incredibly guilty and full of remorse for being so candid. Of course I had just heard that I didn't win an award for my dementia work, so it was a great time (it's a honour just to be nominated etc etc :P) to unburden on me. But that's not really why you came here today is it? Probably want to know what music has been gently fingering me into submission this week? Well read on my pretties, read on...

THE WEEK THAT WAS (WELL D'UH):

• The obsession with Elouise continues. Tragically at the last minute, I was unable to make her show in London, but I imagine that it was as shiny and shimmery as the black and white bits of Girls Aloud's The Promise video. Only she did it all herself, with an eight piece band and performed for 90 minutes. How amazing is that? It feels like the end of an era - the end of Elouise being on the periphery of blog buzz to the start of something bigger. She's busy working with Steve Anderson (Kylie) and Terry Ronald (Girls Aloud) on some epic sounding tunes that take her sound to the next level. Until those appear, be sure to check out the summery pop of Since You've Been Gone and Miracle Man on her myspace.
• (Simon Curtis really needs to come to the UK and put on a full live showcase. I'll sponsor it :P)
• I've been all Abba related this week. I've spent copious amounts of time perfecting the perky pop hit in waiting (it just needs someone to cover it and give it a more modern edge) Second Best To None and devastatingly heartbreaking ballad Story of A Heart (album out this week!) on the piano and they do sound quite good. Even if I do say so myself :P Plus I dug out my old written-by-Benny-&-Bjorn Gemini cds and fell in love all over again with Just Like That. And on a particularly gloomy morning walk to work in the rain this week, Happy New Year popped up on shuffle. Only Abba can make supposedly uplifting songs sound so positively traumatic...
• I'm quite excited about the return of Preston from the Ordinary Boys as a solo artist. I always thought that had the Ordinary Boys been marketed as a proper pop act rather than an indie band, they would have been perhaps significantly more successful than they were. Like a more ska McFly if you will. So solo Preston looking fairly handsome with a proper dancey pop song is quite a mouth watering proposition. His first single Dressed To Kill is out in August, but you can check out a full song entitled Teenage Zombie on his myspace...
• Mariah is back with Obsessed. Much like Kylie's 2 Hearts, I have gone from thinking "oh dear" to thinking "oh well, it's quite ok I suppose isn't it". I have accepted that Mariah will probably never make an album that makes me fall in love with her as completely as I was in the 90s, so it's all on Whitney now...
• While Love Takes Over is a decent enough summer song (I do quite like it), I think that it should probably swap chart positions with Sophie Ellis-Bextor this week and the vastly superior Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer (which frankly hasn't become any less appetising since it leaked on line last June...)
• Talking of last June, Lily Allen's Fuck You isn't any less brilliant than when it leaked back then either. It's now an official single in Europe (with a dirt cheap, slightly wanky vid) while England gets 22. Oh. I wanted Who'd Have Known...
• Dolly Rockers = 1 part Spice Girls + 1 part Arctic Monkeys lyrics + 1 part Bananarama. Ergo, Gold Digga is, uh, solid gold pop.
• Julian Velard called me a nerd on twitter. I knew I worshipped him for a reason. Well, being insulted (though he redeemed himself by crowning himself King of the Nerds) and the rollicking piano-pop tunes he puts out. I absolutely must draw your attention to his brillo cover of Hot n Cold on his myspace, as well as a rather brillo blog he has written about the difficulties in getting his album The Planeteer out to the masses...
• The more I hear the pop-by-numbers JLS single "Beat Again" and see the literal interpretation of the lyrics dance moves, the more I fall in love with it. It's bloody brilliant. And I love JB's fashion sense in the vid too...
• Finally, the Greek season finale was aces. Especially the line "Oh paging Dr Grey. No you're worse, you're Joey Potter. No, you're the F word. You're Felicity!" which elicited a "you bitch" from loveable but lovetorn Kasey Cartwright. And a Felicity-esque cliffhanger too. Bring on August 31st!
• Finally, part 2. It's taken 10 years for me to admit it, but Big Brother this year is actually unwatchable. Though I reserve the right to get sucked back in at any point :P

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

21 ~ Le Kid, Mercy Mercy (NE)
20 ~ Alesha Dixon, Let's Get Excited
19 ~ Same Difference, All Roads Lead To Heaven
18 ~ Pet Shop Boys, Did You See Me Coming?
17 ~ Take That, The Garden
16 ~ Mr Hudson, Supernova
15 ~ Dan Black, Symphonies
14 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, I Am Not A Robot
13 ~ Alcazar, From Brazil With Love
12 ~ Industry, My Baby's Waiting
11 ~ JLS, Beat Again
10 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, Home
09 ~ Little Boots, New In Town
08 ~ Freemasons ft SEB, Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer
07 ~ Dolly Rockers, Je Suis Un Dolly
06 ~ Jason Mraz, Try Try Try
05 ~ BWO, Right Here Right Now
04 ~ Jordin Sparks, Battlefield
03 ~ Elouise, One Night Only
02 ~ "Abba", Second Best To None
01 ~ Benny Andersson Band, Story Of A Heart (2 weeks)

Back next week, then some more regular posts coming (July mixtape, half year wrap up, the tens...)

Oh! What's occuring? I won't lie to you, i've had a bit of a gavin and stacey weekend (AGAIN!), after having the car broken into and seeing as Darren is really ill again with a post operation infection. From the operation that was six weeks ago. So i prevented wringing my hands with more worry, by overdosing on some G&S (AGAIN!) Which much like Will and Grace, has the main attractions in the supporting cast. Everything Nessa says is bloody comedy gold - "I just cant believe I'm pregnant by Smithy...out of all the people I slept with...not Nigel Havers, John Prescott...not any of Goldie Looking Chain!" Tidy. Anyway on with la post...

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

• Ray Quinn continues to be brilliant in Dancing On Ice. Last week's 50s inspired dance routine was just amazing, though he faltered this week with the addition of a hat as a prop. I knows. Go figure. Anyway, what that boy can do on ice is just amazing. Shame Melinda Messenger got voted off though. No more Fred Palascak. Oh! And i'm starting hate Ruthie Henshaw with a Cherevyl Cole style passion....
• Take That's new b-side "84" has outclassed the quite-good-in-my-opinion A side, Up All Night (which seems likely to be top ten next week but not much higher). I like a decent Jason Orange tune, particularly as his offerings seem to be quite confessional and quirky (like the should-be-a-single-after-The-Garden How Did It Come To This). At times it does sound more like a Mark Owen solo track than a Take That effort, but that doesn't make it any less charming. Thrilled to bits that the epic The Garden is to be single number three too. Hurrah, etc.
• The Saturday's new b-side "Golden Rules" is also quite stomping, and much more enticing than the perky but lacking Just Can't Get Enough flip. It's far more "Up"/"Work" than their comic relief single and bodes well for their second album, hopefully due later this year. It's quite Girls Aloud, but it's not. I know that doesn't make much sense, you'll just have to buy the single to listen to it. Synthy and electro beats abound!

• Hurrah. One of my fave bonkers pop-ska-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink bands of the 90s are reforming. Gone is the disappointing (to me) solo career of Gwen (for now) - and they are back! On one of my favourite shows no less - Gossip Girl! Woo hoo! And, as a little cherry on top of this cake, they are performing an Adam Ant classic Stand and Deliver. It's like three magnificences in one. Can't. Wait.
• Aaron raised an interesting point on his blog this week - did Lily just add "a" to the line "let's get a chinese" on her latest album? I would have to say no.. I would totally say "let's get A chinese" over "let's get chinese". Perhaps it's a British thing? Other interesting mysteries of our time - the continued appeal to the masses of 22 year old (YEAH RIGHT!!) Lady Gaga. I thought I would give her album another go this weekend. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Utter utter lack of appeal for me. What gives?!
• Finally, Robin Hood is finally nearly back (later in March) and has some new fine and dandy men to keep him company. Can't wait to see lovely Jonas Armstrong back on the screen. PS ~ when is the next Dr Who special?!

THE TOP 21 TRACKS OF THE WEEK:

21 ~ Girls Aloud, The Loving Kind
20 ~ Marit Larsen, The Chase
19 ~ The Killers, Spaceman
18 ~ Kevin Borg, With Every Little Bit of Me (NE)
17 ~ Jason Mraz, The Dynamo of Volition
16 ~ Lenka, Trouble Is A Friend
15 ~ Annie Lennox, Shining Light
14 ~ Same Difference, If You Can't Dance
13 ~ The Saturdays, Just Can't Get Enough
12 ~ Lily Allen, The Fear
11 ~ Alesha Dixon, Breathe Slow
10 ~ The Days, No Ties
09 ~ McFly, The Last Song
08 ~ William Young, Let It Go
07 ~ Simon Curtis/Victoria Justice, The Wings of a Dream
06 ~ Kelly Clarkson, My Life Would Suck Without You
05 ~ BWO, You're Not Alone (NE) (VID)
04 ~ Taylor Swift, Love Story
03 ~ Take That, Up All Night
02 ~ Sugababes, Every Heart Broken
01 ~ Pet Shop Boys, Love, Etc. (1 week)
Previous 2009 chart toppers: Simon Curtis/Victoria Justice - Wings Of A Dream (4 weeks); Sugababes - Every Heart Broken (4 weeks)

Coming soon: Little Boots vs Pixie; Fizzypop Chronicles 2009 Vol. 3; some other stuff!!

The same criticisms that I level at Lady Blahblah (overhyped, shameless self promoter, media whore, gash in the press daily) could equally be levelled at my beloved Lily Allen. However, unlike Lady Blahblah, Lily Allen isn't just some more outre version of Britney/Christina, and with her second album has developed popstar-with-longevity-potential chops. It's Not Me, It's You (much like the ace Sugababes Every Heart Broken [aka Murder One], she should've stuck with her ace original title "Stuck On The Naughty Step")is a significant step forward from her quite delightful debut album, yet isn't so progressive that it loses the blog-pop stylings she has become so well known for.

The album kicks off with a couple of socio-political belters, dressed up in their finest electro-tinged ballgowns and trainers. Everyone's At It sees Lily musing over the problems caused by living in a pill popping society. And I'd be surprised to find anyone who hasn't been to their doctor feeling a bit blue and not be offered a nice bout of anti depressants (amitryptaline are particularly good because you lose weight like crazy too. Skinny and a zombie?! Perfect!)Musically, it perfectly sets the tone for the album, and was rumoured to be the first single for a while. Rightly so, it is easily of that standard. The actual first single, and UK chart topper, The Fear has a musical backdrop that reminds me of All Saints Pure Shores and is actually a brilliant comeback single that deserves all it's successes and accolades. It places Lily in a more polished electronic setting but doesn't lose her ability for witty lyrics and a catchy melody. It's a slam against popstars who can't shut their legs in public ("I'll take my clothes off and it will be shameless/cos everyone knows that's how you get famous") as well as the best attack on our credit card addictions since Shania Twain's Ka-ching ("I am a weapon of massive consumption/It's not my fault it's how i'm programmed to function"). Yes it's a bit hypocritical but the whole album has this cohesive air that Lily is a bit battered from her launch into the spotlight and is stepping back to re-evaluate.

The album's first laugh out loud moment comes with the mariachi sound on acid stylings of It's Not Fair. Bring everyone round for a hoe down because it's a brilliant extension from the debut album's It's Not Big as Lily sings about her perfect lover who's crap in bed. “Now I lie here in the wet patch in the middle of the bed / I’m feeling pretty damn hard done by / I’ve spent ages giving head”. It's the musical version of the Sex And The City episode where Samantha dates a guy with a tiny peeny, and it's Lilys candor that makes her so refreshing and charming at the same time. There's more musical experimentation with a Russian sounding polka dance on Never Gonna Happen, which is all perfectly barmy and endearing. Back To The Start is another amazing up tempo tune that is totally worthy of single release. It's apparently about making peace with her older sister and like XO says in his review, is sweet and lovely and deserves repeated listening to fully appreciate. A couple of ballads show that Lily can do electro-slow with beautiful results. I Could Say begins with some lovely piano interspersed with a resonant beat, that is reminiscent of the final heartbeats of a monitor hooked up to a dying relationship. But the drawer here is that Lily emerges defiantly from these broken relationships and comes out all the better for it. It's exquisitely constructed and a highlight that shines at the midway mark of the album. Who'd Have Known has slowed down from the Take That-Shine similarity of the original and radiates with a warmth and welcoming that the demo version lacked somewhat - this may be because Lily works the chorus by vocally coming in by working up the register rather than starting high and going down the notes. It really does make a difference. 22 didn't stand out for me on first listen, but after a few "spins", I've really warmed to this tale of how single women are maligned by society if they aren't wed and producing by the time they are thirty. The slight reworking of GWB provides the second laugh out loud moment of the album particularly when her "fuck you" goes chipmunk style, but overall it's still a great song (lily does the carpenters indeed) and an additional verse just extends my listening pleasure.

Overall, it's nigh on a perfect album. There are a couple of slight mis-fires (Chinese pales a bit in comparison to the other stronger tunes) to be sure, but it's a great album that is already my favourite of the year.
Potential Singles: The Fear, Everyone's At It, Back To The Start, I Could Say

LINKS:
Read XO's review here
Will-W weighs in here
Lily is coming soon to Pop Reviews Now (and probably Poppostergirl!)