Ahead of her UK tour and her three nominations at this weekend’s Brit awards, we appraise Allen’s sharp, candid songcraft
The final track of West End Girl is as close as the album’s break-up saga comes to conciliation, which isn’t terribly close (there’s a glancing lyrical reference to fault on both sides). But in its dreamy trip-hoppy backing and the sweetness of its melody lurks something else: a sense of closure.
“I ripped off the chorus … and can’t be bothered with the paperwork,” shrugged Allen of Who’d Have Known’s distinct similarity to Take That’s Shine. They let her use it anyway, and understandably so: Who’d Have Known is an entirely lovely drawing of a relationship in its early stages, that seems to gently glow with possibilities.
A genuinely great song from Allen’s flawed third album Sheezus, Our Time neatly captures a sense of here-comes-the-weekend anticipation. “Bring some fags and bring some Rizlas, we’re gonna party like it’s nobody’s business,” she offers, larding her all-back-to-mine invitation with the splendidly understated boast: “I’ve got a quite good record collection.”
Musically, 22 offers finger-snapping post-Amy Winehouse soul given a synth makeover. Lyrically, it’s fantastic: a Ray Davies-esque character study that offers a remarkably clear-eyed assessment of societal pressures faced by women approaching their 30s. And if you want an indie-sleaze period piece, head for the Big Pink’s distorted, dubstep-influenced remix.
