Despite my comments on my recent article on music, on rare occassions I actually get ahead of the musical curve or at least track with it. Sometimes this occurs because I have been listening to Virgin Radio, which being a pop station located across the pond occassionally provides me with either new music finds or finds that are new to me. I think the station is responsible for introducing me to at least Travis, Keane, and K. T. Tunstall. I can’t remember if there are anymore just now.
More often than not, though, I am am introduced to a new artist through a friend. One of the bands I was turned on to last year was the Arctic Monkeys (click here for their favorite song of mine featuring Hermione Granger, even though the version is not great, and here for a clever video involving Paddy Considine, the lead, male actor from In America).
I was introduced to Lilly Allen, by flatmate Sweet Chicken (yeah, I tossed “flatmate” in there just for the Brit-ish vibe). I am not sure I am going to go out and buy her CD, but her music is fun and her lyrics witty, even if rather saucy at times. On her album cover she seems to be cultivating the image of a chav (a British social group I find fascinating for some reason), which the Monkeys also do a bit. Their album Whatever People Say That I Am, That’s What I’m Not was almost a chav concept album.
Lilly, though, grew up in a rather privileged upbringing. In this NPR article, which links to a number of her songs, she is described thusly, “Allen says most people in her life are fair game, and she likens her music to a diary of her life.” Musically, “Her musical influences draw from the many albums she listens to, and include ska, hip-hop, New Orleans jazz and polkas.” And here is NPR audio review by Ken Tucker with audio clips and, well, an NPR-ish critique, “she presents a cheerful, even vehement, positivism that gives her demands for respect, her contempt for authority, a wallop.” And here is her Myspace (MY-Severly, Pathetically, Aesthecially-Challenged Expression) page.
Namedropping over. For now at least 😉
I frickin love her. She reminds me of youthwork in Britain. 🙂
“MY-Severely, Pathetically, Aesthecially-Challenged Expression) page.” Tee hee. Agreed. I like her sound, especially on the Alfie song, but lyrically her myspace ditties could use a bit of umpf…by umpf I mean depth.
P.S. Hermione is perfect for that Arctic Monkeys song! The band Arctic Monkeys is new to me. Nice.
Yeah, Heidi, there is not much depth, but perhaps the best we can hope for in pop is cleverness, with an occassional wry observation. Otherwise, perhaps it stops being pop.
And to be clear, my moniker MY, Severely, Pathetically, Aesthetically-Challenged, Expression page really applies to the aesthetics of Myspace itself, as opposed to the aesthetics of the expression of any given person on myspace. Though, often enough, some folks do rather “decorate the trainwreck.”
Ahh gotcha! The aesthetics of Myspace itself.