When Lily Allen first revealed details about her fifth album, ‘West End Girl’, with just four days’ notice before its release, there was a sense that this record would delve into personal themes. However, what could not have been anticipated in such a short timeframe was the raw and vulnerable way in which the album would recount a deeply painful narrative of heartbreak and betrayal. For those who have been following the Londoner’s recent activities outside of music, it’s no surprise that Lily has been facing significant challenges lately. Whether through her appearances on the ‘Miss Me?’ podcast with childhood friend Miquita Oliver (which she has since exited to pursue other projects) or through numerous tabloid stories that highlighted her struggles with mental health and a stint in a treatment center, it has been evident that the collapse of her marriage has greatly affected her. In ‘West End Girl’, she offers a detailed reenactment, inspired, as she mentioned in a recent interview with Vogue, “by what transpired in the relationship,” with all the gritty specifics included.
While it can be presumed that some artistic license is at play here – or at least, that's likely what any legal representatives would suggest – the album's recounting of this relationship and its eventual fallout is so intensely vivid and shockingly honest that it invites questions about the boundary between reality and narrative. Over its fourteen tracks, Allen emerges as a masterful storyteller – like a Pollyanna Emcee – as she skillfully navigates the twists and turns of her story in a style that feels both theatrically bold and perfectly executed. From the swooning, Brooklyn-inspired opener (“I thought that that was quite strange,” she sings, referencing early signs of gaslighting) to the Western-themed, pistols-at-dawn vibe of ‘Madeline’ (where she recounts conversations exchanged with her husband’s mistress), each track’s musicality evolves to mirror the increasing sadness and tension of her tale.
However, it’s the chilly, expansive rhythms of ‘Pussy Palace’ – paired with the wide-eyed, almost innocent tone of its chorus – that strike the deepest chord; a song filled with unsavory details, yet transformed into something ethereal and catchy. To attempt to convey the debilitating anguish of experiencing infidelity and coercive control is already an impressive challenge – let alone to process it within just ten days, the amount of time Lily took to write the album. Yet, she manages to do so in a manner that feels intricate and well-structured, all while infusing the songs with a level of wit and dry humor that has always characterized her work. Spectacular and sorrowful in many ways, ‘West End Girl’ may have begun by recounting one of the most painful chapters of her life, but it has now evolved into one of her most triumphant expressions.
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