West End Girl

Lily Allen | Blue May

It wouldn't exactly be fantastic journalism if I turned around and started spouting about how music can address sore subjects, or how it can be used to portray deep, meaningful messages. Hell, it wouldn't even be the first time you've heard it from me. But never have I heard an album discuss infidelity so openly, address relationship turmoils so freely, and call out... unsatisfactory standards so directly. And it's Lily Allen, the voice of an entire generation, so what's not to like?

Though none of this is surprising if we consider her past releases. She is perhaps one of the most iconic voices in UK music post-2000, and it's not like she's ever given a... do I say it? Surely the great Lily Allen would want me to. It's not like she's ever given a fuck about being polite. In a music scene full of artists switching and bending both genres and images (which in its own right is both fantastic and sometimes necessary), it's beyond refreshing to see an artist of such calibre stick as close to her original style as Allen has in West End Girl.

There's little doubt this album will become a cultural staple in the future, with the detailing of her relationship's breakdown with David Harbour a relatable experience to so many of her listeners. The album starts with its namesake, "West End Girl", and details her move to New York with Harbour, starting what was supposed to be a happy new move for the couple. As the album continues, the narrative begins to morph, with songs such as "Tennis" highlighting the messages Allen found on Harbour's phone, and "4chan Stan" presenting as a particularly emotional and angry message regarding what she experienced at his hand. The album as a whole has a distinctly powerful narrative; a raw commentary of personal events, especially when considering Allen and Harbour only ended their relationship in February of this year.

Overall, this album is perhaps one of the best to come out in 2025. Musically, it possesses the same elements that made us fall in love with Lily Allen in the first place. The iconic, unpolished London accent. The resilient, unwavering lack of care to appear polite. Contextually, the album discusses some incredibly important points in terms of what makes a relationship work and what makes one crumble. I couldn't recommend this album more if I tried, and I'd be incredibly surprised if you didn't agree.