Lily Allen's New Album West End Hailed As 'Brutal', 'Gobsmacking' And 'Unflinching' In Reviews

Lily Allen performing at Glastonbury in 2022Lily Allen has returned to the music scene after a seven-year absence, with what just might be her most personal album to date.A week ago, the chart-topping singer announced her fifth album West End Girl was on the way, telling British Vogue the release was “inspired by what went on in the relationship” with her now- husband David Harbour, who she married in 2020, and with whom she was reported to have parted ways last year.West End Girl came out on Friday, and has already received a wave of praise due to her confessional lyrics, although critics seem more split on the longevity of the songs, which span a number of different genres including flamenco, reggae, bossa nova, acoustic ballad and, of course, pure pop.Here’s a selection of what’s been said about the release by critics so far…The Independent (5/5)“A brutal, tell-all masterpiece [...] the bewildered and wounded Allen wrote West End Girl in 10 days. It shows, in the best way. This musical of deceit and suffering puts her in the starring role, seizing control of her narrative and holding little back. Those distinctive, creamy vocals sound sad and deflated, as if she’s processing in real time. Seven years since her last album, this intense story-driven format lets her sound sharper, smarter, and more clear-eyed than before.”The Guardian (4/5) “A gobsmacking autopsy of marital betrayal [...] It’s simultaneously gripping and shocking. There are moments when you find yourself wondering if airing this much dirty laundry can possibly be a good idea, impeccably written and laced with mordant wit though the lyrics are. Obviously said lyrics will attract the lion’s share of attention [...] But there’s far more to West End Girl than just cathartic disclosure.”Lily Allen as depicted in the striking artwork for her new album West End GirlNME (4/5)“Written and recorded in just 10 days following the breakdown of her marriage to Stranger Things’ David Harbour, [West End Girl is] a sleek, smart collection that sees Allen back at her very best. The 14 tracks are a familiar blend of experimental electronics, chirpy dance, infectious pop hooks and brutal honesty. For the most part, West End Girl is an updated take on the sound that made her a crossover ’00s icon that never settles for comfortable throwback nostalgia.”The Standard (4/5)“West End Girl is not a breakup album; it’s a betrayal album. With the ferocity of Lemonade and the matter-of-fact storytelling of A Grand Don’t Come For Free, Allen dives into the minutiae of her unnamed partner’s duplicity with no holds barred.”The Telegraph (4/5) “Listening to [West End Girl] makes you feel a little like being on public transport, aural rubbernecking as somebody pours out all the gory details of their divorce in a phone call behind you. Only with some great sonic backdrops which take in elements of jungle, lounge, soul, doo-wop, folk, dancehall, pop and western twang.”Lily Allen in a press photo for her new album West End GirlDaily Mail (4/5) “Despite the heartache, or perhaps because of it, she sounds artistically reinvigorated. Working with producer Blue May, she candidly chronicles the arc of a breakup against a backdrop of jittery drum and bass, tuneful balladry and – on Madeline – flamenco guitar and castanets. There’s a touch too much auto-tune on her voice at times, but no doubting her ability to convey raw emotion with sharp, pithy pop.”Metro (3.5/5) “West End Girl is a welcome return from Lily Allen who brings a unique sound and unflinching honesty to her music. While it’s not got any instant or obvious hits, this is so personal you’ll be thinking about it for a week after.”The Times (3/5) “Whether or not you feel dirty laundry should be aired in public – and the album really does build up a massive pile of it – there is no denying the authenticity of experience here [...] What stops this from being a truly powerful break-up album is lack of quality control in the music.”READ MORE:David Harbour Speaks Out About Lily Allen Split For The First TimeLily Allen Candidly Opens Up About Recent Stay In Mental Health Treatment CentreLily Allen Apologises To Katy Perry For 'Mean' Comments About Her Divisive Space Voyage

Comments

Breaking news

From Wednesday Addams To Count Orlok: 5 Of The Best Last-Minute Halloween Outfits

Huffpost uk

Comments

Similar News

Lily Allen's West End Girl: Pop star details 'intensely personal' journey through divorce from cheating husband David Harbour, ADRIAN THRILLS reviews her captivating breakup album

Emily In Paris first look! Teaser trailer sees Lily Collins embark on a heated romance with new Italian love interest as she takes on Rome

Lily Allen breaks cover after making new revelations about David Harbour divorce, her boob job and how dating in her 40s is 'humiliating'

Lily Allen says she found a 'massive' lump after getting her boob job as she reveals the reason she had surgery

Lily Allen makes rare comments about her former flame Liam Gallagher after their 2009 plane romp - as she reveals she went to see his latest concert

Lily Allen confesses she was left 'really confused' after discovering husband David Harbour's three-year affair as she admits the relationship damaged her self-worth and describes the 'humiliation' of dating in her 40s

Lily Allen, 40, poses for her sexiest shoot to date... as she predicts critics will brand her 'sad and too old' for the 'powerful' images and details how her boob job 'enticed' her to gain weight

Lily Allen reveals bare wedding finger on 'break-up' album shoot as she drops first new music in seven years

Lily Allen extends an olive branch to ex-husband David Harbour after revealing she became suicidal following his three-year affair

Lily Allen admits she became suicidal after discovering husband David Harbour's three-year affair as she tells Vogue she 'came close to relapsing on drink and drugs and developed a really, really bad problem with food'

Lily Allen 'is set to make a HUGE comeback after seven years with new album about how she coped with devastating marriage breakdown from David Harbour'

OnlyFans star Lily Phillips reveals stranger she met in pub showed up at her house after midnight - as family express fears over her safety

Liam Gallagher skips Oasis wrap party to 'rest his voice' - and conveniently avoids Lily Allen...who revealed their mile high tryst while he was married to Nicole Appleton

Noel Gallagher is joined by Lily Allen as Oasis celebrate their end of their UK tour with star-studded bash at Chiltern Firehouse - but Liam misses out

Lily Collins looks unrecognisable for her latest role as she films drug scene in rundown street

TALK OF THE TOWN: Lily Allen is back on the dating apps...and this time for real

Lily Cole's Impossible dream in ruins as business on brink of collapse - 12 years after backlash for taking £200k of taxpayer cash

Tiger Lily Hutchence is every inch the doting mother during a park outing with her new baby and friends

Breaking news

From Wednesday Addams To Count Orlok: 5 Of The Best Last-Minute Halloween Outfits

9 Water And Splash-Proof Winter Coats That Actually Look Really Stylish

These 2 Celebrity Traitors Favourites Are Reuniting For A New TV Series

Here's What Your Neck Size May Tell You About Your Heart Health

LBC Presenter Takes Aim At Farage For Calling Female Journalist 'Love' During Interview

Thief pinches 21 manhole covers from a single street overnight

Boy, 12, died after inhaling Lynx deodorant in ‘TikTok challenge’

Manchester Pride owes me thousands – I’m losing a queer space too

Woman wrongly denied £3,800 disability benefit for doing up her bra

November 2025 payment dates for benefits and pensions plus cost of living support

Ukraine reveals ‘sea baby’ drones that could change the war with Russia

European airport shuts after smuggler balloons enter airspace

Senegalese artist transforms Conakry's walls with captivating street art, in photos

Zelenskyy to meet European leaders in London for talks on military aid for Ukraine

Jackie Kennedy’s grandson slams Trump for ‘pouring concrete’ all over former First Lady’s garden

Trump denies sending supersonic bombers to Venezuela coast. The flight data says otherwise

Trump-Canada live: Furious president terminates trade talks over ‘fraudulent’ Ronald Reagan quote

Paedophile singer Ian Watkins died after being stabbed in the neck, inquest told

NatWest earnings soar after 600 roles cut across the business

‘I waited months to reunite with my family – but I missed the chance by 13 minutes’

Man executed with controversial nitrogen gas calls for change to system with last words

Revolution bars’ owner launches sale process as turnaround falters

New research reveals impact of extreme heat on women and future pregnancy

Barbra Streisand Slams 'Ridiculous' Donald Trump Project As Metaphor For His Presidency

Kim Kardashian Discloses Brain Aneurysm Diagnosis Triggered By Stress

BBC Question Time Audience Laugh At Nadine Dorries As She Struggles To Explain Reform Immigration Plan

Lily Allen's New Album West End Hailed As 'Brutal', 'Gobsmacking' And 'Unflinching' In Reviews

Mark Bonnar's Reaction To Finding Out Who The Celebrity Traitors Are Is Truly Unmissable

Analysis: Caerphilly By-Election Result Shows How Nigel Farage Could Be Reform's Achilles Heel

‘I explored Ancient Rome and saw gladiator fights in the Colosseum up close’

What caused the AWS outage as Amazon releases statement?

UK retailers deliver surprise growth as tech sales buoyed by iPhone release

NatWest earnings soar 30% as it takes ‘tight control’ over business costs

Four family members of Illinois politician Darren Bailey killed in helicopter crash

John Curtice says Labour in ‘severe trouble’ in Wales after humiliating by-election defeat

New research challenges what we know about dinosaur population before huge asteroid strike

Bus catches fire after being hit by a motorcycle in southern India, killing at least 25

Garry McRae and ZiZibreeZi: Guiding Investors Through The U.K’s Short-Term Letting Landscape

Conservation group rescues sea turtles caught in nets at Nigerian coastal city and rewards fishermen

Two police cars crash in Edinburgh as three people injured

Man says 'I didn’t kill anybody' in last words before he's executed on death row

ITV GMB Dr Amir warning to people who take vitamin pills

McDonald's launches investigation after schoolgirl makes 'disgusting' find

Woman charged over death of Graham Wright after Loch Lomond body find

Egg expert says to avoid 'smack or bash' as you've been cracking eggs wrong

Stephen Flynn says SNP should be allowed to strip Prince Andrew of title

Retail sales in UK hit surprising high - amid strong demand for gold

Spotify hikes UK subscription prices

Heartbreaking reason why Wayne Rooney is banned from watching son Kai's football matches

'I thought back pain was pulled muscle then they said I'd never be cured'

Puppy saved from 'monster' trying to drown him in desperate need of forever home

ITV Dr Amir Khan issues 'dangerous' warning to GMB viewers

Hideous final moments of girl, 12, as woman 'raped and tortured her for revenge'

Cheryl Grimmer brother's heartbreaking admission after little sister, 3, vanished from beach

Man, 27, dies from cancer treatment that saved him 25 years ago as a toddler

Baby P's, 1, tormented life from shaved to scalp with teeth broken as vile mum sat back

'My best friend and I did shots on our dream holiday - then she died'

Wakefield pub fight murder probe launched as family pay tribute to victim

Labour suffers historic defeat in Caerphilly by-election as top pollster gives verdict