As for 2009? Well, the Dirty Projectors became a household name, as did Twitter, Girl Talk turned into a gimmick, Kanye continued to be an asshole, online music streaming got big (and bought), and the sales of digital and vinyl releases continued to increase, while the Virgin Megastores and Sam Goody’s of the world went bye bye.

And that’s not even scratching the surface. Before we turn the page on the 2000s, we wanted to take one more look at the year that was the last 365 days. Music, here was your 2009…

Top Albums of 2009

As selected by the CoS Staff…

01. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion

02. Passion Pit – Manners

03. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You

04. The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love

05. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

06. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!

07. Kittens Ablaze – The Monstrous Vanguard

08. Wale – Attention Deficit

09. The Antlers – Hospice

10. The Dead Weather – Horehound

Click here for #11 – #100

Top Songs of 2009

As selected by the CoS Staff…

01. Phoenix – “1901″

02. Animal Collective – “Summertime Clothes”

03. Passion Pit – “Sleepyhead”

04. Grizzly Bear – “Two Weeks”

05. Phoenix – “Lisztomania”

06. Wale – “Triumph”

07. Jay-Z – “Run This Town” (feat. Kanye West and Rihanna)

08. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Heads Will Roll”

09. Girls – “Lust for Life”

10. Animal Collective – “My Girls”

Click here for #11 – #50

Headline Grabbers

There is always a few particular artists who seem to appear in the headlines more than others. Take these three for example:

Lil Wayne appeared on ESPN, began work on a rock ‘n’ roll album, talked gangsta with Katie Couric, won some Grammys, released the worst song ever, pushed back the release of his rock ‘n’ roll album, pushed back the release of his rock ‘n’ roll album again, told kids to stay in school, teamed up with Madonna, collaborated with Kanye, Eminem, and Drake, promised two albums before the year was out, plead guilty to weapon possession, released a stellar mixtape, watched his mom get a TV show, had his rock ‘n’ roll album mistakenly leaked, and got arrested again, all while actually failing to release any studio albums at all before the year was out. And to cap it all off, he’s going to prison in February!

For a band that didn’t release an album in 2009, Radiohead sure managed to grab quite a few headlines. Capitol Records reissued their discography, Thom Yorke debuted a new song, as well as contributed to the New Moon soundtrack, Ed O’Brien and Phil Selway collaborated with Neil Finn and Wilco, the entire band got together to release a tribute song for Harry Patch, the last surviving World War I combat soldier, Thom Yorke covered Mark Mulcahy’s “All for the Best”, the entire band got together again to release a track titled “These Are My Twisted Words”, Thom Yorke offered a secret 12″, Thom Yorke formed a new band and played some shows, the entire band got together for a third time to begin work on a new studio album, and Thom Yorke became really pissed about climate change.

You either loved or hated the amount of U2 present in 2009. Bono and crew got on their boots, played the Grammys, resided on Letterman, released a new album, teamed up with Brandon Flowers and Chris Martin, started talking another new album, took to Fordham University for a secret show, embarked on the first leg of their claw-featuring global 360 tour, tapped Muse as an opener, wrote a Broadway musical about Spider-Man, pissed off David Byrne, got reviewed in Chicago, reissued The Unforgettable Fire, apparently made no money, played the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall-of-Fame anniversary, titled their next album, wanted to be like The Beatles, plotted more tour dates for 2010, played a free Berlin Wall concert behind the backdrop of a different wall constructed by MTV to prevent those without tickets from watching U2 play a free Berlin Wall concert, teamed up with Jay-Z, got tapped for Glastonbury 2010, and announced a remix album.

Music Festivals

Despite a recession which saw a number of mid-tier summer music festivals call it quits, the big boys were as grand as ever. Coachella rounded up McCartney, Bonnaroo brought The Boss and Phish, and Lollapalooza finally saw Perry using his festival to his advantage. What’s more, Outside Lands proved once again that its a festival to be reckon with, while Sasquatch! demonstrated that Washington state can also rock hard. Hova was able to save All Points West from a mud filled weekend, Pitchfork continued to serve as a hipster’s wet dream, and the Virgin Mobile Festival reminded us that some good things can be free. Finally, Consequence of Sound hit South by Southwest for the first time, celebrating with events featuring the likes of Astronautalis, Gringo Star, Shad, 13ghosts, Kittens Ablaze, Catfish Haven, and Blueblood. Oh, and did we mention we have already begun planning for next year?

Supergroups

By the time December rolled around, there were as many supergroups in existence as there were non-supergroups…

Dave Grohl + John Paul Jones + Josh Homme = Them Crooked Vultures, Conor Oberst + M. Ward + Jim James = Monsters of Folk, Jack White + Alison Mosshart + Jack Lawrence + Dean Fertita = The Dead Weather, Thom Yorke + Flea + Nigel Godrich + Joey Waronker + Mauro Refosco = ???, Phil Lesh + Bob Weir = Furthur, Coldplay + Mew + a-ha = Apparatjik, Supergrass + Radiohead = The Hot Rats, Joe Budden + Joell Ortiz + Royce da 5’9″ + Crooked I = Slaughterhouse, King Khan + Black Lips = The Almighty Defenders, New Order + Blur = Bad Lieutenant, Sammy Hagar + Michael Anthony + Joe Satriani + Chad Smith = Chickenfoot

Reunions, Hiatuses, and Nothing at All!

Two 2009′s biggest themes were bands reuniting and bands calling it quits (or announcing extended hiatuses). And then there were those that couldn’t make up their mind at all.

Blur began its reunion, The Stooges revived Raw Power, Pixies gave it another go, Creed came back!, No Doubt did too, Faith No More hit Europe, Phish returned, The Murder City Devils reunited for Coachella, Sunny Day Real Estate returned for some grunge, Deadheads got the best Christmas present ever, Blink-182 got back together for the kids, Spinal Tap released a new album for the first time in 17 years, Sublime played a show and then got sued, Eminem reunited with D12, Simon and Garfunkel became friends, Limp Bizkit dusted off the red cap, Three members of the Velvet Underground got together for a discussion, Orbital celebrated its 20th anniversary with a reunion, Jawbox made its first live performance since 1997 on J-Fal, Faces reunited without Rod Stewart, while Take That did reunite with Robbie Williams, John Lydon moved on to Public Image Ltd., Cee-Lo got back together with Goodie Mob, The Jayhawks reunited, as did The Gories, and Ben Lee resurrected Noise Addict. Oh yeah, and some band named Pavement announced plans for a busy 2010.

On the other hand, Blur also ended its reunion, The Verve broke up again, Oasis had a fight, Flight of the Conchords called it quits, Music journalism died, Nine Inch Nails said goodbye, as did Harlem Shakes, The Broken West, and Pela, and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Fall Out Boy, Foo Fighters, Blitzen Trapper, Bon Iver, Lily Allen, Deerhunter, and TV on the Radio all announced lengthy hiatuses.

Plus, we learned an At The Drive-In reunion apparently wasn’t a possibility, nor was the rumored Stone Roses comeback, Spacemen 3 got an offer, but declined, The Kinks kept thinking about it but still didn’t do anything, contrary to Courtney Love’s comments, Hole didn’t reunite, Pulp teased and then unteased, and Swans thought about it and didn’t. And not surprisingly, The Libertines, The Smiths, and Neutral Milk Hotel all continued to tease to no fruition, while Led Zeppelin continued the suspense.

Soundtracks with benefits

There’s nothing like a nice movie soundtrack or benefit album featuring some of our favorite musicians. 2009 exemplified this fact to the max…

Grizzly Bear, LCD Soundsystem, Badly Drawn Boy, Arcade Fire, Karen O and friends, Daft Punk, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Beck, Jay Farrar & Ben Gibbard, British Sea Power, Dengue Fever all provided sounds for the silver screen, as did the inane number of musicians appearing on the New Moon soundtrack.

Ben Gibbard, Fleet Foxes, and The Cave singers contributed to the Give Seattle charity album, while Tom Waits, Pete Seeger, and Jim James lent their talents to Preservation, an Album Benefiting Preservation Hall and Its Music Outreach Program. Our friends at Ear Farm rounded up Tom Tom Club, Sean Bones, tUnE-yArDs for their pro-Xmas Do you EAR what I EAR?. Peter Bjorn & John, Juliette Lewis, and White Rabbits helped fight malaria. The Climate change benefiting Rhythms Del Mundo Classics saw contributions from The Killers, The Rolling Stones, and Amy Winehouse. Stars (like Yorke and The National) collided for Mark Mulcahy. Hot Chip, The Hold Steady, and Lily Allen shared reinterpretations on War Child Heroes. And let’s not forget about Dark Was The Night, the tantalizing 31-track effort featuring the Dirty Projectors with David Byrne, Feist with Ben Gibbard, Sufjan Stevens, My Morning Jacket, and more, all in benefit of The Red Hot Organization and AIDS awareness.

Our Most Memorable Features

In addition to everything else that went down, 2009 also saw Consequence of Sound further expanded our feature stories. The following are some of our favorites/most memorable:

We brought you interviews with Pavement, Ms. Consequence of Sound herself, Regina Spektor, Tom Jones, Passion Pit, Slayer, Ben Kweller, The Gaslight Anthem, Flogging Molly, Anti-Flag, Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s, Hot Water Music, The Von Bondies, The Screaming Blue Messiahs, The Antlers, Boots Riley, Cymbals Eat Guitars, and Fleet Foxes’ J. Tillman. Oh and we talked with Los Campesinos! not once, but twice.

Our Editor-in-Chief Michael Roffman gave us the entire story of The Thermals, contributing writer Alyssa Spiel spoke with 311 about its 20th anniversary, and the one and only Cap Blackard spent the day with Astronautalis.

We listed everything from the Top 11 Influential Minds of Industrial Metal and Top 10 Grunge Albums to the  Top 10 Fake Bands and Top 10 Sleepiest Albums. We did some Audio Archaeology, dusted off some ol’ classics, shared our guilty pleasures, introduced you to some great new bands, and continued teaching Rock History 101.

As for the most commented posts of the year? That honor goes to Laina Dawes’ review of 311′s Uplifter.

The Year’s Most “Unique” Moments

We thought we’d close on a light note, as in this year’s stories and moments that, well, left us scratching our heads the most…

Bill Corgan wrote a song for the Super Bowl, Bruce Springsteen apologized for selling music through Walmart, Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged, Mandy Moore married Ryan Adams, Lil Wayne released “Prom Queen”, we wrote a post about the Jonas Brothers, Crystal Castles had a meltdown, Santogold had to change her name to Santigold, Manu Chao pissed off Mexico, Chickenfoot was actually real, Prince released a $2,100 iPod, Billy Corgan made a wrestling promo, Tupac revealed he might still be alive, Creed released a new album, Billy Corgan hired a 19-year-old drummer, Kanye West helped kids stay in school, Ron Artest paid homage to Michael Jackson, Reading Music Festival banned flags, Kidz Bop covered Kanye West, Ryan Adams became a video game reviewer, R. Kelly forgot to title his new album, Oasis broke up, Liam Gallagher formed Oasis 2.0, 30 Seconds to Mars and Kanye West released a song together, 7-Eleven reissued The Beatles, Snoop Dogg got himself a new name, Rivers Cuomo was interviewed by a dog, Diddy appeared on the Home Shopping Network, Morrissey and Johnny Marr emailed, Marilyn Manson got swine flu, Radiohead didn’t break up, Elvis Presley’s grandson scored a record deal, Starfucker changed its name, Fall Out Boy formed a metal band, and Pete Doherty sang a Nazi song.

Thank you!

Before we end our 2009 recap, we would just like to take one last moment to thank the individuals who have helped Consequence of Sound become what it is today. Thank you to the publicists who work hand-in-hand with us each and everyday, thank you to the festival promoters who continue to work with us despite the fact we ruin your lineup announcements, thank you to the message boards which provide such a bevy of information, thank you to those who email us news tips and music submissions, thank you to our fellow bloggers, thank you to our amazing and tireless staff, and thank you to our readers who have put trust in us and our the reason we keep at this 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

2009 was an amazing year for Consequence of Sound, but 2010 will be even better. Stay tuned for a number of brand new features, including that much needed change we’ve all been eagerly awaiting.

“My last gig is my Dizzee Rascal concert at the O2 [Arena in London] in March. That’s the last thing I’ve got planned,” Allen said.

“I’m just going to concentrate on doing some behind the scenes sort of stuff.”

The 24-year-old went on to share a few specifics, including that her fashion store would be a “democratic” one, while her label would sign new bands at “a really early level.”

“I don’t want to compete with other record companies but I want to support new artists,” she added.

Oh, and one more piece of info from Ms. Allen: She’s a changed woman.

“I’ve decided to stop being so hypocritical and consume things and pay for them. I buy music in vinyl and buy newspapers. I support the industry I’m in.” Or not in. But what’s that matter, it’s the principal that counts.

Lily Allen 2009/2010 Tour Dates:
12/08 – Dublin, IE @ O2
12/09 – Liverpool, UK @ Echo Arena
12/10 – Nottingham, UK @ FM Arena
12/11 – Cardiff, UK @ CIA
12/13 – Brighton, UK @ Brighton Centre
12/15 – London, UK @ Brixton Academy
12/17 – Brixton, UK @ O2
01/15 – Auckland, NZ @ Big Day Out
01/17 – Gold Coast, AU @ Big Day Out
01/19 – Brisbane, AU @ River Stage
01/21 – Syndey, AU @ Horden
01/22 – Sydney, AU @ Big Day Out
01/23 – Sydney, AU @ Big Day Out
01/26 – Melbourne, AU @ Big Day Out
01/28 – Melbourne, AU @ Festival Hall
01/29 – Adelaide, AU @ Big Day Out
01/31 – Perth, AU @ Big Day Out
03/05 – Manchester, UK @ MEN Arena *
03/07 – London, UK @ O2 Arena *

* = w/ Dizzee Rascal

“The reunion’s not happening tonight – we have to wait for something very special,” Williams explained backstage to the Mirror.  “But the ball is rolling for a Take That album with me. I was tearing up when I was on stage with the lads.”

I love them – there’s no more hard feelings,” he went on to add. “If we did a reunion, it would have to be Back For Good. I’d do one of Gazza’s songs instead of my Could It Be Magic as I’m over all that now.”

The concert, which benefited the British charity Children In Need, did, however, result in a rather high-profile sing-a-long of “Hey Jude” featuring the members of Take That, Paul McCartney, Lily Allen, and  Leona Lewis. So, there was some consolation for those still waiting for Take that to officially be Back for Good.

Allen revealed the news in an interview with The Telegraph: “I’m setting up a record label at the moment, getting involved in lots of different things. I think things need to change in the music industry and we need to rethink a lot of stuff.”

After winning “Best Track” at the Q Awards, she joked that she plans to sign artists that will be “terrible ones that work on the radio.”

Work on the label will occur during her hiatus after her 2009-10 tour ends. “I’m definitely taking a break. I’ve been on the road for nearly five years so I’m tired and I need a break,” Allen said, also mentioning an interest in theater. “”I might be doing [a] play, it isn’t confirmed yet. I’m just keeping all my options open.”

Currently, she has yet to reveal a name for the imprint. We’ll of course keep you updated in the event that this actually happens.

For its 18th edition, Australia’s largest outdoor music event has tapped the likes of Muse, The Decemberists, The Mars Volta, the newly unretired Lily Allen, Peaches, Rise Against, Mastodon, Kasabian, Dizzee Rascal, Powderfinger, Ladyhawke, the Horrors, and Girl Talk.

However, as Undercover reports, David Bowie, who had been heavily rumored to be participating in this year’s event, is missing from the initial lineup. Good thing initial only means initial, eh?

Big Day Out kicks off on January 15th in Auckland, New Zealand, before hitting the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and concluding in Perth on January 31st. Tickets, ranging from $132 – $140, are available via bigdayout.com.

As Drowned in Sound reports, the Later.. Live With Jools Holland Vol. 2 CD will feature recording of the show’s best performances over the past year, which means you’ll be getting the likes of of Muse, MGMT, Bon Iver, Santigold, Lilly Allen, Al Green, Goldfrapp, The Raconteurs and, of course, Holland himself. The CD set is the second such one released by the show (Vol. 1 hit stores last year), which has been on the air since 1992.

The album will be available beginning October 12th via Rhino. For now, a taste of the musical goodness on Later…

Later… Live With Jools Holland Vol. 2 Tracklist:
CD1:
01. Muse – Uprising
02. Elbow – Grounds For Divorce
03. Little Boots – Remedy
04. Hot Chip – Ready For The Floor
05. Keane – Spiralling
06. MGMT – Time To Pretend
07. Lisa Hannigan – I Don’t Know
08. Last Shadow Puppets – The Age Of The Understatement
09. Nicole Atkins – Maybe Tonight
10. Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman
11. Bon Iver – Skinny Love
12. Friendly Fires – Jump In The Pool
13. Radiohead – Bodysnatchers
14. Santigold – L.E.S Artists
15. Adele & Jools – To Make You Feel My Love
16. Manic Street Preachers – Jackie Collins Existential Question Time
17. Pendulum – Granite

CD2:
01. Lily Allen – It’s Not Fair
02. Paolo Nutini – Candy
03. Al Green – Let’s Stay Together
04. Melody Gardot – Sweet Memory
05. Vampire Weekend – Mansard Roof
06. Morrissey – Something Is Squeezing My SKull
07. New York Dolls – ‘Cause I Sez So
08. Paul Weller – Push It Along
09. Seasick Steve – I Started Out With Nothin’ And I Still Got Most Of It Left
10. Jools Holland – I Went By
11. Golden Silvers – True Romance
12. Madness – Forever Young
13. Natty – July
14. Karima Francis – Use Somebody
15. Goldfrapp – Happiness
16. Monkey – Monkey’s World
17. The Raconteurs – Salute Your Solution

“I’m really looking forward to playing these special shows — I’m a massive fan of what Dizzee does,” Allen said (via NME), while Dizzee Rascal commented: “Lily and I have both worked well in the past so it’s no doubt these shows will be nights to remember.”

Maybe I missed something, but I don’t see any mention above regarding last week’s comments, you know, the ones that went something like this: “The days of me making money from recording music have been and gone as far as I’m concerned, so I don’t (at this point) stand to profit from legislation [from the government regarding file-sharing]. Except future purchases of previously recorded material (which won’t be much).”

So, did you change your mind? Or have you ended what quite possibly would be the shortest retirement ever (three days!)? Then again, you could have just been pulling our legs the whole time! LOL for realz!

Either way, we’re really looking forward to your two-disc deluxe edition of It’s Not Me, It’s You that you also just announced. It’s good to have you back. Seriously.

Lily Allen (TOTALLY NOT RETIRED!) 2009/2010 Tour Dates:
10/22 – Paris, FR @ Zenith
10/23 – Antwerp, BE @ Lotto Arena
10/25 – Amsterdam, NL @ Heineken Music Hall
10/28 – Milan, IT @ Alcatraz
10/29 – Munich, DE @ Theaterfabrik
10/30 – Prague, CZ @ Club Sasazu
10/31 – Hamburg, DE @ Docks
11/03 – Berlin, DE @ Astra
11/16 – Sheffield, UK @ O2 Academy
11/17 – Manchester, UK @ Apollo
11/18 – Manchester, UK @ Apollo
11/20 – Bournemouth, UK @ Bournemouth IC
11/21 – Plymouth, UK @ Plymouth Pavilions
11/22 – Swindon, UK @ Oasis
11/24 – Birmingham, UK @ NIA
11/25 – Glasgow, UK @ SEC
11/27 – London, UK @ Brixton Academy
11/28 – London, UK @ Brixton Academy
12/08 – Dublin, IE @ O2
12/09 – Liverpool, UK @ Echo Arena
12/10 – Nottingham, UK @ FM Arena
12/11 – Cardiff, UK @ CIA
12/13 – Brighton, UK @ Brighton Centre
12/15 – London, UK @ Brixton Academy
12/17 – Brixton, UK @ O2
03/05 – Manchester, UK @ MEN Arena *
03/07 – London, UK @ O2 Arena *

* = w/ Dizzee Rascal

In a recently posted statement on her anti-piracy blog (via NME), the 24-year-old musician has confirmed she does not plan to release another album and will not be renewing her record contract.

“Just so you know, I have not renegotiated my record contract and have no plans to make another record,” Allen wrote. “I do however remain a fan of new music, so this is not some selfish crusade.”

She continued, “The days of me making money from recording music have been and gone as far as I’m concerned, so I don’t (at this point) stand to profit from legislation [from the government regarding file-sharing]. Except future purchases of previously recorded material (which won’t be much).”

Of course, given the content of the quotes and the fact it was posted on her recently launched, now deceased anti-piracy blog (Allen shut it down shortly after posting the statement because, as she wrote on Twitter, “The abuse was getting too much.”), Allen’s “retirement” could just be the latest move in her fight against music piracy.

What’s more, Allen’s spokesperson has said (via NME) that Allen will continue touring into the winter and has no plans to completely step away from music. “She is not quitting pop music,” he said. “She is not thinking about her next album right now because she is still in the middle of promoting her current record.”

In other words, it’s time to play the always fun game of wait and see.

Over the last few weeks, the English musician has been engaged in a war of words with some of her fellow musicians over the practice of file sharing. She’s become so involved in fact that she has formed an anti-piracy blog, titled It’s Not Alright, and rounded up the likes of James Blunt, Muse’s Matt Bellamy, and Bat For Lashes’ Natasha Khan to serve as contributors.

“I want to put my hand up in support of Lily Allen,” wrote Blunt in the blog’s debut entry. “She’s asking British musicians to galvanise over a serious crime: the death of a Great British Industry — our music business.”

The issue at hand relates to whether the British Government should tackle online piracy by suspending people’s internet connections.

The Featured Artists’ Coalition, whose members include Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, Billy Bragg, Blur’s Dave Rowntree, and Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason, oppose the proposed sanctions sanctions. However, in a statement posted on the Coalition’s website this morning, the group noted that its stance does not means its “pro-illegal.”

There has been much discussion over the past few weeks regarding the Government’s proposals to combat the challenge of copyright infringement through the suspension of the internet connections of individuals alleged to have illegally downloaded copyrighted material.

Statements made in opposition to this idea by members of the Featured Artists Coalition have been taken to imply that we condone illicit file-sharing. This is not the case and never has been.

We wish to make it clear to all parties that we believe the creative work of artists should be paid for by those who enjoy it and that whenever our music is used, royalties should be paid.

The focus of our objection is the proposed treatment of ordinary music fans who download a few tracks so as to check out our material before they buy. For those of us who don’t get played on the radio or mentioned in the music media – artists established and emerging – peer-to-peer recommendation is an important form of promotion.

Allen immediately responded to this with a statement of her own:

I want to make it clear that I’m not after a fight with the Featured Artists Coalition – I want us artists to stand together on this – but they’ve released a new statement which just doesn’t make sense. The FAC seems to be viewing the government’s proposed legislation as an attack on freedom and liberty, but stealing’s not really a human right, is it?

If we’re going to change anything us artists need to stand together. If you’re in the business and you agree that we should be encouraging new talent, preventing file-sharing  and preventing the collapse of an industry — as well as coming up with new ways to legally get music — then help me out.

Knock ‘em out, indeed.

As was the case at Lollapalooza, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been tapped to fill Austin City Limits’ vacant Friday night headlining spot left by the canceled Beastie Boys. The trio, which will play opposite Kings of Leon, will hold down the AMD stage from 8:30-9:45 p.m.

Also added to the ACL bill today were Raphael Saadiq and Ben Sollee. The former will play Lake Bird Lake from 5:30-6:30 on Friday, while the latter will hit Austin Ventures at 12:20 on Sunday. ACL has yet to name a replacement for the recently canceled Lily Allen, who was supposed to close out Lake Bird Lake on Friday night. Expect an announcement for that in the coming days.

As previously reported, this year’s festival is soldout. But if you are interested in seeing the complete list of acts playing, hit our Austin City Limits Outlook page.

Austin City Limits 2009 takes place from October 2-4 at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas.

Allen said of her newly unveiled video: ”It’s more about girls that haven’t figured out what they want to do with themselves. Especially really pretty girls… And then suddenly it hits them that they’re not doing anything with their lives and it’s too late. And, yes, it’s about a specific person.”.

“22″ is an interesting analysis of the supposed expiration date society stamps on women. The video is a subtle, clever interpretation of the issue, a ragged Allen barging her way into the bathroom, only to be confronted with a more sleek, glossy version of herself in the mirror. She then engages in a dance, before finally the tables are turned, and the glossy version of Lily see’s what the future holds, and leaves the room in disgust.

There’s isn’t really much to say about Ms. Allen’s performance of It’s Not Me, It’s You’s “Fuck You”, other than we were a bit disappointed to discover she didn’t wear the bunny costume. Oh, and what’s up with the gloves, and the fact that kids in the front row felt the urge to give her the middle finger? Last we checked, she wasn’t sharing the stage with Lars Ulrich. At least the music is good…

Lily Allen 2009 Tour Dates:
03/14 – Glasgow, UK @ Academy
03/15 – Manchester, UK @ Academy
03/16 – Dublin, IE @ Academy
03/18 – Bristol, UK @ Academy
03/19 – Southampton, UK @ Guildhall
03/20 – Brighton, UK @ Dome
03/22 – Norwich, UK @ UEA
03/23 – Birmingham, UK @ Academy
03/24 – Leeds, UK @ Academy
03/26 – London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
03/27 – London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
03/28 – London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
04/01 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
04/02 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
04/04 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
04/06 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
04/08 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
04/09 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
04/11 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
04/12 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
04/13 – Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrews Hall
04/14 – Cincinnati, OH @ Mad Hatter
04/15 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
04/17 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
04/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts
04/19 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
04/20 – New York, NY @ Roseland Ballroom
04/22 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
05/03 – Berlin, DE @ Lido
05/04 – Cologne, DE @ Gloria
05/06 – Paris, FR @ Cigalle
05/07 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
05/08 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique

The mostly autobiographical record brings us deeper into the young singer/songwriter’s current state of mind as she takes us on a rollercoaster ride of pain, from struggling with weight concerns to fractured family relationships. As usual, Allen’s not afraid to make generalizations about society and taunt her audience with often forward and heart-wrenching lyrics. However, behind the deceptively upbeat tunes of It’s Not Me, It’s You Allen appears chastened and even a little sad. With the inclusion of more serious subject matters (such as drug abuse and vanishing youth), Allen’s music takes on new, deeper meaning, but don’t worry, Allen’s still the same young spirit at heart; albeit having a slightly more mature perspective on life.

Filled with wonderful tunes like the scratchy 1940’s sounding “He Wasn’t There” (“he” refers to her father) and the swinging dance number, “22”, It’s Not Me, It’s You makes for a pleasant listen despite how slow and mature the music is compared to everything from Alright Still. Kicking off with the brutally honest, “Everyone’s At It”, Allen proceeds to point her finger at those with bad habits, from crack addicts to sleeping pill abusers, while humbly admitting that she’s been there as well.

Next up is the hopelessly catchy “The Fear”, which is filled with swirling synths that help to distract us from what Allen’s really trying to get across here. She not only pokes fun at her own materiality, but even makes a declaration of Hollywood superficiality which is brilliantly well-illustrated as she cries, “I am a weapon of massive consumption/But it’s not my fault/It’s how I’m programmed to function”.

Much later, Allen brings back her younger, more flirty lyrical style. First with the country bounce of “Not Fair”, about a boy sucking in the bedroom, then with the comical boy basher waltz “Never Gonna Happen”, and then once more with the outrageous, “Fuck You”. A personal favorite, “Who’d Have Known” is a sweet and slow tune about a blossoming relationship between two friends, which really compliments Allen’s embellished vocals.

Overall, incorporating a little old with a little new, It’s Not Me, It’s You shows Allen’s versatility as a musician. She’s managed to find a happy medium between deeply intricate lyrics and danceable melodies, which has infinitely improved her music, making it fun, but intellectual. In the end, It’s Not Me, It’s You is the autobiography of Allen and her alter-ego: the bad girl post adolescent in reflection and the self aware woman stepping out from behind the curtain. Hats off to Lily Allen for delivering a stunning sophomore effort!

Check Out:

Just make sure you buy the album – remember, it will determine her future – and check her out on any of her upcoming tour stops, which now include several dates in North American. Tickets for many shows go on sale beginning Friday, February 6th via Ticketmaster.com.

Check Out:
It’s Not Me, It’s You

Lily Allen 2009 Tour Dates:
03/14 – Glasgow, UK @ Academy
03/15 – Manchester, UK @ Academy
03/16 – Dublin, IE @ Academy
03/18 – Bristol, UK @ Academy
03/19 – Southampton, UK @ Guildhall
03/20 – Brighton, UK @ Dome
03/22 – Norwich, UK @ UEA
03/23 – Birmingham, UK @ Academy
03/24 – Leeds, UK @ Academy
03/26 – London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
03/27 – London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
03/28 – London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
04/01 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
04/02 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
04/04 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
04/06 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
04/08 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
04/09 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
04/11 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
04/12 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
04/13 – Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrews Hall
04/14 – Cincinnati, OH @ Mad Hatter
04/15 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
04/17 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
04/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts
04/19 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
04/20 – New York, NY @ Roseland Ballroom
04/22 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
05/03 – Berlin, DE @ Lido
05/04 – Cologne, DE @ Gloria
05/06 – Paris, FR @ Cigalle
05/07 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
05/08 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique

First things first. The cover is definitely not what we were expecting. Maybe it’s because the original version will always be known for its one-of-a-kind passion and fire, or the fact that Mick Jones had a hand in the cover, but prior to the listen, images of Lily wearing a studded belt and punching an electric guitar crossed out minds. Ultimately however, this particular rendition of “Straight to Hell” will cater more to those who enjoyed M.I.A’s “Paper Planes” than traditional Clash fans. That’s not to say, it’s not good, and considering Joe Strummer was one man known for his musical diversity, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say the legendary frontman would dig this particular rendition.

Musically, Lily’s “Straight to Hell” features the English pop star’s usual bouncy radio-friendly sound and crisp vocal pattern. As mentioned, it’s definitely different, and the more subdued nature does seem to take away from both the themes and power of the original song. Still, it’s fun, we like Lily, and it’s for a good cause; the cover will appear in the upcoming War Child benefit compilation, Heroes, due for release on February 24th via Astralwerks. By the way, what’s with all the stellar compilations these days? Does the music industry just like toying with the minds of completists and OCD kids?!?!?!

Of course, said song doesn’t come from the forthcoming album, but is in fact a cover of a show tune from the 1937 musical, Babes In Arms. Allen is just the latest in a long line of high-profile female musicians who have covered the song, but between the accompanying orchestra, cocktail dress, and the awkward swaying motions made by more than one of the performers, I think it’s safe to say this particular performance definitely set itself apart from the rest.

Check it out below. Now if we could only find out the identity of Lily’s mystery man…

Hat tip to the Music Slut….

Lily Allen 2009 Tour Dates:
01/28 – London, UK @ Koko
03/14 – Glasgow, UK @ Academy
03/15 – Manchester, UK @ Academy
03/16 – Dublin, IE @ Academy
03/18 – Bristol, UK @ Academy
03/19 – Southampton, UK @ Guildhall
03/20 – Brighton, UK @ Dome
03/22 – Norwich, UK @ UEA
03/23 – Birmingham, UK @ Academy
03/24 – Leeds, UK @ Academy
03/26 – London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
05/03 – Berlin, DE @ Lido
05/04 – Cologne, DE @ Gloria
05/06 – Paris, FR @ Cigalle
05/07 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
05/08 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique