Scandal-prone U.K. pop star Lily Allen returns today with her second album, the cheekily titled It’s Not Me, It’s You. In his three-star review, Rolling Stone critic Jody Rosen writes that the follow-up to 2007’s Alright, Still isn’t perfect, but it still sounds fantastic. Allen attempts to make Big Statements about God and a drug-addled society, but while the new album’s music has evolved and gotten increasingly eclectic, her insight and maturity level aren’t quite up to the task.
• Review: Lily Allen - It’s Not Me, It’s You
Also out today: Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks: Live at the Hollywood Bowl. Rock Daily was there when Morrison revived his classic eight-song 1968 LP in California last November, and on record David Fricke judges the performance at three and a half stars. Morrison accentuates the blues in those tracks, and re-sequences them for the new album, but Fricke still prefers the original.
• Album Review: Van Morrison - Astral Weeks: Live at the Hollywood Bowl
The Black Keys‘ Dan Auerbach ventures out on his own for his first solo album, Keep It Hid. Turning down the sludgy Keys’ blues, the guitarist plays with Sixties British folk and even manages to conjure Robert Johnson at the crossroads.
• Album Review: Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
Andy Samberg’s Lonely Island crew also release their maiden LP today. Incredibad features cameos by Norah Jones and T-Pain, and its spoofs of R&B and club hits are good (and funny) enough to earn a three-star review.
