Sheezus
by Lily Allen
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: May 6, 2014
User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 176 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 119 out of 176
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 176
  3. Negative: 23 out of 176
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  1. khutch
    Jul 24, 2014
    5
    Lily? Well, there are some good moments here, but none can match the quality of their previous two albums.
    Yes, we know that Lily could easily stand out by their lyrics, but here, it seems she is not going through one of their most inspiring moments.
    For every great song that Sheezus gives for us (which are not many) he give us an equally bad.
  2. asjklasjklas
    Aug 4, 2014
    6
    Deny Mrs. Lily Rose Beatrice charm and she'll slay you with her well-known witty wordplay ("Give me that crown, b----/I wanna be Sheezus"), whether she's championing her fellow female companions in the mainstream music industry -- except Katy Perry, 'cause you don't just 'unintentionally' fat shame Lily and get away with it -- or using feminism, sarcasm, internet slang, her husband, andDeny Mrs. Lily Rose Beatrice charm and she'll slay you with her well-known witty wordplay ("Give me that crown, b----/I wanna be Sheezus"), whether she's championing her fellow female companions in the mainstream music industry -- except Katy Perry, 'cause you don't just 'unintentionally' fat shame Lily and get away with it -- or using feminism, sarcasm, internet slang, her husband, and even her period to craft her songwriting sass even further, or catchy single-worthy synthpop melodies that each have the equal opportunity to enter the top 40 mainstream: "Air Balloon" has a chorus that'll stay stuck in your head for days and "L8 CMMR" has to be the funniest, sweetest Auto-Tune-clad declaration of love to be released all year.

    But for somebody to have as much hype as Allen, with her Kanye West-ripped album title and explicit feminist-charged lead single, Sheezus has a tendency to sound extraordinarily unextraordinary. Longtime pop producer Greg Kurstin has an excellent eye for what's pop and what's modern -- if his recent critically-acclaimed collaborations with P!nk, Sia, and Tegan & Sara haven't made it clear, however, here he seems to have submurged Lily Allen underneath the hook-heavy choruses and ultra up-to-date production (Auto-Tune, indie-pop, disco, even dubstep), leaving the sailor mouthed songstress almost faceless at certain points on the disc. Even during some of the album's finest moments, Allen ends up turning up more like a stand-in singer rather than a 'Sheezus': although "Air Balloon" certainly has the hook that'll have you humming for days, let's be honest, anybody could have sang this and it would have come up at least almost as catchy.

    During one of her championing shoutouts in her title track, she says Lorde "ain't one to f--- with when she's only on her debut." Unfortunately, Sheezus falls in between the cracks of 'that' debut album and the many others that have more to say sonically. But in general, Lily Allen's signature sass and charming light vocals are well intact, if you want an album you'll be singing to for the next few weeks, here you go. But besides the Robin Thicke-slamming, female empowering lead single and a couple of more potential hits, not everyone will get that lasting impression.    … Expand
  3. linikedemarco
    May 21, 2014
    5
    Even though Sheezus has a blast of sweet melodies, Allen's attempt to conquer an attention-worthy comeback in a divas-modelled music industry resulted in an inconsistent, warm, slight return.
  4. susinger
    May 29, 2014
    5
    I fell in love with Lily Allen after buying "Alright, Still" on a whim. The throwback, soulful production, coupled with bold and brash lyrics about exes and societal conventions was a perfect combination. "It's Not Me, It's You" shifted to electronica, but still had lyrical bite. Now, Allen's much-anticipated (at least by me) "comeback" sounds tired. Standout tracks include the titleI fell in love with Lily Allen after buying "Alright, Still" on a whim. The throwback, soulful production, coupled with bold and brash lyrics about exes and societal conventions was a perfect combination. "It's Not Me, It's You" shifted to electronica, but still had lyrical bite. Now, Allen's much-anticipated (at least by me) "comeback" sounds tired. Standout tracks include the title song, "Insincerely Yours," "Take My Place," "URL Badman" and "Hard Out Here," all providing a glimpse of that trademark whit and brutal honesty. Unfortunately, these tracks are too few and far between. "Our Time" sounds forlorn, "Air Balloon" is a reduction of M.I.A., "As Long As I Got You" is just plain boring, and the bonus tracks on the deluxe edition are just as weak as some of the album's worst material. There's nothing innovative in the production, and Allen sounds like she's ready to throw in the towel. Here's hoping she doesn't - she was once a bright spot of truth.… Expand
  5. Teodoro
    Jun 20, 2014
    5
    Lily lançou 4 ótima músicas como single,esperava O Album do ano,mas Lily descepcionou e veio com um album genérico e fraco pro que ela amostrava,e só trouxe apenas mais uma música boa.
    Albuns que se firmam em singles bons,não são bons albuns.
  6. gabrieltinoco
    Apr 3, 2018
    6
    It's overall a good album but it doesn't compare to Allen's first two records. It could be a little more cohesive sonically, although it has some standouts, such as "Take My Place", a song about her miscarriadge and "Our Time", Lily's aproach to a party song.
  7. Lopesito27
    Jan 23, 2021
    6
    Lily Allen sounds a little generic on tracks that demand more heart, which makes for a moderately pleasant experience, but not a particularly rewarding one, especially when the production sounds like the equivalent of a bad 2013 hollywood comedy. She's great in some tracks, though.

Awards & Rankings

27
#27 Most Discussed Album of 2014
82
#82 Most Shared Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 29
  3. Negative: 2 out of 29
  1. Magnet
    Jun 18, 2014
    70
    Producer Greg Kurstin ensures a familiarly sparkly synth-pop sheen throughout. [No. 110, p.52]
  2. Q Magazine
    May 20, 2014
    60
    It's all done with a cheeky girl's charm. [Jun 2014, p.115]
  3. Mojo
    May 15, 2014
    40
    Sheezus makes for the slightest of returns rather than a glorious resurrection. [Jun 2014, p.93]
See all critic reviews »