Ah Lily Allen, you have a lot to answer for. How were you to know that your unique sound and image would be saturated by swathes of pretenders all scrambling for a chance to sit on your perky, cheeky cockney-pop throne? For yes, Eliza Doolittle (that cannot be her real name – an obvious pseudonym if ever there was one) is another Allen clone. Like Kate Walsh, Doolittle is trying desperately to do something different but unlike Walsh she shows very few musical skills on her debut four track eponymous EP.
Opener Rollerblades is pure whimsical flimsy as Doolittle’s high raspy vocals do a injustice to what is a decent song. All structure disappears in the middle before a predictable rinse and repeat ending. The whole arrangement has as much substance as Jack Johnson spending a wet weekend in Camden. Moneybox is more catchy but has an even more annoying vocal, and obvious sampling. The mix is all wrong with the tinny music a mess over some smart sassy lyrics: “Do me a favour… don’t jingle your change sir…”. The irony of this is sure to be lost if and when Doolittle becomes a huge star.
Police Car is a sign of hope musically; much more controlled but horribly laboured and a terrible metaphor: “I forget to be cool… I try my best to not get arrested by you…”. Seriously? Halfway through and it’s already starting to grate and even a weak attempt to liven things with some brass is utterly pointless. At least the song is throwing off the shackles of pretence to do something original. Go Home tries the same and ends up stuck between pop and swing, without the voice or the timing. Into the last minute it disintegrates into more of the same. Sweet backing vocals provide a lift but that doesn’t help a complete lack of substance.
The Eliza Doolittle EP tries so much to be liked. Doolittle injects at much of her personally as she can – showing a glimpse of individuality and song writing skills – but the approach is confused, the songs are weak and paper-thin, the delivery is a mess, and there is a complete lack of direction and substance. This is a first effort, OK, but thousands of singers are trying to make it and very few succeed – that’s the harsh reality. To keep things in perspective you need to make a huge impact in these difficult times: you need to make people stand up; you need to be noticed; you need to write smart, interesting and engaging music. On the strengths of this debut, it’s not going to happen.
Timbo
7 months ago
Don’t know who this critic is but never heard of them….which isn’t a surprise. Has he been listening to the radio recently? Track after track talking nonsense with autotuned vocals and everybody using the same synth sounds. Thanks heavens somebody is trying to do something different and say something different. Well done Eliza, you’re a breath of fresh air. I’d say you sound more like corrine bailey than lilly allen….and there ain’t nothing wrong in being a bit like lilly allen, coz she tries to write outside the box too. This guy’s obviously entitled to his opinion….I don’t know quite what this guy listens to…..but it must be UNBELIEVABLE !! Or maybe he doesn’t have a radio, coz nothing’s quite good enough. Sounds more like someone who plays in a pub once a month with his mates playing his own original songs and wondering what could’ve or no doubt what should’ve been. Get a grip mate…..oh, and tough, coz I love this girl’s music and I’m very sorry mate, but if you get round to buying a radio…and a pair of ears, i’m afraid she’s gonna be on it all next year !!!!
james davis
7 months ago
timbo im very with you dude ! classic lame lazy jurno smuck ! i love elizas voice and unlike allen she seems to be a real singer about music and not all the other bs. good luck eliza cant wait to hear and see more.
chris sheerin
7 months ago
Ah Mr. Davis ‘lazy journalism’, the lament of the frustrated ‘fan’. Just because I don’t agree with you doesn’t mean i’m ‘lazy’. I don’t think Eliza sounds like Allen, but her approach to music is this same. Don’t immitate, inovate.
Timbo
7 months ago
So The Beatles approach to music started off by being heavily influenced by a lot of old school rock n roll…..Lazy buggers !!….&They got nowhere too……..oh, and don’t reply all private school on me with big words saying ‘how can I compare lennon with Doolittle !!’
Jurno smuck indeed James!!
JamesB
6 months ago
I was amused by this exchange of views between dismissive reviewer and appreciative listener. I think Eliza – what a terrible choice of name – will do well and deserves a bit of credit for writing songs and being quite fresh and cute. I can see what the reviewer is driving at with the Allen comparison but he’s way too harsh in his assessment overall. I’m guessing the EP line-up has changed with “Skinny Genes” being all over ChartShow TV at the moment – that’s a really good song with a wonderful intro and is more Corrinne Bailey Rae than Lilly.
Just to pick up the reviewer on one point – he said in his comeback to Timbo “I don’t think Eliza sounds like Allen, but her approach to music is this same” but if you read the review it’s quite obvious you are saying she sounds the same. It describes her as an “Allen clone” and a “pretender” to her “sound and image”.