Mark is married to Jo and is a 23 year old youth and schools worker based in South Cave (near Hull). Mark spent 4 years as a youth worker in Peterborough whilst studying for a degree in youth work & ministry with Oasis.
I sat in the kitchen a while ago talking to Mark and enjoying the background music thinking ‘this song is quite good…I wonder who it is’ and then to my dissappointment Mark told me it was Lily Allen.
Now other than that stupid winey ‘Smile’ song I didn’t know (nor want to know) any of her songs but this one (The Fear) was actually good…with some thought provoking lyrics.
A week or so later Hannah Tibble mentioned the song at ‘The Point’ and so I thought I’d download her album ‘It’s not me, it’s you’ and have a listen (I have since bought the CD…my download wasn’t that legal!) and it’s a really good album.
Since installing Spotify last week and listening to her first album it’s not a case of me misjudging her, it seems to be a case of her going from writing (or having written for her) pants music to good music.
The album is musically pretty good, a nice mix of styles and track variations but also lyrically very very good with some really thought provoking lines and it has a real honest feel about it as if Lily (with help of ghost writers I’m sure) is writing about things she genuinely cares about.
It’s not often I recommend albums but there you have one!
I’m also looking forward to getting my hands on the new ‘New Found Glory’ record which was released today, it sounds like they’re getting back to their roots and it was produced by Mark Hoppus!
i love how your musical critique is summed up in:
it seems to be a case of her going from writing (or having written for her) pants music to good music.