Sheezus

Allen released her second album It's Not Me, It's You in 2009, which saw a genre shift to electropop, rather than the ska and reggae influences used in her debut album Alright, Still (2006). The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and the Australian Albums Chart and was well received by critics, noting the singer's musical evolution and maturity. It spawned the commercially successful singles "The Fear" and "Fuck You", popular mostly in Europe. Allen and Amy Winehouse were credited with starting a process that led to the media-proclaimed "year of the women" in 2009 that saw five female artists making music of "experimentalism and fearlessness" nominated for the Mercury Prize.{{cite news |last=Cairns |first=Dan |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6725104.ece |title=The rise of a new wave of female singers |newspaper=The Sunday Times |date=25 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615071457/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6725104.ece |archive-date=15 June 2011 |access-date=13 November 2013}}

In 2009, Allen announced that she would be taking a hiatus from musical activities. The following year, she opened a fashion rental shop named Lucy in Disguise with her sister Sarah,{{cite magazine |last=Alexander |first=Ella |url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2010/09/07/lily-allen-selfridges-pop-up-store |title=Lily Pops Up |magazine=British Vogue |date=7 September 2010 |access-date=13 November 2013}} followed by the 2011 launching of her own record label.{{cite news |last=Michaels |first=Sean |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jan/21/lily-allen-launches-record-label |title=Lily Allen launches own record label |newspaper=The Guardian |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=13 November 2013}}

{{Quote box|width=35%|align=left|"Lily Allen has found it quite difficult and stressful trying to reconnect. And Lily Cooper is happy because she's not sitting at home playing with toys and speaking with two human beings that can't speak back. There was a void. I'm a creative person, I like to speak my mind. Making music is the perfect vehicle for that. It would be different if I was on Made in Chelsea—that isn't a vessel for creativity. I need somewhere to put my... stuff."|source=Allen, on her return to music.{{cite magazine |last=Fury |first=Alexander |url=http://www.media.wmg-is.com/media/portal/media/cms/docs/201403/elle-uk--cover-and-feature--march-2014_1394139814415.pdf |title=Lily |magazine=Elle |location=London |date=March 2014 |page=286 |issn=0269-2597 |access-date=19 May 2014}}}}

Allen said in October 2012 that she was in the studio, "throwing shit in the wall and seeing if anything sticks ... It's great to work at my own pace with no commitments other than to make music."{{cite magazine |title=Coming Up / Also Tweaking |magazine=Q |issue=315 |date=October 2012 |page=23 |issn=0955-4955}} In February 2013, she performed live at a Paris fashion show produced by Mark Ronson in what she called her "mumback", and foreshadowed the release of a new album "inspired by her experiences of motherhood" by the end of 2013.{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/allen-proud-of-stage-mumback-29101362.html |title=Allen proud of stage 'mumback' |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=28 February 2013 |access-date=16 June 2013}}

In 2013, Allen revealed that she had begun working on her third studio album. On 20 June 2012, Allen tweeted that she was in the studio working with Greg Kurstin on new music.{{cite web |last=Nissim |first=Mayer |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a388583/lily-allen-back-in-the-studio-with-greg-kurstin/ |title=Lily Allen back in the studio with Greg Kurstin |website=Digital Spy |date=20 June 2012 |access-date=30 August 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/lily-allen/357621-lily-allen-twitter-popjustice-studio-greg-kurstin-pro-green |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623185142/http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/lily-allen/357621-lily-allen-twitter-popjustice-studio-greg-kurstin-pro-green |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2012 |title=Lily Allen Back in the Studio With Greg Kurstin |publisher=MTV UK |date=20 June 2012 |access-date=13 November 2013}} She changed her professional name from Lily Allen to Lily Rose Cooper.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lily-allen-changes-professional-name-to-lily-rose-cooper-180705/ |title=Lily Allen Changes Professional Name to Lily Rose Cooper |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2 August 2012 |access-date=30 August 2018}} In August 2013 she changed her professional name back to Allen and tweeted new music would be arriving "soon".{{cite news |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/lily-allen-new-music-coming-soon-29536988.html |title=Lily Allen: new music coming soon? |newspaper=The Belfast Telegraph |date=29 August 2013 |access-date=13 November 2013}}

Allen confirmed in an interview with BBC Radio 1 on 19 November 2013 that she was to perform at the 2014 Glastonbury Festival.{{cite news |last=Gibsone |first=Harriet |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/nov/19/lily-allen-glastonbury-2014 |title=Lily Allen announces Glastonbury 2014 performance |newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 November 2013 |access-date=7 May 2014}} She also revealed that she wrote a song for the album inspired by a Twitter feud with Azealia Banks that happened in mid-2013.{{cite news |url=https://blog.seattlepi.com/people/2013/11/19/lily-allen-writes-song-about-azealia-banks-twitter-feud/ |title=Lily Allen writes song about Azealia Banks Twitter feud |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=19 November 2013 |access-date=7 May 2014 |archive-date=10 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210024435/https://blog.seattlepi.com/people/2013/11/19/lily-allen-writes-song-about-azealia-banks-twitter-feud/ |url-status=dead}} Sheezus was predominantly produced by longtime collaborator Greg Kurstin, with whom Allen had worked on her first and second studio albums. Other collaborations came from DJ Dahi, who produced the album's title track, and Shellback, who produced "Air Balloon".{{cite magazine |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/5930369/lily-allen-sets-may-release-date-for-sheezus-debuts-our-time-video |title=Lily Allen Sets May Release Date for 'Sheezus,' Debuts 'Our Time' Video: Watch |magazine=Billboard |date=10 March 2014 |access-date=7 May 2014}}

Sheezus contains a "diverse mix of vibrant pop hooks, snappy commentary and a fearlessly perceptive outlook."{{cite web|last=Corner|first=Lewis|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/album-reviews/review/a565440/lily-allen-sheezus-album-review-fearlessly-perceptive-pop/|title=Lily Allen: Sheezus album review – 'Fearlessly perceptive pop'|website=Digital Spy|date=30 April 2014|access-date=30 August 2018}} Allen's sound, aesthetic, and lyricism on the album has been described as a return to "the same firecracker who turned heads in the mid-'00s with eclectic, post-hip-hop tunes and bullshit-slaying lyrics".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/sheezus-20140515|title=Lily Allen 'Sheezus' Review|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=13 July 2014|author=Dolan, Jon}} The album's opening track "Sheezus" is a "sarcastic pop" song, containing "anti-pop" lyrics that namecheck singers such as Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Beyoncé and Lorde.{{cite magazine |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6062879/lily-allen-name-checks-lady-gaga-beyonce-lorde-on-sheezus-watch |title=Lily Allen Name-Checks Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Lorde On 'Sheezus': Watch Music Video |magazine=Billboard |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=7 May 2014}} "L8 CMMR" is a bubblegum pop and electropop song,{{cite web |last=Sepinwall |first=Alan |url=http://www.hitfix.com/news/lily-allen-drops-new-video-for-air-balloon-and-new-song-off-girls-soundtrack |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140207230806/http://www.hitfix.com/news/lily-allen-drops-new-video-for-air-balloon-and-new-song-off-girls-soundtrack |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 February 2014 |title=Lily Allen drops new video for 'Air Balloon' and new song off 'Girls' soundtrack |website=HitFix |date=7 February 2014 |access-date=7 May 2014}} whose lyrics describe Allen's obsession with her male lover.{{cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lily-allen-obsesses-over-her-man-in-girls-tune-l8-cmmr-premiere-50134/ |title=Lily Allen Obsesses Over Her Man in 'Girls' Tune 'L8 CMMR' – Premiere |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=6 February 2014 |access-date=30 August 2018}}

"Air Balloon" is a bubblegum pop{{cite magazine |last=Hogan |first=Marc |date=13 January 2014 |title=Lily Allen Name-Checks Kurt Cobain on Chirpy 'Air Balloon' |url=https://www.spin.com/2014/01/lily-allen-air-balloon-stream/ |access-date=7 May 2014 |magazine=Spin}} song that was described by Billboard as "more of a loopy lullaby than a slice of social commentary", the song contains a toy piano arrangement and creaseless beat.{{cite magazine |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/5869589/lily-allen-drifts-away-on-air-balloon-hear-the-new-track |title=Lily Allen Drifts Away on 'Air Balloon': Hear The New Track |magazine=Billboard |date=13 January 2014 |access-date=14 January 2014}} "Our Time" is song built over "synth pop swirls", described as having a "carefree attitude". "Insincerely Yours" is a funk song that contains a "narrative of blunt truths and gutsy celeb culture sneers." The track namechecks models Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn, as well as singer Rita Ora;{{cite news |last=Stewart |first=Allison |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/lily-allen-doesnt-pull-punches-on-sheezus/2014/05/05/334e2dac-d459-11e3-aae8-c2d44bd79778_story.html |title=Lily Allen doesn't pull punches on 'Sheezus' |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=5 May 2014 |access-date=18 May 2014}} Allen stated that the song is "not about them, it's about the idea of them—how the media perceive them. It's about how the way{{sic}} the media perceive them as entities and how that actually has nothing to do with how they are in real life."{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Robinson (journalist) |url=https://www.popjustice.com/articles/interview-the-internet-versus-lily-allen/126434/ |title=Interview: The Internet versus Lily Allen |website=Popjustice |date=24 April 2014 |access-date=1 June 2018}}

"Take My Place" is a song that lyrically is about Allen's first child who she lost through a stillbirth in 2010. "As Long as I Got You" revolves around the theme of married life and Allen's partying past. "URL Badman" is a response to the controversy surrounding Allen's music video for Hard out Here. The song was described as "an astute slap across the faceless nature of the blogosphere". On "Silver Spoon", Allen lambasts all the critics who continually attribute her success to her privileged upbringing, echoing the "snarky charm" of her previous albums, Alright, Still and It's Not Me, It's You. "Hard out Here" is a "typically outspoken, sweary" synth-pop song.{{cite news |last=Gill |first=Andy |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/best-of-2014-pop-preview-9037356.html |title=Best of 2014: Pop preview |newspaper=The Independent |date=3 January 2014 |access-date=25 January 2014}} Lyrically, it speaks about "body image pressures and misogyny in the entertainment industry".{{cite web |last=Lansky |first=Sam |url=http://www.idolator.com/7493118/lily-allen-hard-out-here |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131122181349/http://www.idolator.com/7493118/lily-allen-hard-out-here |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 November 2013 |title=Lily Allen Saves Pop Music With New Single 'Hard Out Here': Watch The Brilliant Video |website=Idolator |date=12 November 2013 |access-date=5 December 2013}}

"Hard out Here" was released as the album's lead single on 17 November 2013.{{Cite web |last=Corner |first=Lewis |date=2013-11-13 |title=Lily Allen confirms new single release |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a530904/lily-allen-confirms-new-single-hard-out-here-release-date/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Digital Spy}} Upon release, "Hard out Here" was met with critical acclaim, with critics praising the song's feminist themes.{{cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lily-allen-returns-with-a-smirk-in-hard-out-here-241643/ |title=Lily Allen Returns With a Smirk in 'Hard Out Here' |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=12 November 2013 |access-date=30 August 2018}} The single debuted at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, selling 30,213 copies in its first week.{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-robbie-lp-sells-108k-to-claim-uk-s-1-000th-official-no-1/056846 |title=Official Charts Analysis: Robbie LP sells 108k to claim UK's 1,000th Official No.1 |magazine=Music Week |date=25 November 2013 |access-date=30 August 2018 |url-access=subscription}} The song's accompanying music video was a subject of controversy, with Allen accused of being racist for its use of mostly black dancers in an allegedly "disapproving" manner. Allen responded that ethnicity was not a factor in hiring the dancers, and the video was a light-hearted satirical look at objectification of women in modern pop music.{{cite magazine |last=Hogan |first=Marc |url=https://www.spin.com/2013/11/lily-allen-hard-out-here-racism-response-twitter/ |title=Lily Allen Hits Back at 'Hard Out Here' Racism Claims |magazine=Spin |date=13 November 2013 |access-date=7 May 2014}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2013-11-15 |title=Culturally Clueless: Race, Feminism & Lily Allen's Hard Out Here Video |url=https://thequietus.com/opinion-and-essays/black-sky-thinking/lily-allen-hard-out-here-macklemore-miley-cyrus/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The Quietus}}

"Air Balloon" premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 13 January 2014,{{cite web |last=Rusu |first=Dragos |date=13 January 2014 |title=New Single Released by Lilly Allen Is Called 'Air Balloon' |url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Single-Release-by-Lilly-Allen-Is-Called-Air-Balloon-416238.shtml |access-date=7 May 2014 |website=Softpedia}} and was released on 2 March 2014 as the second single from the album.{{Cite web |last=Corner |first=Lewis |date=2014-01-22 |title=Lily Allen unveils new lyric video |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a545769/lily-allen-unveils-lyric-video-for-new-single-air-balloon-watch/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Digital Spy}} The song reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web |last=Lane |first=Daniel |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/route-94-tops-the-official-singles-chart-with-my-love-ft-jess-glynne-2806/ |title=Route 94 tops the Official Singles Chart with My Love FT Jess Glynne |publisher=Official Charts Company |date=9 March 2014 |access-date=7 May 2014}} A video of "Our Time" appeared on 10 March 2014 to conincide with the tracklisting reveal.{{Cite web |date=2014-03-10 |title=Watch: Lily Allen Reveals New Track 'Our Time', Unveils Album Details |url=https://diymag.com/news/watch-lily-allen-reveals-new-track-our-time-unveils-album-details |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=DIY}} The physical release appeared on the 27 April,{{Cite web |title=Lily Allen - 'Our Time' (Official Video) |url=https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/lily-allen/videos/our-time/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |publisher=Capital}} and peaked at number 43 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/1747/lily-allen/ |title=Lily Allen |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=1 June 2018}} The song was serviced to radio in Italy on 14 April.{{cite web|url=http://www.radioairplay.fm/RadioDate/PublicDetails/62079 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140416022014/http://www.radioairplay.fm/RadioDate/PublicDetails/62079 |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 April 2014 |title=Lily Allen – Our time (Parlophone) {{!}} Radio Date 14 April 2014 |website=Radio Airplay |language=it |access-date=18 May 2014}}

"URL Badman" was released on 13 July 2014 as the fourth single from the album.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com/news/lily-allen/77871 |title=Lily Allen offers 'unofficial' World Cup song as free download |magazine=NME |date=12 June 2014 |access-date=18 June 2014}} "As Long as I Got You" was released on 24 August 2014 as the fifth and final single. The music video was filmed at the Glastonbury Festival 2014 and released on 24 July.{{cite web |last=Camp |first=Zoe |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/56019-lily-allen-shares-baby-photos-performs-at-glastonbury-in-as-long-as-i-got-you-video/ |title=Lily Allen Shares Baby Photos, Performs at Glastonbury in "As Long As I Got You" Video |website=Pitchfork |date=24 July 2014 |access-date=25 July 2014}}

"Somewhere Only We Know" was released on 10 November 2013 and was used as the John Lewis 2013 Christmas advertisement. "Sheezus" was released as a promotional single on 22 April 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JQQMZPC |title=Sheezus: Lily Allen: MP3 Downloads |website=Amazon (UK) |access-date=18 May 2014}} According to Allen, the song was not released as an "official single" due to its use of the word "period".{{cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lily-allen-talks-motherhood-online-haters-and-her-new-lp-sheezus-246821/ |title=Lily Allen Talks Motherhood, Online Haters and Her New LP 'Sheezus' |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=10 April 2014 |access-date=30 August 2018}}

In December 2013, Allen was announced as one of the newest signees at Warner Bros. Records, following Warner Music Group's acquisition of Parlophone from Universal Music Group in May 2013.{{cite magazine |last=Hampp |first=Andrew |url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/global/5840082/coldplay-david-guetta-go-to-atlantic-records-radiohead-pink-floyd |title=Coldplay, David Guetta Go To Atlantic Records; Radiohead & Pink Floyd Catalogs, Kylie Minogue, Damon Albarn To Warner Bros: WMG's US Plans for Parlophone (Exclusive) |magazine=Billboard |date=18 December 2013 |access-date=18 May 2014}} In an interview with Graham Norton on The Graham Norton Show on 21 February 2014, Allen confirmed that her third studio album would be titled Sheezus, saying that it is "a little nod to Kanye West", who had released the album Yeezus in 2013.{{cite web |last=Pelly |first=Jenn |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/54069-lily-allen-says-her-new-records-called-sheezus/ |title=Lily Allen Says Her New Record's Called Sheezus |website=Pitchfork |date=21 February 2014 |access-date=21 February 2014}} Allen released the album's artwork and track listing on 10 March 2014, the artwork features Allen sitting outside a stately home with Corgis, while the building is engraved with the Latin phrase divide et impera translated to "divide and rule".{{cite web |last=Corner |first=Lewis |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a556454/lily-allen-has-a-fight-as-a-hotdog-in-new-our-time-music-video-watch/ |title=Lily Allen has a fight as a hotdog in new 'Our Time' music video – watch |website=Digital Spy |date=10 March 2014 |access-date=30 August 2018}} The same day, Sheezus was made available for pre-order along with the song "Our Time".{{cite web|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/89167/listen-lily-allen-reveals-new-track-our-time-from-sheezus-album |title=Listen: Lily Allen reveals new track, 'Our Time', from Sheezus album |website=Gigwise |access-date=7 May 2014}}

On 14 November 2013, Allen made her debut live performance of "Hard Out Here" in the YoYos pod at the Red Bull Revolutions in Sound event on the London Eye.{{Cite web |date=2013-11-15 |title=High up here (for a b*tch) |url=https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/celebrity-style/articles/a1894/lily-allen-performs-hard-out-here-london-eye-november-2013/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=ELLE}}{{Cite web |date=2013-11-14 |title=DJs and singers to perform at London Eye concert |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-24928184 |access-date=2024-07-08 |publisher=BBC News}} During an interview with Graham Norton on The Graham Norton Show on 21 February 2014, Allen performed the album's second single, "Air Balloon". On 24 May 2014, Allen performed "Sheezus", "Hard Out Here", "URL Badman" and "Our Time" as part of her set at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Glasgow.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ep3g9r/acts/ax9dgw#p01zqw58 |title=Lily Allen at Radio 1's Big Weekend 2014 |publisher=BBC Radio 1 |date=24 May 2014 |access-date=24 May 2014}}

Allen played at Glastonbury Festival on 27 June 2014, where she also recorded a video for "As Long as I Got You". Moreover, to promote the album, Allen embarked on the Sheezus Tour, which took place in Europe, Australia and North America.{{cite web|url=http://www.lilyallenmusic.com/live/ |title=Lily Allen Live Dates 2014/2015 |website=LilyAllenMusic.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101154306/http://www.lilyallenmusic.com/live/ |archive-date=1 November 2014}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 60/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sheezus-mw0002636904 |title=Sheezus – Lily Allen |website=AllMusic |access-date=7 May 2014}}

| rev1score =

| rev2 = Cuepoint (Expert Witness)

| rev2Score = A−{{cite web|last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=23 January 2015 |url=https://medium.com/cuepoint/robert-christgau-expert-witness-20fa39621b0a |title=Expert Witness |website=Cuepoint |access-date=23 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128113328/https://medium.com/cuepoint/robert-christgau-expert-witness-20fa39621b0a |archive-date=28 January 2015 |url-status=live}}

| rev3 = The Daily Telegraph

| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/10804124/Lily-Allen-Sheezus-review-butter-wouldnt-melt.html |title=Lily Allen, Sheezus, review: 'butter wouldn't melt' |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=2 May 2014 |access-date=7 May 2014}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/may/01/lily-allen-sheezus-review |title=Lily Allen: Sheezus review – neither triumph nor disaster |newspaper=The Guardian |date=May 2014 |access-date=7 May 2014}}

| rev5 = The Independent

| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6Score = 3/10{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/lily-allen/15280 |title=NME Album Reviews – Lily Allen – 'Sheezus' |magazine=NME |date=2 May 2014 |access-date=7 May 2014}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7Score = 5.4/10{{cite web|last=Zoladz|first=Lindsay|date=8 May 2014|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19322-lily-allen-sheezus/|title=Lily Allen: Sheezus|website=Pitchfork|access-date=23 January 2015}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8Score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev9 = Slant Magazine

| rev9Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|title=Slant review|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lily-allen-sheezus|website=Slant Magazine|date=6 May 2014|access-date=7 May 2014}}

| rev10 = Spin

| rev10Score = 5/10{{cite magazine |last=Benson|first=Stephanie|date=6 May 2014|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/lily-allen-sheezus/|title=Lily Allen, 'Sheezus'|magazine=Spin|location=New York|access-date=23 January 2015}}

}}

Sheezus received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted mean rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 60 based on 29 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/sheezus/lily-allen |title=Sheezus – Lily Allen |website=Metacritic |access-date=9 May 2014}}

In his review for The Guardian, journalist Alexis Petridis said Allen seems timid lyrically and musically inconsistent on an album that is "far from terrible – indeed, in parts it's very sharp". NME magazine's Laura Snapes was more critical and derided the lyrics as egotistical, clichéd, lacking conviction, and plagued by "empty grandstanding, trying to say something about female oppression, but not knowing quite what". Stephen Thomas Erlewine, writing for AllMusic, felt only "Life for Me", "Insincerely Yours", and "URL Badman" showcase Allen's usually sharp songwriting, as "many of these songs falter on their specificity; she's traded incisive commentary for pedantic details paired with music that winds up diminished by her weariness." Stephanie Benson of Spin believed Allen's message in her lyrics about marriage and womanhood are inconsistent with the party themes on other songs: "Her attempt at convincing us she's a loving wife and mother of two, a savvy feminist, and a satirical mastermind mostly comes off as disingenuous."

In a positive review for the Chicago Tribune, Greg Kot argued that Sheezus is a modest but successful pop album that "connects because it's more conversational than confrontational, a personal statement that dabbles in pop rather than trying to embody the pop moment."{{cite news|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot|date=2 May 2014|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/05/02/lily-allen-returns-with-anti-diva-pop/|title=Lily Allen returns with anti-diva pop|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=23 January 2015}} Andy Gill of The Independent found both the music and themes diverse, which he felt "clinches the album's success, confirming that this is an artist with taste and opinions of her own, not just a schedule and a fanbase to satisfy".{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/lily-allen-sheezus-album-review-lily-takes-no-prisoners-in-return-to-the-spotlight-9294354.html|title=Lily Allen 'Sheezus' album review: Lily takes no prisoners in return to the spotlight|last=Gill|first=Andy|date=4 May 2014|newspaper=The Independent}} Robert Christgau was impressed by how melodic some of the songs are and Allen's take on marriage in her lyrics, writing in his review for Cuepoint: "Even when that bliss devolves into a painful argument, she can put it into song, and though the bite that was her premarital specialty has softened, give her credit—marital bliss is a theme few lyricists sharpen much at all."

Sheezus was placed at number 47 on The Daily Telegraph{{'}}s list of 2014's best albums.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/11252866/best-albums-of-2014.html |title=Best 50 Albums of 2014 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 November 2014 |access-date=12 December 2014}} Christgau ranked it 32nd on his year-end list for The Barnes & Noble Review.{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=10 March 2015|url=http://www.barnesandnoble.com/review/excuses-excuses-the-2014-deans-list|title=Excuses, Excuses: The 2014 Dean's List|website=The Barnes & Noble Review|access-date=13 April 2015}}

Sheezus debuted atop the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 35,414 copies, becoming Allen's second consecutive number-one album.{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-lily-allen-lp-sells-35k-to-hit-no-1/058400 |title=Official Charts Analysis: Lily Allen LP sells 35k to hit No.1 |magazine=Music Week |date=12 May 2014 |access-date=30 August 2018 |url-access=subscription}} As of June 2018, it had sold 113,054 copies in the United Kingdom.{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-the-greatest-showman-must-go-on-and-on-at-the-top-of-the-uk-albums-chart/072843 |title=Official Charts Analysis: The Greatest Showman must go on (and on) at the top of the UK albums chart |magazine=Music Week |date=15 June 2018 |access-date=22 September 2018 |url-access=subscription}} In the United States, the album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200, selling 17,000 copies in its first week.{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1824671/did-hunter-hayes-thaw-the-frozen-hot-streak/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520023252/http://www.mtv.com/news/1824671/did-hunter-hayes-thaw-the-frozen-hot-streak/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 May 2014 |title=Did Hunter Hayes Thaw The 'Frozen' Hot Streak? |publisher=MTV News |date=14 May 2014 |access-date=18 May 2014}} In Japan, it sold 1,931 copies to enter the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart at number 26.{{cite web |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2014-05-19/more/4/ |title=2014年05月05日～2014年05月11日のCDアルバム週間ランキング |trans-title=Weekly CD Albums Chart: 2014.05.05~2014.05.11 |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |date=19 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518182129/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2014-05-19/more/4/ |archive-date=18 May 2014 |access-date=18 May 2014}} The album debuted at number 23 on the French Albums Chart with 2,300 copies sold in its first week.{{cite web |last=Decant |first=Charles |url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/actualite/news-92007.html |title=Top Albums : Indila résiste aux Prêtres, Lily Allen timide, Amandine Bourgeois loupe le top 50 |website=Charts in France |language=fr |date=16 May 2014 |access-date=19 May 2014}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Sheezus – standard edition{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/sheezus/836583689 |title=Sheezus by Lily Allen |website=iTunes Store (UK) |access-date=28 April 2014}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 49:40

| title1 = Sheezus

| writer1 = {{hlist|Lily Allen|Dacoury Natche}}

| extra1 = DJ Dahi

| length1 = 3:54

| title2 = L8 CMMR

| writer2 = {{hlist|Allen|Greg Kurstin}}

| extra2 = Kurstin

| length2 = 3:24

| title3 = Air Balloon

| writer3 = {{hlist|Allen|Shellback}}

| extra3 = Shellback

| length3 = 3:48

| title4 = Our Time

| writer4 = {{hlist|Allen|Kurstin}}

| extra4 = Kurstin

| length4 = 4:19

| title5 = Insincerely Yours

| writer5 = {{hlist|Allen|Kurstin}}

| extra5 = Kurstin

| length5 = 3:39

| title6 = Take My Place

| writer6 = {{hlist|Allen|Kurstin|Karen Poole}}

| extra6 = Kurstin

| length6 = 3:31

| title7 = As Long as I Got You

| writer7 = {{hlist|Allen|Kurstin|Poole}}

| extra7 = Kurstin

| length7 = 3:23

| title8 = Close Your Eyes

| writer8 = {{hlist|Allen|Kurstin}}

| extra8 = Kurstin

| length8 = 3:36

| title9 = URL Badman

| writer9 = {{hlist|Allen|Kurstin}}

| extra9 = Kurstin

| length9 = 3:39

| title10 = Silver Spoon

| writer10 = {{hlist|Allen|Kurstin}}

| extra10 = Kurstin

| length10 = 3:37

| title11 = Life for Me

| writer11 = {{hlist|Allen|Kurstin|Poole}}

| extra11 = Kurstin

| length11 = 4:00

| title12 = Hard Out Here

| writer12 = {{hlist|Allen|Kurstin}}

| extra12 = Kurstin

| length12 = 3:31

| title13 = Interlude

| writer13 = {{hlist|Benjamin Garrett|Allen}}

| extra13 = Fryars (Garrett)

| length13 = 1:38

| title14 = Somewhere Only We Know

| note14 = bonus track

| writer14 = {{hlist|Tom Chaplin|Richard Hughes|Tim Rice-Oxley}}

| extra14 = Paul Beard

| length14 = 3:28

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Sheezus – deluxe edition bonus disc{{cite web |url=http://lilyallen.parlophonestore.co.uk/en/sheezus/sheezus-deluxe-2cd-album.html |title=Sheezus Deluxe 2CD Album |website=Lily Allen Official Webstore |access-date=28 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512213628/http://lilyallen.parlophonestore.co.uk/en/sheezus/sheezus-deluxe-2cd-album.html |archive-date=12 May 2014}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 60:59

| title1 = Wind Your Neck In

| writer1 = {{hlist|Allen|Kurstin}}

| extra1 = Kurstin

| length1 = 3:19

| title2 = Who Do You Love?

| writer2 = {{hlist|Garrett|Allen}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Fryars (Garrett){{ref|a|[a]}}|DJ Dahi{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length2 = 3:26

| title3 = Miserable Without Your Love

| writer3 = {{hlist|Garrett|Allen}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Fryars (Garrett){{ref|a|[a]}}|DJ Dahi{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length3 = 3:23

| title4 = Holding On to Nothing

| writer4 = {{hlist|Allen|Fraser T. Smith|Rice-Oxley}}

| extra4 = Smith

| length4 = 2:59

| title5 = Somewhere Only We Know

| writer5 = {{hlist|Chaplin|Hughes|Rice-Oxley}}

| extra5 = Beard

| length5 = 3:28

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Sheezus – Japanese edition bonus tracks

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length =

| title15 = Wind Your Neck In

| writer15 = {{hlist|Allen|Kurstin}}

| extra15 = Kurstin

| length15 = 3:19

| title16 = Who Do You Love?

| writer16 = {{hlist|Garrett|Allen}}

| extra16 = {{hlist|Fryars (Garrett){{ref|a|[a]}}|DJ Dahi{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length16 = 3:26

| title17 = Miserable Without Your Love

| writer17 = {{hlist|Garrett|Allen}}

| extra17 = {{hlist|Fryars (Garrett){{ref|a|[a]}}|DJ Dahi{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length17 = 3:23

| title18 = Holding On to Nothing

| writer18 = {{hlist|Allen|Smith|Rice-Oxley}}

| extra18 = Smith

| length18 = 2:59

| title19 = Air Balloon

| note19 = Digital Farm Animals Remix

| writer19 = {{hlist|Allen|Shellback}}

| extra19 = {{hlist|Shellback|Digital Farm Animals{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length19 = 4:29

| title20 = Air Balloon

| note20 = Taiki & Nulight Dub Remix

| writer20 = {{hlist|Allen|Shellback}}

| extra20 = {{hlist|Shellback|Taiki & Nulight{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length20 = 5:44

}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| headline = Sheezus – Japan tour limited edition bonus track

| title21 = Bass Like Home

| writer21 = {{hlist|Allen|Kid Harpoon}}

| extra21 = Kid Harpoon

| length21 = 4:00

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Sheezus – Japan tour limited edition bonus DVD

| title1 = Hard Out Here

| note1 = music video

| length1 = 4:22

| title2 = Air Balloon

| note2 = music video

| length2 = 4:02

| title3 = Our Time

| note3 = music video

| length3 = 4:45

| title4 = URL Badman

| note4 = music video

| length4 = 3:54

| title5 = As Long as I Got You

| note5 = music video

| length5 = 4:09

| title6 = Sheezus

| note6 = track by track

| length6 = 19:54

}}

Notes

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies a co-producer
• {{sup|{{note|b|[b]}}}} signifies a remixer
• The track "Interlude" only appears on the standard edition as a hidden track.

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Sheezus.{{cite AV media notes |title=Sheezus |type=liner notes |others=Lily Allen |publisher=Parlophone |year=2014 |id=825646307746}}

Musicians

{{Div col}}

• Lily Allen – lead vocals
• Alex Burey – guitar {{small|(track 1)}}
• Greg Kurstin – keyboards {{small|(tracks 2, 4–6, 8–12)}}; programming {{small|(tracks 2, 5, 6, 8–11)}}; drums {{small|(tracks 4, 6, 7, 12)}}; piano {{small|(tracks 4, 7, 12)}}; guitar {{small|(tracks 4, 5, 7, 8, 11)}}; bass {{small|(tracks 5–7, 11, 12)}}; accordion {{small|(track 7)}}
• Shellback – background vocals, keyboards, programming {{small|(track 3)}}
• Kevin Dukes – lap steel {{small|(tracks 6, 11)}}; Dobro {{small|(track 7)}}
• Aaron Sterling – drums {{small|(tracks 6, 11)}}
• Paul Beard – arrangements, piano, percussion, programming {{small|(track 14)}}
• James Banbury – string arrangements {{small|(track 14)}}
• Andy Cook – string arrangement assistance {{small|(track 14)}}
• Matt Doughty – string arrangement assistance {{small|(track 14)}}
• Will Hicks – string arrangement assistance {{small|(track 14)}}
• Paul Sayer – acoustic guitar {{small|(track 14)}}

{{Div col end}}

Technical

{{Div col}}

• DJ Dahi – production {{small|(track 1)}}
• Sean Tallman – mixing {{small|(track 1)}}
• Doron Dina – mixing assistance {{small|(track 1)}}
• Mike Reeves – additional engineering {{small|(track 1)}}
• Greg Kurstin – production, engineering {{small|(tracks 2, 4–12)}}; mixing {{small|(tracks 5–12)}}
• Serban Ghenea – mixing {{small|(tracks 2–4)}}
• Alex Pasco – additional engineering {{small|(tracks 2, 4–12)}}; engineering assistance {{small|(track 12)}}
• John Hanes – engineering for mix {{small|(tracks 2–4, 8)}}
• Tim Roberts – engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 2, 3)}}
• Shellback – production {{small|(track 3)}}
• Ilya Salmanzadeh – engineering assistance {{small|(track 3)}}
• Robert Möllard – engineering assistance {{small|(track 3)}}
• Jesse Shatkin – additional engineering {{small|(tracks 6, 7, 11)}}
• Mike Horner – recording assistance {{small|(tracks 6, 7)}}
• Rob MacFarlane – recording assistance {{small|(tracks 6, 7)}}
• Kevin Dukes – lap steel recording {{small|(tracks 6, 11)}}; Dobro recording {{small|(track 7)}}
• Aaron Sterling – drum recording {{small|(tracks 6, 11)}}
• Will Hicks – additional vocal recording {{small|(tracks 7, 9)}}
• Matt Doughty – additional vocal recording {{small|(tracks 7, 9)}}
• Julian Burg – additional engineering {{small|(track 10)}}
• Fryars (Benjamin Garrett) – production, mixing {{small|(track 13)}}
• Paul Beard – production, co-mixing {{small|(track 14)}}
• Joe Kearns – engineering, co-mixing {{small|(track 14)}}
• Geoff Pesche – mastering {{small|(tracks 1–13)}}
• Stuart Hawkes – mastering {{small|(track 14)}}

{{Div col end}}

Artwork

• Aimee Phillips – creative direction, art direction, design
• Lily Allen – art direction, design
• Richard Welland – art direction, design
• Jamie Nelson – photography
• Michael Whitham – commissioning

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the deluxe edition of Sheezus.{{cite AV media notes |title=Sheezus |type=deluxe edition liner notes |others=Lily Allen |publisher=Parlophone |year=2014 |id=825646307708}}

Musicians

{{Div col}}

• Greg Kurstin – bass, drums, keyboards {{small|(track 1)}}
• DJ Dahi – programming, keyboards {{small|(tracks 2, 3)}}
• Ben Esser – drums, percussion {{small|(track 2)}}
• Benjamin Garrett – piano, bass {{small|(track 2)}}; programming {{small|(tracks 2, 3)}}; all parts {{small|(track 3)}}
• LaDonna Marie Harley-Peters – backing vocals {{small|(track 4)}}
• Tim Rice-Oxley – backing vocals, piano {{small|(track 4)}}
• Fraser T. Smith – guitars, keyboards {{small|(track 4)}}
• Sam Skirrow – bass guitar {{small|(track 4)}}
• Ash Soan – drums {{small|(track 4)}}
• Paul Beard – arrangements, piano, percussion, programming {{small|(track 5)}}
• James Banbury – string arrangements {{small|(track 5)}}
• Andy Cook – string arrangement assistance {{small|(track 5)}}
• Matt Doughty – string arrangement assistance {{small|(track 5)}}
• Will Hicks – string arrangement assistance {{small|(track 5)}}
• Paul Sayer – acoustic guitar {{small|(track 5)}}

{{Div col end}}

Technical

{{Div col}}

• Greg Kurstin – production, mixing, engineering {{small|(track 1)}}
• Alex Pasco – additional engineering {{small|(track 1)}}
• Fryars (Benjamin Garrett) – co-production {{small|(tracks 2, 3)}}
• DJ Dahi – co-production {{small|(tracks 2, 3)}}
• Sean Tallman – mixing {{small|(tracks 2, 3)}}
• Mike Horner – engineering {{small|(tracks 2, 3)}}
• Fraser T. Smith – production, recording {{small|(track 4)}}
• Graham Archer – mixing, recording {{small|(track 4)}}
• Paul Beard – production, co-mixing {{small|(track 5)}}
• Joe Kearns – engineering, co-mixing {{small|(track 5)}}
• Geoff Pesche – mastering {{small|(tracks 1–4)}}
• Stuart Hawkes – mastering {{small|(track 5)}}

{{Div col end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Sheezus}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hungary|artist=Lily Allen|title=Sheezus|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2014|certyear=2014|access-date=5 December 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Lily Allen|title=Sheezus|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2014|date=13 June 2014|access-date=13 August 2014|salesamount=113,054|id=12838-3547-2|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.lilyallenmusic.com/}}

{{Lily Allen}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2014 albums

Category:Albums produced by DJ Dahi

Category:Albums produced by Fryars

Category:Albums produced by Greg Kurstin

Category:Albums produced by Shellback (record producer)

Category:Contemporary R&B albums by English artists

Category:Electropop albums

Category:Lily Allen albums

Category:Parlophone albums

Category:Warner Records albums