Lily Allen - Alright, Still

Pitched somewhere between Lady Sovereign and The Streets’ Mike Skinner, Allen is the latest raunchy ragamuffin from England to reach these shores. Although her ska-inflected music has all the longevity of a summer Popsicle, songs like the sunny “Smile” and the carnival-like “LDN” (text-speak for London) are undeniably cool and sweet diversions. Meanwhile, tougher numbers like “Knock ’Em Out” and “Not Big” prove that boorish, undersized lads are best advised to steer clear of this whip-smart, 21-year-old firecracker.

Sept. 19