I couldn’t wait to give No Shame a listen after the release of the single “Trigger Bang.” UK artist Lily Allen took her time perfecting this project and if the first single is any indication, then we’re in for a musical treat!

TOP 5

5. TRIGGER BANG

This is easily one of the best tracks Lily Allen has ever made. Giggs kicks off the song with a verse about drug addiction that sets the tone for the rest of it. Soon after, he’s joined by Lily introducing the chorus. My favorite thing about this song is the tempo between the hook and the verses. “Trigger Bang” is laden with Lily’s sing-song flow which generally keeps all of her songs from ever becoming stale.

On this song Lily tackles her battles with drug addiction in a raw and honest manner. She states, “that’s why I can’t hang with the cool gang, everyone’s a trigger bang bang bang bang bang.” Drugs, sex, and rock and roll are a staple in the entertainment industry and in order to curb temptation she has decided to filter and curate her surroundings to maintain her health and well-being. Who could ever be mad at that?

4. YOUR CHOICE

Lily and Burna Boy rolled out the island instrumental just in time for peak heat and summertime.

Ms. Allen is a feminista on “Your Choice.” After constantly fighting with a loved one, she tells him “no man can own me” and “if you really want to go, that’s fine, that’s your choice not mine.” This is certainly not “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg.”

Charged by the insecurities of her partner that loses his cool whenever she gets a text or her phone rings, Lily finds the strength to forgo ultimatums and nagging and skips right onto being unbothered and nonchalant. A Queen.

3. WASTE

Another island instrumental jam! Lady Chan makes a legendary appearance on “Waste.” This is one of the catchiest songs on the album, in my opinion, largely due to the chorus, instrumental, and Lady Chan’s featured verse.

This song captures Lily Allen’s animated style of music perfectly! Once again, she switches up the tempo throughout the track, keeping any one verse from sounding too mundane or stagnant.

2. WHAT YOU WAITING FOR?

I kept going back and forth between choosing this song as my number one choice or “Pushing Up Daisies.” “What You Waiting For?” will have to settle for number 2, however, it’s still one of the best songs I have heard in a long time.

By now, it should not come as a surprise that this song also features a reggae instrumental.( I don’t think I will ever get tired of hearing Lily Allen sing over a dancehall-riddim) Although the lyrics are a little on the melancholy side, this is a dance hit.

1. PUSHING UP DAISIES

“Pushing Up Daisies” is a love song unlike the majority of the songs on “No Shame.” On this song, Lily talks about having baby fever because of new love, growing old in love, and being afraid to freak her lover out.

My favorite thing about this song is how delicate Lily’s voice is as well as the campy instrumental. It features the use of synthesizers that sound like a gospel choir. “Pushing Up Daisies” is an all around feel good song that’s really hard to hate or criticize.

SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. COME ON THEN (5/5)

2. TRIGGER BANG (5/5)

3. WHAT YOU WAITING FOR? (5/5)

4. YOUR CHOICE (5/5)

5. LOST MY MIND (5/5)

6. HIGHER (5/5)

7. FAMILY MAN (5/5)

8. APPLES (5/5)

9. THREE (5/5)

10. EVERYTHING TO FEEL SOMETHING (5/5)

11. WASTE (5/5)

12. MY ONE (5/5)

13. PUSHING UP DAISIES (5/5)

14. CAKE (5/5)

OVERALL RATING

(A)

Lily, Lily, Lily, you have been greatly missed! This album is phenomenal and well worth the wait. Literally every song is a hit and there’s a song for every mood. Lily Allen got very personal on “No Shame” by addressing and clearing up many of the rumors that have swarmed around her for years as well as embracing her truth publicly.

“No Shame” is very well made in terms of production, lyricism, vocals, and features. It has become an album that I can and will listen to without skipping a single song. Despite more than half of the songs in my top 5 featuring a reggae instrumental, the slower songs grew on me like moss on a tree.

If we don’t hear from Lily Allen for a long time again, she will have given us the perfect album to tide us over until her return.