debut studio album english singer songwriter released july rejected labels allen signed eventually lost interest allen leading meet production duo sign recordings recording album began sessions allen work garnered publicity internet posted demos myspace account officially released allen later traveled united_states work complete final half album pop album songs heavily influenced jamaican music reggae hip hop lyrics discussing past relationships dark sense humour instances strong language great majority songs album released warning song friday night remains censored versions album release received acclaim british music press international critics calling record allen original commercially successful united_kingdom debuted number albums_chart later certified triple platinum sold million copies worldwide album earned nomination 50th grammy awards promoted release singles including chart smile hit background family went holiday allen told mother staying friends remained instead earned money working plastic fantastic record store dealing allen met manager rejected labels attributed drinking daughter actor eventually father connections signed executive signed left label lost interest left releasing folk songs written written father studied changed mind returned music allen began writing songs manager introduced production duo worked small studio basement office building development allen manager introduced production duo worked small studio basement manchester office building allen signed label gave produce album unable provide support releases virtual band allen created account myspace began posting demos november demos attracted thousands listeners limited edition vinyl singles demos song titled rush released sold allen produced titled promote work including tracks band rapper accumulated tens thousands myspace friends magazine published observer took interest people outside label department heard allen label slow responding publications wanted report march published article allen success myspace received major mainstream coverage appearing magazine cover story months later popularity songs convinced label allow creative control album use songs written instead attempting work mainstream producers allen found distracted publicity focus finishing album traveled united_states work producers able complete second half album approximately weeks album title line second track knock look yeah allen borrowed phrase slang term brother friends synonym cool stated liked changes moves idea long music lyrics songs allen develops stated tried write stuff happens people different backgrounds lyrics dark sense humour songs allen smile big shame insults boyfriend knock bar lily brother song close friend allen father keith played brazilian music jamaican reggae young allen stated black music reggae hip hop music know rap chose use reggae point reference making album music blends reggae pop melodies allen melodies influenced jazz improvisation techniques american singers album beats influenced genres jazz promotion allen played newly launched festival replacing cancelled festival reunited members specials act guitarist claimed played massive group reunion day smile released allen appeared performing acoustic version smile cover song september allen rendition song stated festival good particularly wrote smile subsequently sold story papers tent called shit tent positioned directly opposite main stage new girlfriend option watch perform couple thousand people singing smile little things smile performed live setlist allen concert tour south southwest music festival allen said sick song play austin singing february singer invited musical guest saturday night live performed smile critical reception received acclaim british music press album holds score based critical reviews indicates generally favorable reviews according music review aggregator metacritic observer stated allen uniquely acidic brand pop music justified publicity generated cake brutally barbed tongue wrote drowned sound album brilliant record easily good promises divide opinion like review guardian stated album rough round edges serves bring listener noting gave album personal touch nme remarked personality size isn time hearing allen album generally received positive reviews international music press wrote rolling_stone allen sense irony proof original heather allmusic stated works pure pop level allen aims album fun maybe praising allen genuine personality wit attitude spare pitchfork remarked album isn fantastic success review blender complimented allen little personality describing combination self doubt courage chaos hand dismissed album pop people hate pop music music people let slant_magazine deemed rubbish called allen mastering criticised january guardian ran piece wars practice increasing tracks results distortion loss dynamic range included list cds sound quality compromised rolling_stone published similar story december identified album loud sound actually distorted accolades guardian ranked seventh best album year commented lyrical quick delivery pitchfork called rewarding pop albums listed 29th best album rolling stone ranked album 13th list best albums uncut called terrific eclectic london street pop listing number definitive albums observer ranked album tenth list best albums grammy awards album nominated best alternative music album lost production things helped win grammy award producer year commercial performance debuted number albums_chart selling copies week week ending february places albums_chart occupied british artists time chart established number week british_phonographic_industry bpi certified triple platinum march album sold copies united_kingdom ireland album debuted number certified platinum album successful continental europe charted inside norway belgium netherlands france sweden april received denoting sales excess million copies europe debuted number billboard united_states week sales copies recording_industry_association_of_america riaa awarded album gold certification december november sold copies peaked number seven australian received platinum australian_recording_industry_association aria shipping copies new_zealand album reached number certified gold recording_industry_association_of_new_zealand rianz shipments excess copies february album sold million copies worldwide track listing notes smile contains elements free soul knock contains elements work big chief contains elements reggae contains elements theme mirror written friend contains elements love written composed personnel credits adapted liner notes charts certifications release history
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