Pitchfork

Welcome to the latest edition of Pitchfork's Guest List. Each week, we ask one of our favorite artists to fill us in on what they've been up to lately: which tracks they can't stop spinning, what books they can't put down, and what new bands they've caught on tour. This week it's Lily Allen, who disses her least favorite band of the year, gushes about her vintage Telecaster, and dusts off a Squeeze song that reminds her of her parents' young romance.

>> Favorite Songs of the Past Year

I haven't really been going out. If you asked me this question a year ago, I'd have a lot more to say. I was going out a lot more and buying a lot more new music and had a lot more time to go to record stores and stuff. I just haven't.

Klaxons: "Isle of Her"
I really like Klaxons a lot.

Adele: "Heartbreaker"
She's just been signed to XL as well.

Beyonce: "Irreplaceable"
That's one of my favorite songs. I've been listening to lots of old music.

>> Favorite Older Songs at the Moment

Gerry Rafferty: "Right Down the Line"
I've gotten really into Gerry Rafferty, who also did that song "Baker Street".

I've been getting really into Burt Bacharach and Andy Williams. Just kind of old stuff like "Can't Stop Loving You", "Moon River", and "Fly Me to the Moon".

>> Favorite New Band

I hate that band The View: they're Worst New Band. I think they sound like a cross between the Proclaimers and Arctic Monkeys. But I like the Arctic Monkeys.

Who's my favorite new band? I haven't really been going to gigs in the UK, so I can't really say. I definitely haven't heard any new American bands. I saw the Shins play the other night. I saw these two guitarists called Rodrigo y Gabriela. They're really amazing. I saw Klaxons play the other night in New York, and I thought they were great. Jack Peñate, from the UK, he's pretty good.

>> Favorite Song

Squeeze: "Up the Junction"
I think it's really amazing. I think it's one of the first songs I ever heard that really convinced me, like in a story telling manner, in the same way the Streets did or something, but much earlier. I think it kind of set the trend for that kind of storytelling. It definitely didn't start with British music, I mean, people have been doing it in country music for years and years and years and years, but as far as UK music goes...It also has a lot of sentimental value for me because it's about a guy coming to London, getting this girl pregnant, and things going wrong. It kind of reminds me of...it gives me an image of what my mother and father's relationship might have been like [laughs]. So, yeah, I like that kind of sentimental stuff.

>> Best Recent Concert

Scissor Sisters played at the festival last year and I thought it was really good. I like their music. It's not the kind of music that hits home with me and really gets me but I think at the live thing it's really really great. Also, Feist. I saw Feist last year at the Bowery Ballroom and that was a really, really great gig.

>> Last Great Film I Saw

Once Upon a Time in America.
I saw it on the bus. It made me get in touch with my inner gangster [laughs].

>> Last Great Book I Read

Nigel Slater: Real Fast Food
It's a cookbook. Quick recipes of like... comfort food.

>> Favorite Piece of Musical Equipment

Ooh, I've got a guitar! A Fender Telecaster 1972, and I just bought a little baby amp. You know, those ones that are yellow, the Fender amp; it's tiny and it sounds amazing. Probably a little bit trash for practicing on because I don't really play the guitar very well, but I'm learning. I'm not going to play it on the stage and stuff, but I'm definitely going to use it on the album.


>> Best Purchase of the Past Year

Probably my guitar. I love it. I use it every day.

>> Best Thing I Did This Year

Cancel my American tour [laughs]. I guess playing the Big Day Out festival in Australia, that was amazing. It was really incredible.

>> Favorite Venue

Fillmore, San Francisco
It's really really amazing.

>> Favorite Record Shop

Haggle Vinyl, London
I like Amoeba and I like Rough Trade in London. There's a place called Haggle Vinyl, which is in London as well. It's on Essex Road in London. I got a 7" of The Specials there; it's good.




>> Favorite TV Show

"Brothers and Sisters"
Actually, I watched a show Sunday night before last called "Brothers and Sisters"-- with Ally McBeal in it, or whatever her name is... Calista Flockhart-- which I really liked.

>> Favorite Video Game

The Sims







>> Favorite Radio Show

I don't know, I don't really listen to the radio, to be honest. I guess when I'm in the U.K., maybe Zane Lowe on [BBC] Radio 1. also "Dream Ticket" on 6 Music; I think that's top notch.

>> My Ringtone

I actually made it myself. I can't remember the name of the song now, but it's the one where Biggie goes "Who the fuck is this, callin' me up at 2 in the mornin'?" I cut it off and made it into a ringtone so it just goes, "Ring Ring, Who the fuck is this?" There you go.