Although warmer days seem unimaginably far away, I’ve got the soundtrack to your summer right here. Although Lily Allen’s debut album Alright, Still actually came out last year, it’s taken about six months to be released on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. But trust me – the album is worth the wait.

Alright, Still comes mostly from the mouth of the cute and glittery-eyed Allen, a 21-year-old pop princess certified in the United Kingdom. Ignore her strange affection for ’70s haircuts and fashion – we’ll let that one slide – and focus on her love for late ’70s music. The girl has managed to write some incredibly catchy and witty pop music to the tune of British reggae and ska. While she may soon be drawing comparisons to Gwen Stefani, her true roots come from her parents’ record collection, featuring pop culture icons like the Specials and Blondie.

But the songstress’ true talent lies in uplifting both the “girl power” sentiment of late ’90s era pop and the music of ’70s era Brit ska and spinning the two into a modern, creative and original sound all her own. Allen may not exactly break the mold, but her sound is certainly distinct; her strong British accent certainly helps.

One of the more magical aspects of Allen’s path is that she is a MySpace success story. Thanks to online buzz, Alright, Still catapulted to the No. 2 spot of the U.K. charts last summer, with more than 500,000 records sold so far. Allen’s first single, “Smile” also reached No. 1 on the charts, helping to make her a household name in British pop culture.

“Smile” is a clever little song about revenge and comically shows off Allen’s cruel side. “At first when I see you cry/ Yeah it makes me smile, yeah it makes my smile/ At worst I feel bad for a while/ But then I just smile I go ahead and smile,” she sings on the chorus.

One of the best distinctions about Allen is her storytelling ability. She sings to college kids about her money issues, her boy problems and her experiences living the city life, making her stories personal, intimate and witty.

“In the magazines they talk about weight loss/ If I buy those jeans I can look like Kate Moss,” she sneers on “Everything’s Just Wonderful.”

But Allen isn’t just about witty one-liners; she expresses emotion through words in a way most unassuming pop artists don’t even begin to reach. One of the best songs on the album is the piano-driven “Littlest Things,” in which Allen reminisces on the highlights of a crumbling relationship. “And I remember when you started callin’ me your miss’s /All the play fightin’, all the flirtatious disses/ I’d tell you sad stories about my childhood/ I don’t why I trusted you but I knew that I could,” Allen sings in the opening verse of a rather sad song.

Allen collaborated mostly with the producing duo Future Cut to apply her lyrics to the reggae feel she was going for on this album. The album clocks in at about 40 minutes, and includes two U.S.-only released tracks: One is a take on 50 Cent’s “Window Shopper,” and the second is simply a “Smile” reprise. Allen is also currently on tour and is set to perform at the 9:30 Club in Washington on Feb. 16. Tickets are $15.

Alright, Still is an album full of charm and wit. For a pop album, it’s deeper and just as catchy as any of the standard fare out right now. Although Allen’s sound might be a bit different, it will grow on you if you give it some time. In fact, think of Alright, Still as an early Valentine’s Day gift to yourself – when her music is playing all over the radio this summer, you’ll be glad you had the heads up.

Contact reporter Adam Z. Winer at winerdbk@gmail.com.