Lily Allen has said she can no longer listen to songs on her debut album, 'Alright Still'.

"When I listen to that record I cringe. I am five years younger on that record,” she told BBC 6Music.

The album, released in 2006, failed to top the charts but established Allen as one of the biggest female artists in the UK.

In a wide-ranging interview, the singer also defended her decision to continue writing personal songs on her second record, 'It's Not Me, It's You'.

"I don't know how else to write,” she said. “I wish I could be more vague in what I write and then they'd get played in adverts, but they don't.”

Allen's new album is released in the UK on February 9th.

(by Jason Gregory)