Reviews (page 3 of 8)
I have such a love/hate with British hip-hop. Some of it is very good, some is super cockney and hard to piece together. This album was a surprise to me. I actually enjoyed it, front to back. Really inviting, easy-to-listen-to hip hop, with more of a poetry feel than a hip hop feel.
I find the public reviews to this pretty funny, don't think the streets translate well to any other culture. It's a garage snapshot of working class Britishness.... I mean, the majority of British people probably don't enjoy British garage either. I, however, am not one of those people! I remember eagerly anticipating the release of this album, my mates and I used to listen to "original pirate material" basically on repeat, can't be many albums I've heard more. It's considerably better than this album too imo and I remember being slightly disappointed by this when it was released. Saw them at Leeds festival in 2003, and it was brilliant, he was wasted though. This album grows on you, and while it doesn't compare to the first album, I still enjoyed hearing it again. Not usually a fan of a concept album either. It is a bit like some sort of strange garage musical. I reckon Mike Skinner is cleverer than the subject matter can lead you to believe, and I think a pretty good egg. Blinded by the lights is by far and away the best track for me. Was never a huge fan of dry your eyes or fit but don't you know it. Say what you will about this, but there definitely won't be anything else like it on the list, so for that alone, it should be here. I hope "original pirate material" is on this list, but I suspect it won't be, so I'm being more generous here.
The Streets and A Grand Don't Come For Free are complicated for me because they definitely don't resonate in the same way as they do for lots of people. Conceptually this album isn't remarkable, the remarkable comes from the ability to take a mundane and somewhat silly story and make it incredibly relatable and accessible with brilliant lyrical creativity; it's a skill of a great storyteller to be able to do that, and it's something someone like Springsteen is universally revered for in making Americana come to life with vivid colour and depth. It doesn't have outstanding musicality; a lot of the beats are basic (which is fine, Skinner is the star of the show, they don't need to be), and the lyrics while creative struggle with structure and metre, though if you want to give him credit it's this that means you really have to focus and engage with the story, rather than just listen along casually. The basic beats approach is also shown up a bit by Blinded By The Lights and Fit But You Know It because those two tracks do something different, and it's probably no surprise that they were the two most successful off the record. I completely understand why this got such acclaim at the time of its release, such was its originality and freshness in a genre and industry that needed it, and it holds up in its own way 20 years later, but it's a long way from flawless despite its positives. I think a low 4 from me on the strengths outweighing the stuff I don't like.
Know tonnes of the songs from this, but not sure that I ever listened to it from start to finish. Definitely didn't appreciate that it was one flowing story at the time (which surely means that I didn't listen to it all in one sitting). There's a lot not to like, a lot of it is pretty one-toned, he ends up using some quite convoluted phrasing to make what he says vaguely fit the meter, and the whole story isn't exactly some grand drama. But, it's really compelling, tough to stop listening. Just wish there had been more songs with a bit more to them, as Phil says it's the ones with a bit more production and a bit more oomph that were the most successful. Think it just scrapes a 4, probably out of nostalgia really.
sOLID CRAFTED NARRITIVE WITH A DISTINCT FLOW AND VERBAGE DEFN HOLDS THE LISNTERS ATTENTION
Good
Was going to readily dismiss this on a first listen until I realized this was a mini Brit rap opera. See Mike lost a grand… and well actually while musically it’s pretty fun - it’s quite ingenuous in its story telling, funny, heartfelt and a trip through a lot of misplaced angsty emotions that make the titular character as much of as a foe to himself as his own circle of friends.
01) It Was Supposed to Be So Easy - 7,0 02) Could Well Be In - 8,0 03) Not Addicted - 7,0 04) Blinded by the Lights - 10,0 05) Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way - 7,0 06) Get Out of My House - 7,0 07) Fit but You Know It - 9,5 08) Such a Twat - 7,0 09) What Is He Thinking? - 7,0 10) Dry Your Eyes - 10,0 11) Empty Cans - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,86 (79/100) Current ranking: 92/236 It's funny to me to read the disgusted comments of Americans on one of the best British hip hop products in my opinion. Finally a concept album whose concept actually makes sense. The whole album is like watching (in this case listening to) a season of a TV show in 11 episodes, with the last episode having both a happy ending and a not so happy ending. Although "Dry Your Eyes" was the biggest hit from the album, I still prefer "Blinded By The Lights", which goes on my "1001 albums..." playlist.
I get why everyone doing this list is going to hate this, it's insanely British, the beats are all wonky, the singing isn't great, and Mike's whole style of lyrics and delivery are very plain and straight-forward. This and the first Streets albums though are just classics, I definitely prefer the first but this has legendary tracks like 'Fit But You Know It', 'Dry Your Eyes', and 'Blinded By The Lights'. Now that I think about it, it's also the only album I can think of that has alternate endings, with the final song going down two different paths to finish the story. Really creative stuff.
You either love it or you hate it.
Nice
Mike Skinner is a silly, simple genius. It wouldn’t be my choice of what to write a concept album about, but he executes it perfectly, it’s just this perfect little Jerry Stahl arc.
At first I thought this was brutal to listen to but then I got pulled in and it’s actually kinda brilliant and unlike anything else I’ve heard. It’s deceptively simple - catches you with lines that are moving and true. And I’m happy the tv got fixed.
This one surprised me! Had a great morning listening to this.
Original Pirate Material ist besser. Trotzdem gutes Album. Blinded By the Lights Killer Track.
It's very English. It feels like outsider art. Like somebody who didn't know what he was doing decided to take on a grand project. An Opera, a concept album. It's serious and not serious. It's great storytelling.
i quite like the streets but perhaps 50 mins is too much
THE STREEST!!! kan bedre lide original pirate material. men den her er godt nok også god. klar 4/5!!!
Hip hop alternativo. Me ha hecho gracia. Un 4.
Probably the best work to ever come out of UK Rap. That's not saying much, because it's mostly dogshit, but it's something.
Bad. It’s quite essential UK slang hip-hop, but with influence of the Black Eyed Peas, it has a disgusting mix of trying to be real lyrically, trying to be like Arctic Monkeys, what comes off, childish and naïve. All the songs are just Straight dumb
Good bloke, mad city
This is a weird one. On the face of it it could be considered rubbish but with the concept and everything somehow it works and becomes glorious. I see all the Americans failing to get it though, which is amusing
The breakdown in Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way sounds like Flight of the Conchords! Love the choice to avoid hooks and fluid bars. There's something quite disarming about the main character, in many ways a beautiful loser.
Fun!
Blinding lights is a cracking tune. I think this is one of these albums that is influential more than anything else. Skinner bridged garage and hip hop styles and talked about the mundanity of british life at a time that we had Keane and Katie Melua sitting at number 1 for weeks at a time. It likely paved the way for a lot of what came later- grime, dubstep etc.
This was perfect for the drive to ACO. Shit was so entertaining in the way that lil dicky is entertaining… slapstick and kinda self deprecating. I guess it wasn’t explicitly self deprecating but there’s no way anyone takes this seriously. Every track had the same beat and he was just talking at me the whole time, yet it was oddly gripping… he was off the beat as if he was trying to sound bad, but he varied the delivery just enough that it was engaging. And I loved listening to him speaking British… his accent is awesome. “You little twat!” No clue what the plot of the album was though, and I was even trying to listen to it. Not sure what to rate this. It was perfect for my post chipotle food coma in the back of Harty’s car. Not sure if I would dig it in other situations. But there you go. 8.5/10
Mike Skinner is instantly recognisable in his delivery. It seems like a load of mundane songs compiled initially until you realise it's one long cohesive story.
I was at uni when this came out so there is a heavy nostalgia value.
Good
Very unique sound and concept album
Before listening: Yeah, I remember this guy. I use to laugh at his songs 'cos I thought they were dumb. BUT I've heard a few rap albums on this thing and nearly all of them have been fantastic. I'll give this one the benefit of the doubt and I'm actually excited to listen to it. After listening: Fine, I'll the L on this one. It was amazing! I tend to hate concept albums but I absolutely loved this. I might actually listen to their other stuff now.
Whole album tells a story, pretty entertaining.
Loved this when I first heard it a few years after it came out but assumed that the emphasis on the storyline would make detract from it as a re-listen, but not too much. It's still a very funny and closely observed take on being at a bit of a loose end as an aimless youf all hanging on little details and clever lines expresses the quick escalation of a temper around minor irritations, the sense of purposelessness, being bored of your friends, the desire for something more but easiness of feeling defeated along the way, banal disappointments from everyone around you, the ordinary shitiness and small-mindedness of everyday life, simpe contentment turning into self hatred, the annoyance of going out and not really enjoying yourself but kind of trying, hearbreak and accrimony. The production is simple and effective, basic mood setting beats link the feel and emotions of the story to the rhythms and color of the music - the modal shift in empty cans is perfect, but mostly the music settles back, letting the verses take the lead moving things forward. Favorites: Blinded by the Lights, Such a Twat, Fit But You Know It, Dry Your Eyes
Det her har jeg lyttet latterligt meget til. Tingene skal ikke nødvendigvis rime for at fortælle historien. Kæmpe bangers, og et anderledes take på hele hiphop genren i 00ernen.
Not as consistently emotionally resonant for me as the debut, but still a brilliant listen. The story is great, and empty cans is genuinely moving.
Liked this more than I thought I would. Looking into the album and learning it's like a single narrative through it, I'm into that. 3.5/5
Very fun album. Not something I would listen to all the time but will definitely come back to it.
UK-Rap in Oper-Style. Nice!
Bit of British gold. You can see its influences on grime and dub step. Only slight issues - 1) a couple of weak tracks including the last one. Probably would have been better to end on Dry Your Eyes. 2) Original Pirate Material would have been the better album to include
Very fine
Nice concept that actually works.
first listen this is sick, innit?
Fun and entertaining songs. Storytelling across the album was entertaining. Most songs had a spoken-word component with the beat hitting behind it, sometimes it worked and other times it was a bit lame. It Was Supposed to Be so Easy and Blinded by the Lights were my favorite songs.
Did it sound amazing? No. Was it exceptionally engaging? Yeah. Warrants a relisten.
WASS ALL DIS PISS?
4.5
Top notch opera rap
Really good album, have heard it before. The story telling angle is a fun, unique approach and the beats are pretty good too.
The album has it's ups and downs. The vocals at times are unpolished (on purpose) and can seem unprofessional. However, once you get used to it - I think it's a great album
This is a tough one. One the surface, it is kinda crap. The beats are great, don't get me wrong, but the raps especially just feel off. But as a whole, it just drives the theme down of a normal bloke who is a bit of a loser, who lost his girlfriend and is going through it. From that context it all comes together for me. Idk, always had a special place in my heart for the Streets.
As a Brummie of twenty-five years standing got to love Mike Skinner, even if he was responsible for one of the worst-sounding gigs I ever attended at the old NIA. This is The Streets most coherent statement, a rap odyssey in which Mike loses a grand, goes out, loses the girl, finds another girl, finds the grand. A lot of this is insanely catchy, and despite its well-chosen ultra cheap beats can't hide the fact that he's got some real craft as a songwriter. Listen to it in the album order pls, and marvel how everything comes together in the epic last track that could even be termed prog hig-hop/grime. It's definitely a concept album.
Not as good as original pirate material
Really really liked this. Like the concept of a drama in every song, seemed very timely. Don't know much about rap, but could relate to it and enjoy the artistry of the supporting sound enfolding the lyrics.
I liked it back in the day and haven't listened to it for about 15 years, it's still good but very much of its time. Mike Skinner was trying to do something a bit different here and to a point he succeeded, however if you really want to listen to a story in an album then you have to listen to The Defamation of Strickland Banks by Plan B, it's far better executed and delivered. Still give it a four stars though because it was very listenable
Love how authentic the lyrics are but the start-stop delivery isn’t my favorite thing
Great album
Cracking wordplay and hilarious narrative. Tawdry British young people’s social low life (drugs, gambling, pulling, late night chippies, stealing lovers), but so cleverly described. Humourous and worth hearing the whole album for the final conclusion.
Thought i was gonna be a bit dismissive about this but it really is quite charming in its scope as a small scale concept album. Hard to fault even for someone who doesn't like any kind of rap/grime whatever. Wholesome
That was unexpected. Heard of the band and even knew the name of the vocalist, but I don't know if I've ever heard anything produced by The Streets. I'm not sure I've ever heard anything quite like this actually. And I quite like it, actually. I think. It's different and a bit out of my comfort zone at times, but and interesting enough listen and it kept me engaged, despite being a bit long perhaps. Having read some reviews of it I may have to go and take a look at Original Pirate Material which seems to be recommended but not on this list. It might help that I get the cultural references - ITV and so on. It is very routed in this country certainly. I got the odd Randy Newman album with Rednecks on yesterday and struggled a bit with the references on that. So that helps here I think. The cover, by the way, is lovely. Just my type of shot. So, I think this is a 4. It almost deserves it for rhyming nowt with out.
A really unique pice of art... For some reason I thought UK rap started in the 2010s :( A very real album, which I didn't think would put me through a journey like this The first song made me think of the movie Beau is Afraid lol
Top artist. This almost can be classed as a concept album of sweary stoner, beer boys from the bleak suburbia of England. Grim and joyous at the same time. Great album but I prefer Original Pirate Material and think Everything is Borrowed is his best work
This grew on me. These guys seem honest, juvenile at times, also very focused on tv, money, and women. But I liked it. I love the full story arc and closure at the end.
Solid and humourous brithop, almost grimey
Not as good as Orginal Pirate Material
This is clever, thought provoking, sometimes funny and spot on with its idiomatic English (from 2004). I admire it, and I hate it.
Surprised I’ve never heard of this. Good fun from overseas lol
Hip hop alternativo. Me ha hecho gracia. Un 4.
Es hip-hop, pero me ha gustado bastante.
I had forgotten how enjoyable The Streets were. What fun. Could Well Be In, Fit but You Know It, and Dry Your Eyes are all stuck in my head now.
creative and honestly moving
i love being british
What? I think I like it
I absolutely hated this when it came out. I can still see why, but i've definitely mellowed on my hatred over the years. much smarter and on point than i ever gave him credit for. fair play
the storytelling surpassed all the terrible rap and made it all worth it
This was very creative and a lot of fun to listen to. I immediately put it on to listen to again. Two nitpicks, though: (1) It's so over-the-top English that it almost sounds like an American doing a parody or caricature. It's like if one of us told a bunch of stories about eating hot dogs and destabilizing Central American governments. A bit daft, innit? (2) It's the kind of art rap where they repeat the chorus way too many times on every song. Best track: Dry Your Eyes
The British really do everything better. Love this. 4
Love The Streets.
Do I like this or hate it? I’m still not sure. Maybe I like it. Do I? Boring it certainly is not.
Yeah, great.
Truely iconic. Does an excellent job of capturing life for a lot of brits.
So shit it’s funny
I love this album, love a concept album, think the story highlights some really interesting points about gambling and I love that the story has two endings. It has some really nostalgic bangers like Blinded by the Lights, and Dry Your Eyes. I like the artwork, which does conjure up images from the album and stories. I never listened to the whole album as a story before this, it's cool! The only thing is I think Mike Skinner seems a bit arrogant and into himself but I don't know him so...
Didn’t realise it’s all one narrative, kinda cool even if I usually find lower class English stories depressing af
Dit album ken ik! Dat kan ik niet elke dag zeggen hier. Vreemd en grappig. Hiphop met een mengelmoes van UK muziekstijlen als dubstep, grime en garage. "Blinded by the lights" en "Dry your eyes" zijn voor mij wel ondergewaardeerde klassiekers. Het is geen album wat ik lekker op de achtergrond aanzet, daar is het te maf voor.
Skinner is a fucking tool (the character, not the musician). I always feel an uncomfortable Englishness when I listen to the streets (idk how else to describe it) and I’m not sure if I like it but man can this guy create an atmosphere. 7.5/10 Fave: Blinded by the lights
Relentlessly clever and wholly original. Simple, to the point of basic beats and effects and very talky rapping seem like they should not work but somehow they do – largely because they suit the mock-heroic, quotidian epic of the rhymes (has a rap record ever so glamorized or got more from watching [or repairing a] television?). There's a humor and even a sweetness that not many other rappers could deliver.
мне симпатичен концепт рок-оперы, рэп-оперы это классная интересная тема, но в данном случае некоторые треки звучат слишком забавно (а так не должно быть, судя по всему, хотя мне это даже нравится на самом деле) и вне контекста, наверное, совсем не работают (что минус альбома на мой взгляд, хотя, может, так и должно быть), мне кажется, что можно сделать круче (вообще я пока не встречала действительно удачного (гениального??) гибрида хип хопа с какой-то классической музыкальной формой типа оперы, балета, а жаль (но это я просто не копалась пока))
This is how rap should sound - musical. Tunes and soul as well as the words. Dry Your Eyes is heartbreakingly beautiful.
"A Grand Don't Come for Free" is the second studio album by English rapper and producer Mike Skinner known as The Streets. This is a rap opera and concept album about a guy having a relationship with a girl named Simone and the mysterious loss of £1,000 (the grand). Skinner talks, raps and sings and is a strength as he tells the story. There is also a very nice job matching the music with the story. "It Was Supposed to Be Easy" starts things off with dramatic horns, a slow drum beat and tells how our man lost his Grand and found his TV broken. "Could Well Be In" has a piano and a soulful feel. More uplifting as he begins his relationship with Simone. "Not Addicted" gives a more rap feel as he tries to get back his money by gambling. The third-released single "Blinded By the Lights" has synths which create a pyschedelic and paranoid atmosphere. Our protagonist gets drunks, takes ecstasy and thinks he sees Simone kissing his friend, Dan. The second single, "Fit But You Know It," speeds things up with the music and more of a rock beat. He's trying to impress a girl as he was kicked out of the house by Simone in the previous song. "Dry Your Eyes" is my favorite song on the album. Strings, acoustic guitar. Great singing and lyrics. A sad song as Simone breaks up with him. The album ends very originally with "Empty Cans" and two possible endings. Very suspenseful synths/keyboard. In one scenario, he gets into a fight with TV repairman and that's it. In the other one, he entually finds his grand behind his broken TV. I liked this album quite a bit when it came out. It still sounds good. The music is focused to the story. It might not be as musically adventurous as other albums in that genre but it still works for me.
Very good album, nice story being told, will listen again
It was behind the TV the whole time! Haven't listened to this in a while and it was nice to revisit. Mike Skinner was criminally underrated.
aww man, I fucking hate brit rap but you know what? this was way better than I was expecting I mean still kinda lame, but really good for a wanker, better than eminem to say the least I like the experimentation with unique flows and time signatures and the story telling was pretty fun for a normal day in britain 8/10
Now that’s a surprise, never heard hip hop like this. Really good!
This one was both musically fun as well as an intriguing concept. I had to read a review on Wikipedia to understand the themes, which made the story clear. Very cool concept and well executed.
First of all, I love these songs about nothing. Honestly half of these songs could be episodes of Seinfeld. All the songs are weirdly believable slices of life. In some ways, the album kind of reminds me of a Philip K. Dick novel, in that it does a really good job of putting you in the head of a guy, - but you don't really like the guy and it's not necessarily a head that you want to be in. This gets 4/5. Not a 5, because I'm never going to listen to them again. It's like a really good movie that I never want to watch again.
The sound of my first year of grad school. It is a very unique sound and can sometimes be too much but I do generally enjoy Mike Skinner.
Never knew that "Fit But You Know It" was part of some over arching drama concept album. Not one I'd want to listen to all the time but probably will come back to this one.
Was not feeling the album at first but by the end I was lovin it.
A rap opera, concept album, whatever: a tale of losing £1000, finding and losing love, and living a mundane telly sofa life alongside the pill pub club scene in the early Ohs. Sounds dreadful, right? Wrong! Well, kind of right, but no - it's easy to follow unlike most story-based LPs, lots of humour and self-deprecation - and lots of crap, forced rhymes that stand out because of Skinner's deadpan, unsung, unmelodic delivery. And I liked that. Unpretentious, trying, lots of failing, just like the Mike in the story: shit but he knows it. And it works. Four stars well-earned.
Lyrics 🏆
This album was a nice surprise for me, having not heard of the Streets previously. It is a compelling record and is easy to get into repeated listens. The storytelling is great which requires more of a close listen than most albums. This is a well crafted concept album and an enjoyable and fun listen. Favorite songs are: "Dry Your Eyes", "Blinded By the Light", "Could Well be In" 4 out of 5.
Mike Skinner possesses a really distinctive flow and a uniquely British, working class take on millennial rap. While some of the beats and tracks have aged better than others, A Grand Don't Come for Free still holds together as a rap opera grounded in everyday concerns incredibly well. But in spite of its ambition, I think Original Pirate Material is ultimately the more essential Streets record. Favourite tracks: "Could Well Be In", "Blinded by the Lights", "Dry Your Eyes"
A Grand Don’t Come for Free by The Streets (2004) It had to happen. I wonder what took so long. This is rap opera. And it’s not bad. It has a plot. It has humor. It has closure. It has characters that develop and (petty) conflicts that resolve (barely). But it is hugely stunted in the relevance department. Not like Wagner. Not even like Rossini. More like a cross between Bizet and Berg. Yes, Carmen meets Wozzek! But what it lacks is high drama. At least Wozzek had World War I. And Carmen gets killed in the end (sorry if I ruined it for you). Nevertheless, I started this review thinking I was going to give it a “one” star. Then I read through the entire libretto (lyrics) and decided it merited a “two”. Then, as I listened throughout, I felt it deserved a “three”. And as the reverberation faded on the final note, I thought “Dude, this is a solid four”. I won’t spoil the storyline. But the protagonist is a kid, “Mike”, living the lowbrow culture of British proletarian youth. The antagonist is the lowbrow culture of British proletarian youth. You can see why this isn’t going anywhere. “Mike” experiences frustration, loss, love, betrayal, envy, trust, moods, drugs, turns of mis/fortune, and two endings! The dialog and personal reflections are full of vignettes that elaborate the setting, but to what end? Well, maybe self-reliance, but does that ring true? I’ll leave it to my readers with advanced degrees in philosophy. Rhythms are unconventional, and that’s a plus. Beats and melodic lines are unconvincing, but they do sustain interest, and there’s plenty of variety. I’ve never been high in a dance club, but if I had, I bet it would feel a lot like the vibe in “Blinded by the Lights”. And the mood of jealousy and suspicion is perfectly captured on “What Is He Thinking?” Listen to these two tracks and you might be tempted to listen to the whole album straight through. Mike Skinner’s voice is weak, and he lacks range (barely eking out the melody on “Get Out of My House”), but that doesn’t prevent him from giving plausibly authentic expression to the emotional responses of his character. It draws the listener in. Now the vocal support from ‘Leo the Lion’ is mellow and smooth, in fine R&B timbre (“Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way”). Other voices are sub par for a studio recording, but might have succeeded in a stage production (which I’d pay good money to see, if there ever were one). If you decide to listen to this album, do it without distractions and stay focused. There’s good art here. I’m gonna quit this now and listen to it again, if you’ll excuse me. 4/5
This is a sort of hip-hop opera,where all the songs being related by the story of a some lost money.(7/10) FT: Fit but You Know It, Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
Wasn't what I was expecting, but interesting hiphop story album.
Un bon concept pourun bon album .j’ai apprecie l’ecoutert je suis interresse par le band. 4.25
A Grand Don't Come For Free is a great brit rap album by The Streets. It may be his best album album, but I prefer Original Pirate Material as it is more original and I was more surprised at the time of its release. "Has It Come to This?", "Let's Push Things Forward" and "Weak Become Heroes" and impressive tracks.
3rd listen. First few times I heard this album, I thought it was just ok, but over time, during these past several months, I have grown to really enjoy the album. 4/5.
A nice surprise.
This shit is so British it's interesting. Lots of slang and language I don't super understand. It's cool, I'm not sure it's the best thing on the planet but it sounds like some early grime type stuff. Feels like something I would hear in Snatch or Long stock and two smoking barrels. It's telling a story for sure, one I don't know. Overall, It took a while to grow on me, but by the end I was into it.
This is another one I listened to a lot when it came out. Still holds up for me. It's sort of just on the right side of amateurish and I like the story.
Audio book, lol. I forgot I had even heard this before until that song about being fit came on. Somehow this thing works, doesn’t it? I kind of can’t imagine listening to more than this one album from this dude, but I quite enjoyed myself with it.
Very quirky British rap album. So much great slang in here, 'e's 'aving a laugh. Funny to think they'd include this as a rap album from 2004 and not Madvillainy, but I don't need to go there again. Anyway, this was enjoyable. Delivery was slightly off-kilter, but I think it works for a bloke like this. Interesting conceptually too. I can't say I was blown away, but overall it was very solid. Quite a few tracks I'll return to. Favorite tracks: Fit But You Know It, Get Out of My House, Could Well Be In, Dry Your Eyes. Album art: I like this one quite a bit, very cool picture and good color. I thought I was looking in a diner at first glance, but it's a bus stop. Are these the titular streets we're waiting on? 4/5
Finding a hip hop album I like is a rarity, so props to this guy.
Me agrado bastante el concepto, no me había tocado saber de algún disco que te contara una historia ligando cada canción. Creo que fue lo que más me gustó. El rapeo no me agrado del todo pero la música estaba fresca.
I really like this album. Skinner is a great storyteller. Dry Your Eyes is a beautiful track. Blinded by the Lights is stunning.
Started low but got better
I remember when this album came out and everyone wanted to be a geezer. What ever that is. I do like the story telling. The album follows Mike as he struggles with his relationship, gambling and being a 20 something britt on vacation. The production is kind of dated. Like the the snare sound on some tracks sound really wonky.
Cool album. British garage rap. Reminds me of some nerdcore stuff.
Richtig cooles Album, grade „Fit but You know it“! Lange nicht gehört, aber super!
Brilliant album, great story telling!!
Had wat vrees hiervoor als ik de wiki las. Maar dit album heeft wel wat variatie, een sterke flow, een te begrijpen verhaal (als 'rap-opera'). Positief verrast. Al blijft het niet mijn genre
I enjoy this album :)
Tää olikin hankala arvioitava. Ei mitään erityisiä hittibiisejä, mutta sitten taas olen toisaalta tällaisten teema-/tarinalevyjen ystävä. Ekalla kuuntelukerralla vasta levyn loppuvaiheessa hoksasin idean että nii tässähän oli tää kertoja ja samat pikkujutut kuten rikkoontunut telkkari toistuu biisistä toiseen. Tokalla kuuntelukerralla avautui paremmin, vaikka en vieläkään ihan täydellä ajatuksella seurannut juonta.
Does sound a bit dated, but still a clever album.
english spoken word rap album? but its rock driving underneath? it was pretty interesting, but not very melodic. more story like, almost musical podcast short stories. nice change of pace for me personally, I may return to it someday.
I liked it actually. A few good tracks but the album works well together as a narrative.
Always found it a bit over-rated but it's still a solid 3.5
Honestly shocked that some grime made it in the list. Excellent album with some subpar mixing
Toda una sorpresa. Divertido de escuchar y con buenos acordes y voz
Es hip-hop, pero me ha gustado bastante.
it was a decent listen, even if I don't like the style that much.
Yessssss 🙌 I have loved The Streets for YEARS. I love the Birmingham accent. I love the lingo. You don’t hear rap like this. The fact that this is a concept album or a “rap opera” is so unique. Simultaneously epic, and yet incredibly mundane. “Could Well Be In” and “Get Out of My House” are the big highlights, but the whole thing is a jam. That all being said, I think I still prefer Original Pirate Material or Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living.
Melodic rap about a guy that goes to the ATM to withdraw some money but doesn't get home on time for tea with him mom...
dobrý beaty, i koncept
Great UK hip hop, very unique
As a whole, it was really good
Actually super interesting. I did not expect to like this so much, but it's so creative! A fully-realized concept album, with a story thread and characters. Super fun and different.
Adorei o conceito de album que conta uma história, me fez ler todas as letras. Nenhuma das músicas é agradável o suficiente pra entrar na minha playlist, mas fui entretido!
Ensikosketus tähän Streetsin levyyn. Ihan ei pääse mainion Original Pirate Materialin tasolle, mutta varsin kelpo tapaus tämäkin. Tykkään Mike Skinnerin vahvalla brittiaksentilla vedetystä omaperäisestä tyylistä. Lyriikoiden kuuntelu jäi valitettavasti töitä tehdessä vähemmälle.
This was pretty weird at first but then I kinda came around to it. Like a British Eminem who just talk raps.
Весьма оригинально и харизматично звучащий белый хип-хоп с английским шармом, броскими припевами и очень интересным, в некотором роде андерграундным продакшном, но не идеально. 8/10
Great album, lots of middle school emo memories.
Very fun, very catchy, I like operas and I love rap. Great story. Standout Tracks: Not Addicted, Blinded by the Lights, Get Out of My House, What Is He Thinking?, Dry Your Eyes
Heerlijk sappig accent maar soms vermoeiende plaat
extraño para mis gustos pero de alguna forma me gusto...
I don't know that I'll ever revisit this album, but I had a good time listening to it this once.
I can appreciate it, but I don't think this album is for me.
Conceptually strong but the execution is lacking.
This poor wanker. From the first track I thought I was going to strongly dislike this, but I did get caught up in the story. Which is one way to look at this: an audiobook that happens to be set to music. Interestingly, this follows a certain tradition in UK music: the 'let's talk over some music' kind of storytelling. Think Captain Sensible and the ever silly Toast song.
I can see how it sparked. Wouldn’t want to hear it all again tho. Strong 3.
Very different!
Such an odd rap style but I liked it. Empty Cans, Such a Twat, and It Was Supposed to Be so Easy were my faves. Great beats and the rapper's unique rhythm made the album interesting.
Made the mistake of looking at other reviews first - soooo many people not connecting with this at all 🫣 Blinded by the Lights is an absolute tune and, imo, probably the best ever description of a paranoid clubber's come-up. Live versions I've heard push it even further into spine-tingling big room euphoria. Dry Your Eyes is a great track too, sensitive, vulnerable, inarticulate, stupid. Just like all of us. The Streets sound is an acquired taste. I think at the time I used to enjoy the lyrics but feel bad about many of the the beats. Over time I appreciate it all more in totality, production warts and all. The supposed flaws are all part of it and the complete picture is unmistakably true. It's quite a brave act of self-expression; a worthy capture of working-class British young adulthood at the turn of the millennium. Not Skinner's greatest album but so much more than the 1-star crew will ever understand.
Schon iwie weird und am Anfang fand ich den ersten Song direkt kacke, weil die Stimme einfach zu laut und weird ist. Aber i really got into it und hab die Story dann auch iwann richtig gefühlt und v.a. das Ende war dann iwie auch schön
Sounds like a Chav from 2007 rapped his livejournal entries, bruv
Nothing compared to Original Pirate Material
I give Mike Skinner credit for being distinctive: He doesn’t sound like anyone else. The Streets get classified as hip hop, but the speak-sing storytelling set to non-melodic electronic loops and beats certainly doesn’t emphasize rhythm or flow. He’s talented with words, but these tales of clubbing, lad culture, lust and (semi-contemporary) slackerdom leave me culturally disoriented. It feels a little like a musical soundtrack: neither catchy nor danceable, and it doesn’t scratch any kind of personal itch.
For all the reviews on here complaining that having a British rapper rapping about everyday issues, I can't help feel that they're of the "girls, bitches and bling" rap crowd. Anything different doesn't feel right. The Streets were never about that. And more power to them. They occupy a niche in rap of storytelling. And it's interesting. That said, he's a whiny storyteller. And there are only a couple of tracks that have anything musically interesting going on. 3
I atarted out hating this album. British rap in a British accent is a tough sell (except for Li’l Sims, who i love). But what these guys lack in musicality, they make up for in storytelling and humor poignancy. I’m not likely to spin this album again, but it earned a 3.
Blinded by the Lights Fit but You Know It Dry Your Eyes
Not really my thing apart from the hits
Inte i närheten av debuten som känns mycket angelägnare och punkigare. Men det är fortfarande himla kul, bra lekfulla beats och som ordkonstnär är Skinner väldigt underhållande men saknar dom där superbangersen som fanns på debuten. Det här blir en sämre upprepning av konceptet, men det är ett bra koncept och så vansinnigt befriande i jämförelse med all den amerikanska smörjan.
Det finns beröringspunkter mellan Streets och samtidiga Jamie T. Båda skildrar ett vardag och uteliv i ett brittisk arbetarklassperspektiv med en blandning av rap och pratsång. Musikaliskt håller jag utan större tvekan den senare högre. Men Streets har absolut sina fördelar. Jag gillar hans skildringar (även om jag ärligt talat inte haft möjlighet att lyssna så noggrant som jag tror albumet förtjänar). Musikaliskt är det inte dåligt men inte heller någon aha-upplevelse.
The production on this is janky and poorly mixed, the rapping is off beat and at times more like bad spoken word, the singing is out of tune, and yet, I like it. I don’t know how Mike Skinner does it.
Great story telling and a unique sound. Some great songs but a lot of okay ones.
Was looking forward to this album. Definitive British album, and an album of its time. Was somewhat disappointed with it though overall. Not a bad album but some shit songs interspersed with good ones.
Great storytelling, couldn't tell if I enjoyed musically
Clever story line running through this, quite humorous but definitely of a time and certain scene. I’m not a big lover of hip hop but I’d rate this better than most
The album got better as it went on. Such an interesting sound.
Better than I expected. The reviews on this are delicious
The guy is a great storyteller and the subject matter is often pretty comical. Favorite track: Fit But You Know It
Intressant, men inte fullt av bangers direkt.
Aggressively british
I quite enjoyed this. The storytelling was fun and some of the tracks are good, but I was surprised by how clumsy and ugly a lot of the rhymes and rhythms are. I guess that's deliberate at least to some extent, but it doesn't work for me. Kae Tempest does similar things a lot better, reflecting real lives and patterns of speech while being poetic and musical.
Low key enjoyed it. Is it this bad? An English bloke miserably lost £1000 in 2004 and made an album out of it. Isn’t it entertaining…
new wave 80s. not my vibe but certainly someones out there
I liked the tone of the fella's voice
What a bizarre album, in both a good and not-so-great way. I'm not sure I entirely get why this was so mind-blowing to so many music critics, and I'm also not sure I'd describe this as a "rap opera", but either way it's a pretty unique style and sound and album. It feels like listening to some weird mashup of "Trainspotting" and a failed Eminem-wannabe white "rapper", and at times Mike Skinner's (and several other collaborators') absolute lack of rapping/hip-hop skill is maddeningly distracting and unpleasant, but some tracks are thankfully trending towards music (like the pairing of "Blinded by the lights" and "Wouldn't have it any other way", as well as "Dry your eyes"), which helps redeem it some. And despite all the failings and weirdness, it's easy to get caught up with the storyline and find yourself hoping that Skinner's character can find a way to beat the odds and rescue his lost £1,000 as well as his direction in life (in other words, the happier ending in "Empty cans"). (And in case you find your mind wandering mid-script, the Wikipedia entry has a great (and concise) breakdown of the main plot points in each track.)
it felt more spoken word than music to me but I enjoyed hearing the rants, knowing too that I don't think I'll listen again
Nýbúið að announca the streets á Airwaves 26' Ég fílaði þessa plötu mjög vel þegar hún kom fyrst. Hrátt og ljótt, en hann er með skemmtilegar pælingar og propa breskur geezer. Dry your eyes er fallegt lag. Eldist ekki alveg eins vel og ég hélt.
I get why most people hate this, but I think it's relatively cool. Great production. 3.5/5
🙂 I enjoyed it, good storytelling-I’ll never listen to it again
Lots of the songs on their own aren't good but they're a fun listen and I like the concept of the album. Should've gone with Original Pirate Material, a vastly superior album
Tässon kyl flowt viety vähän uusiin sfääreihin. Ei siinä, sopii kai tämmöseen katubrittijurtaanin tykittelyyn. Osa biiseistä ei lähe kyl yhtään ja jää vaisuiks sekä jutuilta että taustoilta. Sit taas varsinkin loppua kohden löytyy hyvää menoo ja fit but you know it on vähän kun parklife revisited. Kiitämme ja paheksumme tutulla arvosanalla.
esto no puede ser real. Not addiceted mejoró. interesante, me gustó´JAJJA. Het out of my house me encanta como hablan (son británicos) jajaja, el man ya la embarro. Ya mk
I think if you're wanging on about flow you are kind of missing the point with The Streets. Not that I love this album. Fit But You Know It - perish the thought a young woman have self esteem :D But the ordinariness of it all is kind of engaging and I like how basic the production is but sometimes with rhythms that aren't obvious.
back to poorly aged turn of the millinum albums that are only popular for a certain time period. but were still gonna listan anyway!
Still not certain they're not a joke. Really bad at some points, then occasionally moments of brilliance?
This is a unique album, and perhaps the most British sounding hip hop record. Seemed more like someone telling me a story backed by music than actual rap, but it kinda grew on me. Highlights: "Blinded by the Lights" and "Empty Cans"
I’ve always loved The Streets, they’re one of the defining sounds of my youth. When A Grand Don’t Come for Free came up today, I even had to check whether I’d already had Original Pirate Material in the last 800+ albums… surprisingly, I haven’t. It must be coming soon. This is a really solid album, but for me it still sits just behind Original Pirate Material. I was surprised to see how many low ratings it gets. Maybe it’s because it’s so British and so rooted in a very specific time and place. For me, that’s exactly what makes it work. The beats are catchy, the storytelling is sharp, and the whole thing plays out like a proper narrative. It captures everyday life in a very South London way, which gives it a lot of charm and authenticity. It might not be for everyone, but I think there’s a lot to enjoy here. Favourite tracks: Fit But You Know It has always been a favourite. Blinded by the Lights and Dry Your Eyes are proper standout moments as well. Least favourite tracks: What Is He Thinking? and Such a Twat don’t really land for me and feel like weaker points on the album. Album artwork: Love the cover, it fits the tone of the album perfectly.
Not the best rapper but a entertaining “concept” album
3.5/5 - while I dont love the rap style it was an enjoyable listen that if I were to find on rotation more frequently I would deepen my enjoyment of the album
This feels like how we ended up with Ren emanating 20 years later. It's engaging in spots but the rapping lacks diversity and the mix is a bit puny sounding. It's experimental for the time. It isn't hard road man drill stuff. It isn't like anything else at the time. Points for the effort but it wasn't for me.
Overrated. Dry your eyes is a great though.
Hadn't previously heard much from these guys other than 'Could Well Be In' and 'Dry Your Eyes', which I liked. After listening, I also liked 'Empty Cans' and those three songs would've been a tight EP, but "Oliver Twist spoken word over 00's beats" couldn't really carry a whole album.
Aggressively British. I learned a few things from this album: Simone is a slag, Dan can get proper fucked, and Mike is misfortunate. Is it good music? No. Is it entertaining? Yea somewhat. It’s kind of less rap and more a really British guy telling a story. 6/10
“Fit but you know it” is an iconic song that brings back so much nostalgia for me. However, I find the rest of the album a bit slow. It’s kind of funny story telling but couldn’t keep me super engaged.
I love the storytelling in this, but absolutely hate the flow. I blame growing up in Atlanta for that. Still worth listening to.
I see why this is well liked, personally not for me.
While it grew on me over the length of the album, the flows were still hella rough a lot of the time and the productions is very dated even for back then
Very British. Too British. Kinda a vibe… sometimes… ended really well. 3
When I saw this described as a rap opera, I was skeptical. But ended up enjoying it more than expected!
I had heard this when it came out and enjoyed revisiting it. I have a soft spot for English "white trash" music, and this was on the early side of that genre dipping into rap. I would probably go to 4 stars for their previous album Original Pirate Material for sheer brashness. This album is more considered and purposeful but I think loses some verve.
It alright, but not really compelling to revisit.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: the opening track is… rough. It feels like two completely unrelated ideas awkwardly glued together, like someone decided to multitask in the worst possible way, half vibing, half doing something they definitely shouldn’t be doing while music is playing. It’s jarring, confusing, and not exactly a great first impression. Thankfully, things pick up after that questionable start. The rest of the album settles into a more coherent groove, leaning heavily on storytelling. The lyrics are the real highlight here, engaging, often witty, and structured almost like a spoken-word poem laid over a laid-back rap backdrop. It’s less about traditional musicality and more about narrative flow, which works surprisingly well. That said, it doesn’t exactly break new ground. The themes feel familiar, and while they’re handled with charm, you won’t find anything radically original here. Still, it’s an enjoyable listen once you get past the rocky introduction. 6/10
Favorite Track: Fit But You Know It
Funny
I like The Streets in moderation, I like a decent amount of the tracks but listening to it in full the style can be a bit much. I think I like the concept of this album as a 'rap opera' more than the actual execution of it. Very interesting album that's definitely deserving of being included here though. Fit But You Know It and Dry Your Eyes are still British classics.
I do really like this but to have this and not Original Pirate Material in this list is criminal… the story telling is great though
Good.
I didn’t expect to like this more than I did for UK hip hop.
Yeah this is a weird one. Very take it or leave it
Not my thing but very interesting. I like the story aspect.
Is this a joke? This is like the progenitor of Kyle Mooney’s album The Real Me. And yet, it worked for me.
3.5 It’s not as good as the debut by far as the big songs are great but the rest are significantly weaker unfortunately but this still brings back memories from my younger days in London.
I like the delivery. I feel like the music's kinda lacking at times. I know it's that early '00 Grime style which can be more minimal or sparse, but I dunno. It's cool tho, like I like it.
That's not my taste in music - But ok
Hip hop British
Það kemur mér svolítið á óvart hvað þessi fær lága einkunn að meðaltali. Engin gargandi snilld og ekki tónlist sem ég er sérstaklega hrifinn af, en mér fannst þetta alveg fínt.
I like the lead singer’s accent, but he seems like a wanker. These songs are pretty rude.
This album is somehow very good and very bad at the same time. Things I like: Blinded by the Lights instrumental, the album story arc of losing and (spoiler alert) finding his 1k and the relationship breakdown, the heartstring tugging of Dry Your Eyes. Things I don't like: most of the other instrumentals particularly Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way, basically everything about Get Out of My House, basically everything about Not Addicted. Things I probably shouldn't like but kinda do: Fit But You Know It - its so damn stupid and obnoxious but its such an earworm. With this much good and bad lets just call it a 3/5.
I liked this more when it came out than I do now, I think. I would have put Original Pirate Material on the list over this. Still, there are bits that work. Really well; I like Blinded by the Lights.
It was alright. Opening track is a banger. In general though, not my bag
It was a grower. Started a bit rough but by the end I enjoyed the journey.
Wow. British ACCENT. Interesting experience. I liked the melodies. I didn't find the rhyming tiring. Either way, a neutral thing for me. 3 stars.
Good album! I like the streets but haven't heard them in forever!
Funny, great tracks on it but also some I didn't like the beats.
First track I thought "oh this is gonna be bad" but the more I listened, I was getting into it. I liked the story line of the album. A bit of Ian Drury vibes but the beats were painful. Favorite track: Fit but You Know It.
I mean the whole story throughout the album thing is cool but his voice is yuck. Also he's only on here cause he's British.
Good idea for an album, execution sometimes good, acomplishing what I think was intended, but sometimes flawed. At times akward rapping with akward flow, there are better albums with english rap other than this one. I think it gets better as you listen to it, maybe because you become accostumed to the song or perhaps because it starts in a low with the starting track "It Was Supposed to Be so Easy". Favourites: "Wouldn't have it any other way", "Fit but you know it", "Dry Your Eyes"
I respect this more than I like it. It should be be considered more like an audio drama than a musical piece, because he can't sing at all, and from this, I'm not sure he can rap either. The songwriting and lyrics are all excellent however. And it's so british I can't give it any less than a 3.
The tricky second album... here the follow-up to Original Pirate Material. Well-received and well-deserved; some smart rhymes even though they're delivered in Mike's usual doggerel style. Stand out is Fit But You Know It - we all know someone like that, man or woman. The whole thing's worth a listen for sure.
Ok
Hadn't heard this for a while. Lyrics are still great and pull you through the album. Music not so much to my taste though.
I might have to give this another listen someday. The lyrics are good, but I'm not sure about his delivery.
Decent. Not the biggest fan of UK rap.
Oh wow. This has to be the biggest comeback from a dire impression I’ve ever experienced over the course of an album. I was ready to hate-listen after the first song, but found myself almost completely won over by the end. There’s a lot of humor in here that will reward re-listens. This is like the hip-hop equivalent of Jonathan Richman or Jens Lekman. There’s a self-aware naïveté or earnestness that I just find really funny and endearing. Songs added to the playlist: None
pretty standard
Good memories…
Thought it was going to be a 2..
Like a time capsule of what it was like to be a young geezer in the early 21st century living in a British city..…
Anglo-Saxon gangster rape. I found it fun and unique.
really tough one. overall didn't enjoy myself too much listening, but i see something in there. without a doubt special, but maybe not the good kind.
Decent Br*t*sh rap. I like Original Pirate Material by these guys better
Kind of like Stockholm syndrome.
I don't know if it is shit or genius. What a weird album. It kind of works over the course of a full album. Blinded by the lights was a good song. His flow is really weird, it could be 1 or 5 stars, so 3 it is
first time I heard The Streets in Life is Strange 2, with “on the flip of a coin” song. They stole my heart then. I’m not so convinced to this album tbh, but sounds freshy and worth listening if you love Brits accent haha. Whole album is just yapping with music in background lol
I feel like I just listened to an episode of Love Island UK. What to say about this...it's pretty juvenile in its story writing. Dude loses 1000 quid and has a broken tv, gets a girl he fancies who happens to have a functioning tv, wonders if he really wants to watch tv with girl, maybe he fancies his mates and their tv more, but maybe he fancies girl more, but he cheats on girl anyway, realizes he shouldn't have cheated on girl, it's too late, he loses girl, he copes with the loss, and for the grand finale...he has an epiphany about taking care of his own shit after a friend fixes his tv and in turn, finds his 1000 quid. Much like Love Island, I didn't feel terribly invested in his romantic escapades because he sounded like kind of an idiot, and she can clearly do better. I felt slightly more invested in where this money went, so I was pleased that story line wrapped up neatly. And until the epic repair, I didn't realize the television would be such a centering element of our hero's journey. Another full circle moment in our tale of tragedy, acceptance and growth. In conclusion, the album was rather dumb, but his accent is charming to listen to, and some of the songs were pretty catchy. And this is certainly out of the ordinary. While I'd never listen to this again, it cracked me up enough to earn a 3 (just barely).
Interesting story, would be easier to follow if the poor quality of music wasn’t so distracting
I don’t mind this album but it’s more a dip in dip out than a full listen! After a while his voice and cod philosophysing gets a bit tiresome.
I have always enjoyed Dry Your Eyes. The rest...wasn't awful, but wasn't great either. A little too talky.
C’est cool d’écouter un album de rap à l’extérieur du genre gangsta rap qui prédomine aux États-Unis. On est ailleurs et c’est très rafraîchissant.
Sound is a bit flat, mate; however the hilarious and poignant narratives do get by on their own momentum.
While I don't think I would listen to this again, I have to give props to the storytelling.
Mesmerizing voice, lyricism
I realize it intentionally sounds very amateurish, but the bad singing chorus’ are grating more often than not. The story telling is pretty good though, I didn’t expect the entire album to tie together and it kept my interest all the way through.
I really enjoyed this at the time for its catchiness and for putting whatever that accent is called front and center. It also had a massive impact on the scene - and it's the album where Skinner got the balance between catchy tunes and his spoken word delivery and storytelling just right. Lad-culture was a big thing at the time and this sort of came from that but really disected how shitty ladness (is that a word?) really is/was. Having said all that, the more removed I am from that point in time and that age in my life, the less I am able to connect with it.
- Enkele dikke platen, enkele echte zaag nummers - 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 1 nummer al toegevoegd aan MMMM
Not bad.
Chav rap. Much more tolerable than gangster rap.
If Love Island was rapped? This is crazy.
2.7ish?
Thoughts before listening: This guy is always interesting. British rapper with a very cockney accent and lazy, slurred conversational delivery. I like it fine. Review: Not much else to say here. I understand why this is getting a bunch of negative reviews, but I enjoy it. Despite his unconventional approach, there are hooks here in these songs. I haven't listened to this in a long time, so its been nice to refresh my memory. This is a 3-star album.
Heard some of this album over the ages but been more drawn to his debut LP. Love the man's simple melodic, repetitive beats. "Dry Your Eyes" might be the standout. I like when guitar is in the mix on this album. Not surprised that folks participating in this absolutely hate the Streets. Easy 3.5 for me and Original Pirate Material would be a 4.
Interesting style, mixing London accented "chat" with smooth vocals & classic instrumentals with beats
Do you remember how completely original and fresh this album from The Streets felt in 2004? Mike Skinner wasn’t rapping like anyone else. He was just talking, storytelling in his everyday Brummie accent, and that made it sound even cooler. It was like eavesdropping on a night out in the UK and it kept getting funnier the more it spiraled. And of course, Fit But You Know It was an instant classic. It was rowdy, cheeky, catchy as hell. But the whole of A Grand Don’t Come for Free worked as one big story, a concept album about losing a thousand bucks, chasing love, and trying to sort your life out. The beats were sparse, almost barebones at times. It was grime, garage, hip-hop, kitchen-sink drama, and soap opera all rolled into one. And for a minute there, The Streets felt like the most original voice in music. He didn't quite launch the way some of us expected or hoped, but he sure made of helluva legacy with this one.
Okay, this album is VERY funny to me, but the execution as music is not as there as I'd like. In that way this kind of reminds me of how I thought of The Slim Shady LP; funny, not bad, but nothing I'd want to listen to more often.
Cooles, interessantes Konzeptalbum auf britisch. Hat mir gefallen, trotz der Musikrichtung. Die einzelnen Tracks sind an sich von der Idee fett, allerdings dann doch immer ziemlich repetitiv.
very good album
Is Original Pirate Material on this list too? I enjoyed that one much more.
Right there with you
3,9 väldigt ojämn skiva, kan inte ge 4.
Youth, and angst, and banality bumping up against life.
Classic. Instantly recognizable hip hop. Easy listen.
Ganz cool
Good but not as good as Original Pirate Material
Need to finish listening. Honestly, really fascinating. As a piece of music, I do not find this pleasant to listen to. But I love the lyrics and this hyper local, small stakes storytelling. Slice of life rap. It's kinda incredible.
very interesting, I feel like its more comedy or concept over the music actually sounding great, which sort of shocked me at the start, but you get used to it and its actually very interesting. The story is quite a loose tie of the songs, but it feels like each song relates to the story, but really specifically. I guess this dude was ahead of his time with rap concept songs, as the one where they are arguing is just the same as for free or we cry together by Kendrick, but I highly doubt he was inspired by this. Quite a lot of the lyrics are really funny, and I hope that's intentionally. The singing is quite bad, but I really think that's on purpose, as it seems to me that he's trying to write this from a totally normal British person's perspective. Favourite songs: all I guess, but dry your eyes is really good, I love the string part. Overall around 6/10
ok british english slays
I have interesting feelings about this. Firstly, I don't really like the music; it seems very primitive for the genre. I'm also not keen on the artist's voice or sense of rhythm. However, I'm genuinely interested to hear how the album ends – it's rare to come across something so cohesive and complete.
I can’t tell if I like this or not. It’s original and all, but I am not sure there would be a time where I say “I need to listen to this”…but at the same time, I enjoy listening to it. Weird
I remember when this became a thing. He changed the rap game - at least in the UK, totally different style and cadence, very relatable and often funny blue collar British. A whole album of him hmmm. Mad props he plays like 8 instruments but after 3 tracks I felt like, 'Dude, shut it.' On a separate note, Stu, your reviews are awesooome I enjoy them so m uch : ) I lol every time you mention Pretzel Logic/Steely Dan
I’m not sure what I think. It felt amateur. But by the end I was getting into it a bit. Dry Your Eyes…that one had me cracking up. It’s all got a Lily Allen vibe, no? Adding a star for catching my attention 300 albums into this project.
Some of the tracks are repetitive and annoying, but the rhythms are generally decent. The first track is particularly grating, “Dry Your Eyes” is corny rubbish and the closer is meh. “Fit But You Know It” and “Could Well Be In” are fun, but despite these highlights, it’s difficult to rate this album too highly.
This is like a strange modern version of trapped in the closest, but it kind of works. I feel weird saying this but I kind of like this. It's better than I thought at first and I gave it a second listen and enjoyed it. This isn't masterful but it does take you into a world and does it in a style that's unique. This is a strong three or weak four.
Back in the day I stumbled on to the track Blinded by the Lights and it just did something to my brain. I would listen to it every now and then. It just paints that picture of obnoxious wasted nights in the club early 2000s well. I had never looked up more. This style does work better in small doses. Very much like the script of an indie English film of the late 1990s early 2000s. It is awkward and I like that it exists as a concept, but it isn't a strong album.
This one is not as good as Original Pirate Material. There are a couple decent tracks but not a great collection.
Endearing if juvenile
This is greater than the sum of its parts. A lot of the tracks are a bit rubbish but tell a cohesive story making them all essential parts of the album. Highlights are Fit But You Know It, Cry Your Eyes Out, and Empty Cans (which is a great finishing track).
Eh. I liked Original Pirate Material when I heard it but Skinner takes a certain mood to enjoy as is and the songs on here just don't really seem as if they'd scratch that itch. And for as simple as the concept is it feels tricky to follow the narrative. You could do far worse though, the production is generally solid and there are a few gems: the title track, Blinded by the Lights and Empty Cans.
5/10 I have no real prior relationship with this album, having only listened to the odd track or two here and there in the past, so no nostalgia hit for me. I think my key issue with this album is that my primary focus on music is the music itself, whether that be tonal or rhythmical elements. Lyrics are always a secondary factor and the music here is just not very interesting most of the time, often just a two bar sample or synth line repeated for the whole track. Also, there are occasions (not loads, but enough) when Mike Skinners delivery just seems not that good either. He’s obviously written something that was narratively important to him, and had to sort of cram it into the space with rhythm being a secondary consideration, so it jars. Those assessments aside, there are some highlights to this. The last two tracks are great, and the general vibe of the album very clearly summons up clear characters, environments and a real space in time. It also feels like a very realistic portrayal of a lived experience and I do appreciate that narrative flow that exists through the album. I’m a sucker for a concept album, so that helps tick it up a little in my consideration, but I probably won’t be hurrying back to this one. Twice was enough. It Was Supposed to Be so Easy - Not the most auspicious start to an album. Mike Skinner is no singer. The sample used for almost the full duration is quite annoying and very oddly edited. Not very interesting either. Could Well Be In - This is much better. He backs up his singing with some backing vocals that help ground it a little. The music is pretty samey throughout, but this is more about the narrative really. A much more pleasant listen though and very much establishes its place in working class Britain at the turn of the century. Not Addicted - The singing here is a bit annoying again. The verses are decent, but the chorus rubs me the wrong way. And there are bits when the lyrics just don’t fit with the rhythm, so doesn’t scan well at all and sound forced, which is pretty criminal for rap based music. Blinded by the Lights - Better again. It’s obviously pretty repetitive, but focusing on the narrative, it really works. When he leaves the melodic elements to another vocalist, it is so much for the better. Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way - Another one where the singing is better, but I feel it may have been better with a more legato delivery. The whole thing is pretty relentlessly juddery. It does reflect the indecisively jittery nature of the lyrics though, so I guess it makes sense. Get Out of My House - This one is just a bit annoying. A return to a bit of Mike Skinner singing on his own, which is so weak. The melodic content is relentless. Fit but You Know It - Back to something a bit better. Again, it’s not musically interesting, but at least there’s a bit of variation between sections. Such a Twat - Another two bar sample that provides almost the whole musical content of the track. It’s just not very interesting. What Is He Thinking? - Here we go. Another two bar sample. The lyrical cadence here is often very irritating too. As with other tracks, this moves the narrative along, but musically it’s repetitive and pretty uninteresting. Dry Your Eyes - Best track on the album by quite a long way. Musically, it’s got a bit more variety to it and it’s also subtle enough that the vocal really takes the lead and the narrative is centre stage in a way it’s not on many other tracks. It’s his strongest singing performance too and the limitations of his voice actually really work with the tone of the song. Empty Cans - I really like the ambience that this one builds. It’s dark and brooding and the tonal content sits back in the mix to leave the vocals more prominent. The synth that echoes the vocal line in the chorus is just annoying though. I fell like he should have chosen an ending though, rather than taking the cowards way out and including two endings. The second version is by far the better. If he’d have blended the two with things starting off badly and getting better it would have been very satisfying both narratively and musically.
As someone living in the UK I neither get it nor understand it. It does sound decent though and it didn't bore me to death. Dry your eyes is a good song and I remember hearing it when it first came out. So it gets a solid 3.
Está bien, buenos rapeos que de pronto se tornan en canciones excesivamente azotadas por el amor, pero tiene su ondita. No creo que volvier a escucharlo pero me la pasé bien.
Not the best on here by a long distance, however, it has a solid FIFA tune on it and that deserves recognition and an extra star.
I enjoy the narrative and the beats are pleasant if a bit unexciting. His very strong British accent makes it a bit hard to take the darker elements seriously a bit though not gonna lie.
Hard to think that this is a great album
Great album
Yeah, go on. Better not be any other Streets albums in this book though. Honestly can't believe the hate this is getting. Website needs more chavs. The Streets hit hard on NZ - both this and the previous album. 4.5 million chavs.