Let's talk about the new Streets album A GRAND DON'T COME FOR FREE.

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It's finally out today so I thought maybe we should have a separate thread about it. Have you bought YOUR copy yet???

"Album of the 21st century so far" says I. You?

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Monday, 10 May 2004 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

we'll miss you, "you're fit and you know you are"

― mark p (Mark P), Monday, 10 May 2004 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Put "Soaked By the Ale" in between "I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way" and "Get Out of My House," and replace the album version of "Fit But You Know It" with that one b-side version of it and you have the GREATEST ALBUM EVER.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Monday, 10 May 2004 18:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Now that the album's been released, can I finally start raving about how incredibly awesome the story is? Please?

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Monday, 10 May 2004 18:43 (twenty-one years ago)

yes

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Monday, 10 May 2004 19:33 (twenty-one years ago)

was the other thread not good enough?

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 10 May 2004 20:05 (twenty-one years ago)

it was pretty long. what the hell is 'Soaked By The Ale'?

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 10 May 2004 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

It's the one about Mike sticking ice-cream down his pants.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 10 May 2004 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I was loving the new album like everyone else until I relistened to OPM last night. I like the idea of the narrative and the complete painting of the story, but DAMN did I just want some good songs. Not that it doesn't have any, but it doesn't have as many.

Still a classic in my eyes, though.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Monday, 10 May 2004 20:23 (twenty-one years ago)

yeh i'm inclined to agree roxy, the story's impressive an' all and it's funny shit but the tunes aren't quite strong enough for me i think

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 10 May 2004 20:54 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah i think it will probably still be my fave album of this year, but i can't actually see my listening to it maybe more than 10 or 15 from now til december.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

what the hell is 'Soaked By The Ale'?

A "Fit But You Know It" B-Side. Mike steals 3 euros-worth of ice cream, and that's apparently why he's so angry with himself in "Such a Twat" ("Why'd I have to go and do a stupid thing like that?"). It should've been on the album!

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:29 (twenty-one years ago)

after i've had a few beers robbing ice cream is the last thing on my mind. but i guess if you need to cool yourself down.

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 06:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I like this album a lot. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get sick of it real quick though, esp. with all the critical fawning. I mean, there are like 3-4 tracks I skip on every listen.

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:34 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/streets/agranddontcomeforfree/

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:38 (twenty-one years ago)

89 = critical fawning.

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:40 (twenty-one years ago)

wtf is Blender and why are they letting Dorian handle The Streets?

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:42 (twenty-one years ago)

please please please can we not start the endless "I don't get the critical fawning" comments.

it's been 2 years in a row already with Original Pirate Material and then Boy In Da Corner.

PLEASE, PLEASE, I'm actually begging.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Either way, your iPod’s random-play function will not be required.

DOWNLOAD THESE “Blinded by the Light,” “Fit but You Know It,” “Dry Your Eyes”

I mean, this nearly made me fall off my chair?! wtf

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:42 (twenty-one years ago)

it's a great album, extremely melodic, minimalistic and very brave. skinner does the right thing: he embraces the grime sound but doesn't try to be a white dizzee. luv it.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't hear the grime at all!

Ronan, if it continues to disturb me after all this time i will mention it.

Is it the influence of British pop crit, or is it the influence of dance critics jumping on board a "hip-hop" release? Who cares. All I know is its an album I like a lot that I want to hate because it gets all this acclaim over albums I feel are much much more deserving.

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I think it's because people really fucking love this album!

Jesus Christ it IS going to start all over again. Why does this happen with UK garage crossover?????

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Perhaps you can explain yrself to me then, why this album is so fucking amazing. I like it a lot but I fail to see how this is anywhere near the accomplishment Dizzee's album was.

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I mean, w/ Dizzee it was like "wow...this sounds like nothing I've heard before." With the streets its like "Hmm, this is a pretty good, fairly original take on some hip music."

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:50 (twenty-one years ago)

"...with 3-4 weak tracks."

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:50 (twenty-one years ago)

like what?

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:52 (twenty-one years ago)

It's the way it sits together as a cohesive piece - Skinner's made dance music rockist. Plus it makes me want to bawl my eyes out; there's an emotional clout that Dizzee didn't quite have for me at least. Plus critics in general can relate better to Skinner than Dizzee, maybe.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Nick, I see what you mean re: emotional clout (and I agree, I think - that's a large part of why I like it). I just don't see whats so revelatory about it. Nor do I understand how you can get past tracks like "What is he thinking" which is musically the most boring thing evah.

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Sick????

Surely sitting together as a piece is the central premise of dance music!

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Again, I point back towards the cohesive whole thing; tracks like "Such A Twat", "What Is He Thinking" couldn't exist without the narrative - they're not songs, they're plot devices, and that's why they 'work'. I am worried that this record wont sustain over time still, but right now I think it's remarkable.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, obv. Ronan you're right, but that's as a set, sitting together musically, the rise and fall of the tempo & intensity and so on; this is a whole different thing, it's conceptual rather than musical. How many dance derived albums have sought to rely SO MUCH on being listened to all at once? Only a few that I can think of, and even those were composed by and large of songs that worked away from the context, wheras this, as I just said, has some tracks that really don't work if you take them on their own.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm sorta talking out my ass at this pt. cuz I haven't listened to the album more than 3 times but I do have to say there were a couple tracks that stuck out to me as fairly sub-par which is why an ave. critic rating of 89 i find quite confounding.

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Also Matos, wtf time is it in your part of the world? Why are you not in bed?

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:02 (twenty-one years ago)

otm, this album is about the story and characters, the music is often very pleasant and good but it's not like Boy In Da Corner in terms of wow factor and actual sonic showboating which blows you away.

Mind you there's alot of clever production, Blinded By The Lights is ace. I think there are definitely 3-4 tracks which are plot device type tracks, and they are the more angry or brash ones, and then 3-4 emotional ones which are the big hitters in a way.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:02 (twenty-one years ago)

mind yr own fucking business Nick

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:03 (twenty-one years ago)

djdee; there are only 4 review there, remember - Metacritic wont publish the metascore in their list until they have at least 7.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:03 (twenty-one years ago)

(That told me.)

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:03 (twenty-one years ago)

haha. it actually isn't that late.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:03 (twenty-one years ago)

x-post no worries djdee sorry for the crankiness I just dread the thought of another 20 threads this year going "I don't get the A Grand Don't Come For Free hype, the beats are shit, he can't rap, and all you guys keep jizzing about it".

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:04 (twenty-one years ago)

never underestimate the power of Google, my friend

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree re: blinded by the lights

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:06 (twenty-one years ago)

it seems odd, why does it happen to the UK garage stuff, mainly.

I mean I've not seen other critical darlings get constantly dubbed "emperors new clohtes" etc, is it because the praise for the UK garage crossover artists is really detailed or strong? Or do people just hate British accents! Or is it just that it's like a ghettoised scene hitting peoples promo piles or radars.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:07 (twenty-one years ago)

that's a total tangent I'm going off on btw

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:09 (twenty-one years ago)

If I were to hazard a guess...

1. The British music press is really influential, so I think some people can't help but feel like a British artist is going to have an unfair advantage.

2. Some may feel that people in the press who champion the Streets didn't give the same daps to the people who influenced the Streets.

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:11 (twenty-one years ago)

"unfair advantage" meaning "undeserved advantage"

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Plus it makes me want to bawl my eyes out; there's an emotional clout that Dizzee didn't quite have for me at least.

See, this is what I don't get most. The critical acclaim is easier to understand, but nothing on AGDCFF moves me in the way that most of OPM did. I really find a lot of it overly sentimental actually, really trite and heavy-handed, and the use of vernacular doesn't help. Probably the opposite actually.

I thought this would grow on me loads by now, but it's growing off me, partly because there's no novelty with the story any more.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I see exactly what you mean, and a big part of me is saying "this is claptrap, this is really mawkish, this is really cynically targeted" but I still can't help it. I don't think I'm going to be finding it as affecting in two years time as I find stuff off OPM now though.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:05 (twenty-one years ago)

(on basis of one listen only)

Very good, but I didn't get that same feeling of "this is a classic" that I did with first play of OPM ... until the last two songs of course, which are utter brilliance.

Big question for me tho' is: will this stand up to repeated plays? (if that matters - I rarely cane any LP to death anyway, and especially not ones I rate very highly fo fear of getting bored with them). But relevant herew, because of the linking story. Yeah, I had a lump in my throat during "Dry Your Eyes" and at the end of "Empty Cans", but can't see that happening once familiarity sets in.

― Jeff W (zebedee), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:13 (twenty-one years ago)

"this is claptrap, this is really mawkish, this is really cynically targeted"

Oh I don't think it's cynical as such... it's just uncomfortably close to that hand-wringing drippiness of Coldplay (see: "Dry Your Eyes"). Very "look at ME!!! I am SENSITIVE!!!"

I think Diamanda Galás once said of a Trembling Blue Stars song "I just don't care about sensitive straight boys and their problems; just put a tampon on it." That's sort of what I feel here. It really distresses me that the same man who made OPM has now made something I can compare to Coldplay.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Lex, I can't see how "Dry Your Eyes" is any more upsetting in that direction than "Too Late".

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I see what you mean again, but there's just a level of attention to detail and observation that makes it ring much truer than the everyman-angst of Coldplay - this is about specifics rather than universals. Plus Skinner is always disrmingly upfront about his own shortcomings - he's very much NOT doing the "please go out with me I'm so nice and sensitive thing"; his flaws are wide open, he's an asshole, he's selfish, he doesn't think a lot of the time. It's the preachiness of the likes of Coldplay that rile me (which is now doubled that Martin has married Paltrow and they can spontaneously combust in the flames of self-righteousness), and Skinner isn't preachy.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Plus the chorus being sung by someone else - it's the intonation on the word "mate" that really gets me.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:35 (twenty-one years ago)

It can't be compared to Coldplay as such, because he's Mike Skinner! And he's Mike Skinner!

Don't you see. HE'S MIKE SKINNER!

MIKE SKINNER!

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:36 (twenty-one years ago)

SON OF FRANK!

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:37 (twenty-one years ago)

"It's Too Late" has ambiguity in it though, it's not at all self-pitying, and the female vocals give it some sort of edge. "Dry Your Eyes" has an acoustic guitar which sounds like "Yellow" and I hate the use of the word 'mate' in the chorus. (xpost!)

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, these are insensitive straight(ish) boys, aren't they?

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:37 (twenty-one years ago)

his flaws are wide open, he's an asshole, he's selfish, he doesn't think a lot of the time.

yes and he still whines that people are cunts to him. NO SHIT SHERLOCK.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't feel "Dry Your Eyes" comes across as being Coldplay-style sensitive at all - Skinner just split up with his girl and he's upset. He's just being honest - if he was being Martin-style sensitive he probably wouldn't sit round watching This Morning drinking Tennant's Super.

― clive (Clive), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:39 (twenty-one years ago)

It is a VERY straight record in many ways, aye.

x-post - Yeah, but that's only in one track and he spins that backwards and starts again because he knows he's being daft!

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I think, personally while I liked the idea of Mike Skinner alot on OPM I never loved the album. Then I saw him do a good live show here and was reminded that I liked the idea. And now at this point he seems to have become a kind of hero. Like, the climate was right and open for him to make the album that would make him a more universally appealing character, sort of a champion for everyone.

I think he's taken that chance without diluting his style really. In fact if anything, he's abandoned all convention in order to do this. Could you even say he attempts to rap, at any point on this record?

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:40 (twenty-one years ago)

yes but the WHOLE ALBUM is all 'oh whine whine low-level chronic angst', and the 'everyone's a cunt' version of "Empty Cans" is the natural conclusion. Then it rewinds and sort of outdoes itself in triteness.

(xpost I hate the 'everyman' thing which has attacxhed itself to Mike Skinner. He reminds me of people I know != he is an everyman character)

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Difference between OPM and Grand for me = OPM is an album about the self which was unintentionally universal. Grand = album which has universal intentions (he's too self-aware now!) but comes across as quite reductive.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:43 (twenty-one years ago)

"Dry Your Eyes" is quite a lot like "All That I Got Is You" by Ghostface, and even more like "Discovery" by Mr Hectic and significantly less sentimental and mawkish than either.

This is obvious but it's a very homosocial record, and how straight or otherwise that is, is debatable. What Dan does to Mike is probably worse than what Simone does.

I do wish there was more C-Mone on this record, because she's great. I also wish they'd got C-Mone's former Out Da Ville colleague Tempa in because she'd have scared the living wotsits out of Mike (in the narrative and out, most likely).

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:47 (twenty-one years ago)

But being and miserable and moaning about it does not necessarily make you sensitive! Boring, maybe.

I liked the rewind bit despite being aware (like Nick said upthread) of it being overblown and trite. "Be nice to people and they'll be nice to you" hardly a surprising or important conclusion but there's something naive about the rewinded part which gets to me.

(xpost obv)

― clive (Clive), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Grand = album which has universal intentions (he's too self-aware now!)
i didn't get that AT ALL with AGDCFF, and i'm usually quite sensitive to that sort of thing

― zebedee (zebedee), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I think The Lex has expressed the problem perfectly. That said, its 7-8 best songs are quite lovely, but merely by virtue of the fact that in throwing fewer punches (i.e. only 11 tracks) those three weak tracks (specifically It Was Supposed To Be So Easy, which is a total clunker) hurt it - OPM had more margin for error.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:51 (twenty-one years ago)

ronan and i were talking yesterday about how much the ending of "empty cans" is - from a "sociological perspective" - a total downer, not too far off from "every man for himself" style paranoia in its own way.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:54 (twenty-one years ago)

But AGDCFF is about life as much as about himself, OPM fits the mould of a hip-hop album more, it's about himself but it's not necessarily believable or real, not that that matters.

It's not that Mike Skinner reminds me of people I know, it's that Mike Skinner is laying bare a lifestyle which pretty much EVERYONE I (and I'm sure others) is living or has lived at some point.

There's a sense of cartoon about it and that's why he's sort of at the top of the pile, or he can scream "Don't you all like pills" at his gigs, but he's become the figure he is because I can't think of many others who cram so much actual real life detail into records, and this rings true even more on AGDCFF if you ask me.

He's too confined by rhythm and rapping on the first record to actually drop lines like the one about his jeans feeling funny at the end of AGDCFF.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:55 (twenty-one years ago)

it's that Mike Skinner is laying bare a lifestyle which pretty much EVERYONE I (and I'm sure others) is living or has lived at some point.

I know plenty of people for whom this lifestyle is pretty alien.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:01 (twenty-one years ago)

x-post with Jess, yeah I think what I said was that "Empty Cans" seems to go further than "be nice to people and they'll be nice to you".

If anything it's saying that you are on your own, it's Skinner realising that you have your friends and that's fine but ultimately you must look after yourself, and you don't deserve attention or more shoulders to cry on than anyone else, because everybody else has to look after themselves too.

And at the same time there's a beauty to that because it's our diversity and the sense that we're all unique which prevents us from getting along, from true unity. Loneliness is also independence, difference, invention. Problems need solutions.

We actually got to talking about "Empty Cans" after a discussion of the Mayday protests, and I said I thought it was kind of tragic but almost beautiful hearing these spokespersons terrified to nail their colours to the mast, politically, because there was no real political thread uniting the protestors, just a general sense that "something is wrong", and in a way there's all these people on the streets who are unhappy but aren't actually united at all.

If anything to me that's an illustration of the problems in the world, that for them to go away or dissipate and for us to exist together peacefully we must cease to be individuals, or in a perfect world what would the point of there being a "you" or a "me" be.

I think Empty Cans really goes to the core of so many human issues. It's a massive song.

x-post, oops there should be a "know" there somewhere N, "everyone I know".

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:04 (twenty-one years ago)

jesus I can't keep doing assignments/posting, these posts are all over the place! hope there's some element of clarity

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:05 (twenty-one years ago)

i just want to point out i don't think this album is better or worse than the first one - and if you can release a follow-up that manages to be neither better or worse than i consider that a real success.

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:05 (twenty-one years ago)

...and Skinner isn't preachy
Actually, at the end of both OPM and A Grand... I think he is preaching (despite his assertions to the contrary on "Stay Positive"), but that's not a criticism of either record. I like it in context. Which isn't the same as saying I agree with what he says. The "every man for himself" moral - and yes, that's exactly what he's saying - makes you stop and think. Exactly what a record should do.

Skinner intends to up the political (small p) content of his next records, apparently. We could all be Streets-hatas in 12 months time.

Nick otherwise OTM on this thread.

― Jeff W (zebedee), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:05 (twenty-one years ago)

will there be a b-side on 'Dry Your Eyes' called 'Hold It Down Spazza' in which Mike's mates all take the piss out of him for losing a grand down the back of a telly but it's alright cos he can laugh about it again now?

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:07 (twenty-one years ago)

But AGDCFF is about life as much as about himself, OPM fits the mould of a hip-hop album more, it's about himself but it's not necessarily believable or real, not that that matters.

This is my point! OPM flits between stuff which isn't believable or real and stuff which is, and so the stuff which IS real is magnified and - because it happens so unconsciously - is more affecting.

Whereas AGDCFF aims to be about life as much as about himself, but... it's too contrived, and N is right, that's not life for a lot of people.

(xposts)

Also - in OPM he's not trying to convey a sense of lifestyle so much, just details about life.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:07 (twenty-one years ago)

x-post, oops there should be a "know" there somewhere N, "everyone I know".

Yeah, I figured that. I was just saying that there are plenty of indiekids and regular straights who have no experience of the lifestyle Skinner depicts. I'm surprised you don't know any. It would be interesting to know if any of them would enjoy the Streets.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I do know some, I guess, maybe I've become ghettoised. (ahem)

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I've got very little experience of the lifestyle Skinner depicts. I don't think it decreases (or enhances due to misplaced romanticism etc) my ability to enjoy them at all. Even if the exact situations aren't the same to me, the emotions in something like Weak Become Heroes or Blinded By The Lights still ring at least somewhat true.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:13 (twenty-one years ago)

There's something very specific about those two tracks for me, but I can also see how anyone would get stuff out of them.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree, I mean I don't think it's essential at all to relate to stuff, as ever. I guess I just mean that I don't actually relate to pretty much anything I listen to except this. And maybe this is the case for others.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd initially interpreted the end of "Empty Cans" to be something along the lines of '*despite* everyone having to look out for themselves which is difficult enough, they still do look out for their friends' but perhaps I should go back and listen to it again (Ronan's interpretation makes more sense)

Skinner's lifestyle is alien to many people (me included) but it's the same emotions in different situations (at least partly). Plus many of his songs are funny - I don't think ppl would need to identify with them to enjoy them on this level. (although obv they'd "get" smth different from it)

(many xposts)

― clive (Clive), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:22 (twenty-one years ago)

just noticed this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/regulars/ontherecord/story/0,12255,1210210,00.html

thanks to martian's page http://www.djmartian.blogspot.com not sure if it's come up yet but worthy of some debate on the new thread nontheless.

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 13:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Caroline, no.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 13:30 (twenty-one years ago)

The very end of What Is He Thinking? is astonishing, that big portentous ending going into Dry Your Eyes - its garage-opera.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Sullivan's problem is more with the critics hyperbole than Skinner himself so I don't have a problem with her in this case - and I actually agree with her to an extent (first time I heard 'Fit But You Know It's chorus I was like 'uh....' but it is a grower - OMG GENIUS!)

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

On the basis of FBYKI, I might agree, but she's heard the whole album.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 13:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Its the overarching plot that makes this album... if this had come out in February it might have killed me.

This needs to be released on DVD, with a video for every song.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:05 (twenty-one years ago)

she is doing what all newspaper columnists do - filling space with half a thought padded out with poor justification. "I am irritated by this streets song" -> I will disagree with critical opinion. This is what makes newspaper columns such a waste of life.

― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:11 (twenty-one years ago)

But Petridish loved it of course, personally I'm too highbrow for this Mike Skinner chap.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

This needs to be released on DVD, with a video for every song.
not sure I agree. Remember the video for 'The Irony of It All'? A pointlessly literal acting out of the lyrics. Skinner sketches out so much detail in his songs, you don't need to be force fed any images.

― zebedee (zebedee), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Skinner spent his Birmingham adolescence not in a tower block but in a comfy house

A comfy house, ha ha. He had too many throw cushions to be genuinely working class.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:16 (twenty-one years ago)

blimey John Sutherland goes on a bit! http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,12102,1205857,00.html he really needed to fill up a page even more.

― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Well at least "Denim On Ice" gets a namecheck

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Re: Caroline

She seems somewhat confused about the class issues she does or does not have problems with. Mike Skinner despite his slightly less than humble upbringings is no 'middle-class guiltnik'. So she assesses his honesty? Well isn't that the point of and why we love the record? Its masterfully delivered narrative? We can easily dispense with the amount of fabrication in the record because it is story, urban opera, spoken word or whatever. But something grounded in urban reality.

How many authors throughout history have represented a class from which they do not belong? This album transcends class in many ways. If there is a mass consensus about its relative greatness in the media then that stems from its universal themes and just how genuinely affecting it is for many people. Oxbridge educated or not. I think Caroline is foolish to completely disregard the album context and seems to have more disregard for the streets than The Streets.

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:23 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, but THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS??!

― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:25 (twenty-one years ago)

re DVD - is it not vivid enough? isn't that why you associate it so closely with images, because you can see the songs being played out visually?

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Couldn't be bothered reading all of the Caroline Sullivan piece - but enough to know what Mike Skinner is not the "middle class guiltnik", it's you lot who are.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:32 (twenty-one years ago)

uh zeb, that 'Irony Of It All' video is FANTASTIC precisely because it's a literal translation to screen!

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:34 (twenty-one years ago)

"he lives in a house, very big house and it's comfy"

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:35 (twenty-one years ago)

thats what she said and what i reiterated. but she's saying that skinner is closer to us 'middle class guiltniks' that 'the streets' which is supposed to be 'representing'.

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Mike Skinner never professes to be working class. He professes to being a 'bit of a geez'. There is a difference. Whatever class he is in I would probably be in the same (working-middle overlap), not that it means shit.

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Hearing Get Out Of My House on daytime Radio 1 just now was pretty fucking fantastic.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:39 (twenty-one years ago)

The end of Empty Cans, where it all turns round and builds up from that bitter opening, is the most moving thing I've heard all year.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, it is better than OPM.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:40 (twenty-one years ago)

hang about! she think's that the GLC make merciless fun of skinner's so called 'life options'. you what? she fuckin' mental? we knows it.

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I still haven't really got into Empty Cans. It's funny. It's the one track where the contrivance seems to preclude repeat listenings for me.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:42 (twenty-one years ago)

ha ha, i still think of Greater London Council first when I read that

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Incidentally, whoever made the David Brent comparison with the 'femme fatale' section is a bastard! I can't get it out of my head.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:44 (twenty-one years ago)

that made me chuckle stevem

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:48 (twenty-one years ago)

i emailed femme fatale asking her if she has heard the record and what she thought of the reference. no reply yet.

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 14:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Contrary to what Sutherliand writes, OPM did not win the Mercury. This one's probably a shoe-in...

― JoB (JoB), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 15:19 (twenty-one years ago)

oh it must be better then. hmph.

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 15:21 (twenty-one years ago)

This sounds a wonderful album from a first listen. A step-up from the debut in that it doesn't have a superflous last track, and wow, the narrative is a brave conceit and well pulled off. Suggests how much more some artists ought to raise their game to create such 'novelistic' albums. :)

― Tom May (Tom May), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 15:22 (twenty-one years ago)

All things in moderation. God help us if pop music starts feeling the need to ape the novel to be worthwhile.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 15:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Tales From Pornographic Oceans

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't know that I'd call it "every man for himself" paranoia, though. If the final song represents two endings, I still consider the first to represent the kick in the head that he needed the entire album to realize what a fuck up he's been, both to his girlfriend (see track 5 for the explanation of their typical, comfortable and boring relationship) and to his friends re the money.
Considering everything that happens through the course of the album, it strikes me as more someone who knows they should have just buckled down and looked for the money, instead of immediately barking at their friends to figure out who is at fault. And I'm not sure that it's all every man for himself, cause the point with Scott and Dan is that Scott is just in the middle, and why should he sacrifice his friendship with Dan for Mike's sake. But the Mike in the album is a dick to everyone, not thinking about their motives, just feeling loads of self pity.
I'd say the second ending to Empty Cans is when he appears less paranoid, with a better perspective on the way things played out, and realizing he could have handled things far better than he did.

Having said all of this, I absolutely LOVE the album and the story.

― Jonathan (Jonathan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 16:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think it's as good as OPM and I don't think it will sustain as well (for me), either as a whole or as seperate songs.

I do think it's great / exceptional / marvellous etcetera in it's own right though.

I think the beat and the two different piano tracks make "Empty Cans" for me, and stop me having the same reservations about it as N does; the first part being foreboding and unavoidability, the second being a slowly unfurling sense of hope.

I think that maybe three or four tracks are, out of the context of the storyline, poor, or even very poor - "It Was Supposed To Be So Easy", "What Is He Thinking", "Such A Twat".

I think there are potentially quite a few singles though - "Not Addicted", "Dry Your Eyes", "Could Well Be In", "Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way". I think "Blinded By The Lights" is amazing, but not a single, likewise "Empty Cans".

I think his lyrics are good in the way that Mike Leigh scripts are good, which is a very different kind of good to the lyrics on OPM - fwiw I think i prefer the OPM take all in all, but there are certain bits of AGDCFF that are just astounding.

I think the more stripped production works very well in the context of what the album is, but I'm gutted that there's nothing really lush or banging or full. I listened to "Fit..." back to back with "Don't Mug Yourself" and "Fit..." sounded really weedy by comparison, likewise "Blinded By The Lights" and "Weak Become Heroes".

I hope this isn't the start of a narrative-album bandwagon.

I really want to hear what he's going to do next, and am slightly pissed that it's probably going to be two years until I do; the novelty of this almost makes it seem like a side-project. I hope he turns his gaze outwards slightly next, and also hits the dancefloor again.

I was waiting for someone (Caroline Sullivan is a perfect culprit) to decry Skinner for either being a class-tourist or else a misogynist. (I also think she's wrong re; it being the sound of vinyl spun backwards in "Empty Cans"; it sounds like a reel-to-reel tape to me, and the assertion that it must be vinyl posits it as a very masculine sound, all the connotations of audiophilia, collectorism, that anal 'record collector boy'/'comic store man' impotent, emotionally immature masculinity being a very cynical stick to shake at him - "silly little boys prefer records to women" etcetera etcetera).

I'm not sure it'll be a shoe-in for the Mercury - they can't have three ostensibly garage acts winning in a row, surely? Maybe Ivor Novello, given the narrative arc!

I don't live the lifestyle Skinner portrays at all, but there have been times when I almost have, and I've known plenty of other people who do.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I was just saying that there are plenty of indiekids and regular straights who have no experience of the lifestyle Skinner depicts... It would be interesting to know if any of them would enjoy the Streets.

haha *cough*.

ok, it's not strictly true that I have 'no experience of the lifestyle Skinner depicts', I suppose.

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 16:38 (twenty-one years ago)

That's no different to Emma's middle class 18-year old brother who lives in Dawlsish and has a magnificent sea view from his bedroom window being really into Mobb Deep, which he is.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 16:40 (twenty-one years ago)

with you all the way NIck (tho Skinner lifestyle really just = playing Playstation, doing e's at clubs, a few bevvies and a kebab fwiw)

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 16:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, that's all I meant, though the drugs bit is maybe kind of key.

I'm finding that if you get bored with re-hearing the story, it's quite easy to zone out of the threaded episodic lyrics and enjoy the music.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 16:47 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, I find that really easy since I never listen to lyrics anyway.

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 16:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Why is it The Streets cause excitement/polarization in everyone except for me?

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 17:53 (twenty-one years ago)

YOU ARE THE CHOSEN ONE

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 17:54 (twenty-one years ago)

THE ONE WHO WILL BRING BALANCE TO THE GEEZERSTHETICS

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 17:55 (twenty-one years ago)

that birthmark on your ass was the giveaway

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 17:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Why is it The Streets cause excitement/polarization in everyone except for me?

Sir, you're not alone (again).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 17:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Cuz yer Yanks.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 18:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes yes yes I know Jess & Matos and several thousand others disprove this.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 18:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Not disprove that you're American, obv.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 18:01 (twenty-one years ago)

DAMMIT I Wanted to be from Burkina Faso!

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 18:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Q sells a reader a pup (from Amazon):

Reviewer: col from Cumbria, UK
This is absolutely shocking. First off I need to say I haven't heard the first Streets album, so this review is aimed at those similarly unfamiliar with this band/person/travesty.
Put simply - this is some of the most annoying music I have ever heard in my life. After a great write-up in Q magazine I was intrigued enough to give it a listen. OMG - It's like Ali G trying to get in touch with his sensitive side. Everything from the inane lyrics delivered in a 'Staines massive' accent to the teeth grindingly repetitive drum-beats made me want to break things.
Maybe I just don't 'get' this type of music, and I'm certain this album wasn't aimed at people with my particular tastes. Nevertheless, if this is urban music I'm pleased I live in the country.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

a very big house in the countryyyyy

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 18:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought Burkina Faso was a kind of sexy Muslim dress?

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 18:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Cuz yer Yanks.
-- Sick Nouthall

Well, at least we've got Kid Rock.

― Mark (MarkR), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 18:26 (twenty-one years ago)

"This review is aimed at those similarly unfamiliar with this band/person/travesty" is still cracking me up.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 18:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I will admit that "Weak Become Heroes" and "Don't Mug Yourself" have stuck with me and I do like them, but other than that I can't even remember how the rest of the album went.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 18:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm afraid I haven't bought it.

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 18:34 (twenty-one years ago)

No need to be afraid.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 19:26 (twenty-one years ago)

am i the only one wondering if "i wouldn't have it any other way" isn't actually about mikey's girl?

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 19:39 (twenty-one years ago)

It's about ice cream.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 19:50 (twenty-one years ago)

oh.

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Just listened to it again. Unsurprisingly it's the faster, less sentimental songs which are holding up best - "Not Addicted", "Such A Twat" and "Get Out Of My House" especially (seriously, it's hard not to root for Simone at that point, the Skinner character is a fucking irritating narrator). "It Was Supposed To Be So Easy" is the worst way possible to start the album off because it is abysmal.

I think most of the songs have a few lines which I love, and a few which make me cringe.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd see no problem at all with artists doing narrative albums, if *done well*. Why should there be strict divides between literature and music, say?

"Blinded by the Lights" and "Dry Your Eyes" are possibly my favourites, along with the current single, but that's hardly the point with such an interlinked piece.

― Tom May (Tom May), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 20:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think books should all tell stories, either.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

The singing in 'Dry Your Eyes' reminds me a little of Robert Wyatt

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 20:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Grand = OPM - fun - beats - things i liked about OPM

I should probably listen a little more, maybe.

― Rollie Pemberton (Rollie Pemberton), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd be surprised if there wasn't something you could get out of it, Rollie.

Yes, Andrew, it is beautifully uncharaceristic singing, presumably from Skinner himself (?). Not far from Wyatt, perhaps; similarly plaintive and higher-register.

And Nick, exactly. :) Literature can have all sorts of uses, and even novels too. I don't see why, in the right hands, that application of literary modes into the sequence of an album would not work. Kate Bush's "Hounds of Love" is another that comes to mind with at least its second side forming at least oblique narrative.

― Tom May (Tom May), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 01:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Aite here's my verdict.

It is very, very good. I enjoy it a lot. Overall, it is a remarkable album. On a song-by-song basis, it doesn't stack up w/ OPM but its not meant to; its sort of like Skinner making this album OK for rockists, as someone else said, and that's not a bad thing.

My only criticisms...urm there are too many plot-forwarding tracks that are worth v. little musically. The cell-phone conversation song is so boring and unneccessary, like the musical equivelent of "...the story so far!" blah. And I still maintain that the last track is a tad too saccharine. But yeah, really good album...8/10.

By the way, what I really like about it is that he GETS hip-hop narrative (which is probably where the hip-hop influence comes in) in that he speaks about stuff as he would talk to a friend, converstaionally, rather than in the all-knowing narrator that other music utilizes.

bling bling!!!!1!!

― djdee2005, Wednesday, 12 May 2004 04:18 (twenty-one years ago)

'Could Be Well In' is better than anything on OPM... it just really captures something, and the piano loop is lovely.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 08:48 (twenty-one years ago)

you are insane

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 08:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Then again I never really saw what was so amazing about Weak Become Heroes or, especially, Let's Push Things Forward that puts them above anything on here. The production on Blinded By The Lights is spot-on, that big trancey whooosh and the more urgent house line that comes in just as the pill is meant to be kicking in...

I totally hear the grime influence, on the more jittery, less melodic tracks - Not Addicted, Such A Twat, Get Out Of My House in particular.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 08:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Also Blinded By The Lights is the nasty, unpleasant, introverted cousin to Weak Become Heroes, its not meant to recapture that lush feel, its meant to turn it inside out. Its the bit on which the story hinges as well - Mike's too out of it to really pay attention to the fact that Simone and Dan are copping off in the club.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 08:58 (twenty-one years ago)

"Could Well Be In" is the most beautiful song ever to feature a Brummie accent. Skinner=God.

I'm sorry, but he does.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 09:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I had the misfortune to tune into part of Front Row on Radio 4 yesterday evening. Cue down-with-the-kids David Hepworth to talk about the history of the concept album in ROCK.

Precis:
DH: Well this Streets chappie's new album dares to tell a story. It's the only rock opera which starts in Blockbuster and hinges around a cashpoint.
Plays: "So I failed on the DVD/Couldn't withdraw any money"
Quick fadeout
DH: That's all I can take of his delivery (cue interminable monologue about the dark side of tommy)

Remember, kids, this is what we're all up against.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 12 May 2004 09:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh good lord.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 09:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I can understand - a lot of otherwise sympathetic listeners are going to find the first track unlistenable. It's not the delivery, though.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:00 (twenty-one years ago)

no it is david hepworth and every other fortysomething sub-hornby executive drivetime plonker who imagines that the streets are ROCK!

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:10 (twenty-one years ago)

"So I failed on the DVD/Couldn't withdraw any money" - this is the line most in need of a packet of Lockets on the whole album.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:28 (twenty-one years ago)

it is the song most in need of the song which was originally going to precede it which explains why he needed to draw out 50 squid in addition to his thousand pounds of savings. although perhaps not. it's a great opener. the opening line reminds me of max bygraves.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm a little disappointed there's no copping off with Simone for the first time track in between Blinded By The Lights and Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way.

He needs all that money to fund the gambling habit he doesn't have, I'd assumed.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:43 (twenty-one years ago)

He never actually went out with Simone. He was just stalking her, which is why she's so angry on Get Out Of My House.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:44 (twenty-one years ago)

There's speaks the voice of an experienced stalker.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:45 (twenty-one years ago)

it was to buy a car at an auction - £1,050 - which is why he had to "get the savings and hurry." but the song explaining that was taken off the album.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:47 (twenty-one years ago)

all the missing bits of the story will be added back in during the spoken act bits of the stage show, and with B sides and that. the use of OPM tracks to add background colour to the stage show, and the opening "busy street" scene with a mash of the various highlight tunes is the really clever bit.

― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:48 (twenty-one years ago)

in my day we called that bit an "overture."

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought it was a scooter.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:51 (twenty-one years ago)

i'd like to hear scooter covering dry your eyes!

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:52 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not better than OPM, but I fucking love it now. It all clicked when I heard it late night, after trolling around downtown. Seriously, the way things are connected from song to song is really clever and in some cases, the songs work without the whole album. Surely, Mike went for concept over straight songs and it worked.

The beat on "I Was Supposed To Be So Easy" is hard as fuck.

And I think this record is best for it's lighter, sweeter, more ambient moments. "Empty Cans" could end up being one of my favorites of the year.

DJDee and Rollie = championing rap-esque arrangements 4ever

― Rollie Pemberton (Rollie Pemberton), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 20:09 (twenty-one years ago)

i'd like to hear scooter covering dry your eyes!

HOW MUCH IS THE FISH IN THE SEA?!

― JoB (JoB), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 22:03 (twenty-one years ago)

giles peterson has just said he doesn't feel the new streets album. i don't know what this means or why it's even important but he say's he's going to give it another week. maybe i'm subconsciously tracking the haters in the media. the fools.

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 23:14 (twenty-one years ago)

That's interesting because I was just thinking last night how the LP is almost entirely without Groove. That's not a criticism, but I suspect that a certain section of the Streets' audience - the Gilles Petersons of this world - will react badly.

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 13 May 2004 07:44 (twenty-one years ago)

my sneaking suspicion is that Gilles Peterson disliking it makes it even better than I thought

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Thursday, 13 May 2004 08:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree, although I decided the other day that I am pro-Peterson. I mean, bless him.

Nevertheless, if AGDCFF can alienate the London lip goatee jazzers, so much the better.

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 13 May 2004 08:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I didn't realise there were any lip goateed jazzers left in London. Aren't they on the IUCN red list?

Gilles looks more 'mobile DJ' to me these days:

http://www.montreuxjazz.com/NR/rdonlyres/ejnwj4iktpsc56fjdbbo67ls7yh76tpvikrkformtopoqkxumxape45fwt72zbbshkj5d3qb4nufvcaczh73dddwmsg/peterson_gilles028.jpg

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 13 May 2004 08:24 (twenty-one years ago)

They're still here, N.

IUCN?

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 13 May 2004 08:28 (twenty-one years ago)

isn't everyone looking more like a mobile DJ now, though? I mean, there really isn't any money left in it, at least as far as I can tell.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Thursday, 13 May 2004 08:28 (twenty-one years ago)

International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 13 May 2004 08:29 (twenty-one years ago)

saw the MCs version of 'Fit But You Know It' on CD:UK Hotshot last night, very cool - the female MCs come off best, Lady Sovereign esp. the skilful editing of the video really boosts their power tho when you see it.

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 13 May 2004 09:27 (twenty-one years ago)

"Could Well Be In" is so defeated but pragmatic, so fragile and resolute, fuck it, I've been up all night, pissed, playing it over and over, this record KILLS

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Friday, 14 May 2004 06:36 (twenty-one years ago)

strange (in a good way) to see how this record is filtering into the context of mainstream radio. caught a bit of ian camfield on xfm last night playing "get out of my house" and it occurred to me just how WEIRD this sounded in isolation. interestingly djs are reluctant to programme "empty cans" for fear it will give the plot twist away, which i suppose is a nice subtle inducement for actually buying the record (though i should have remembered to put a "this article contains spoilers" warning on my blog review).

― Marcello Carlin, Friday, 14 May 2004 07:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I WANT A LADY SOVEREIGN ALBUM NOW. WHERE CAN I BUY ONE OK PLS THX

― Dave M. (rotten03), Friday, 14 May 2004 07:20 (twenty-one years ago)

aaargh I still have not heard the MCs version of FBYKI and I can't find it on slsk!

Lady Sovereign album U&K.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 14 May 2004 10:50 (twenty-one years ago)

i share the mcfbyki alex. also a whole bunch of other lady sov stuff. just search for my slsk user name.

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Friday, 14 May 2004 10:58 (twenty-one years ago)

thanks! Not at home now so not on Slsk, but will be on later.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 14 May 2004 11:15 (twenty-one years ago)

After listening to this for a month or so, I'm now of the opinion that Mike Skinner should have thought "Nah, instead of a concept album, I'll put out a concept EP and put out a decent, proper album a couple of months afterwards".

If the tracklisting had been...

1. It Was Supposed To Be So Easy
2. Blinded By The Lights
3. Dry Your Eyes
4. What Is He Thinking?
5. Empty Cans

...it would have been so much better.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 11:04 (twenty-one years ago)

no way

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 11:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Three of those songs are directly responsible for the album being such a disappointment!

If you had to make a (non-concept) EP...

1. Fit But You Know It (MCs version)
2. Get Out Of My House
3. Such A Twat
4. What Is He Thinking?
5. Blinded By The Lights

Not much else worth salvaging. Oh god, "Dry Your Eyes" is going to be INESCAPABLE and it's so BAD.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 11:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I feel like I don't want to hear it so much now, but I wouldn't say it's bad.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 12:09 (twenty-one years ago)

STOP RUINING THE ALBUM FOR ME.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 12:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Shut up, poochy.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 12:12 (twenty-one years ago)

10/10

― Enrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 12:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Poochy?

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 12:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Poochy, yes. That's your new name.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I hate you.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:07 (twenty-one years ago)

is it too early to put money on DYE going to number one?

actually it'll probably be a two won't it?

so what theres a *video* for the lady mcs version of the song? be nice if that had been on the dvd version of the FBYKI single as opposed to a fan-fleecing 2 tracks for 3 pounds.

― piscesboy, Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Someone pasted a link to a web version of it at the end of the other thread - don't know it it still works. It was great.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:13 (twenty-one years ago)

they plkayed it on CD:UK Hotshots. my FBYKI promos arrived today and i too am disappointed to find the DVD lacking in content - it is a DVD for fucks sake

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:17 (twenty-one years ago)

You only just got sent the promo? Are you reviewing it for the Altai Republic or something?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:20 (twenty-one years ago)

anywhere hosting 'soaked in the ale' online?

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:23 (twenty-one years ago)

there is some crazy buzz harshing on this thread.

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:23 (twenty-one years ago)

yes.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:26 (twenty-one years ago)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA "Poochy"!!!!

Mike Skinner, ALL IS FORGIVEN

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll give you a copy of Soaked By The Ale tonight, if you like, cozen.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I will show you my bum in exchange.

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I meant 'could'.

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:33 (twenty-one years ago)

all i'm ready to say about this album right now is that the photography is really nice

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:36 (twenty-one years ago)

another v. good piece from scott:

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/s/streets/grand-dont-come-for-free.shtml

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 14:43 (twenty-one years ago)

the vinyl is so tempting.

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 14:46 (twenty-one years ago)

That Pitchfork review sounds too negative for a 9.1 score.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 21:12 (twenty-one years ago)

i have something which will make everyone hate mike skinner.

should i read the pitchfork review - i'm skeptical about it.

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 21:34 (twenty-one years ago)

i have something which will make everyone hate mike skinner.

Is it... THIS???

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 22:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I liked this review a lot: http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0420/matos.php

Makes me want to hear the thing.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 23:27 (twenty-one years ago)

pfork and vv in "boy meets girl" mindmeld shocka

― mark p (Mark P), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 01:55 (twenty-one years ago)

OH GOD I LOVE THIS

― .rob (rgeary), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 02:27 (twenty-one years ago)

ok ok sorry let me reboot. managed to avoid hearing anything but "fit but you know it" once or twice before today. loved original pirate material and would have happily listened to another randomized collection of skinner tracks, but this- holy hell. the storytelling aspect is such a great hook, i'll be listening to this long after the beats bore me just to follow through the story.

i'd love to see him put out a few anthemic singles just to keep up on that end, but still- "grand" is funny, sad, touching, what have ya. slick rick award to skinner for really telling a story and not letting it get in the way of a great set of music either.

― .rob (rgeary), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 02:30 (twenty-one years ago)

FINALLY got this. First listen = was great obv. I may hate "Dry Your Eyes" if it becomes a hit. Time will tell. "Such A Twat" is so obviously *not* about stealing ice cream; I can only assume he actually got with the girl in "Fit But You Know It". Favourite tracks on first listen: "Blinded By The Lights", "Get Out Of My House" and "What Is He Thinking". Oh yeah and "Empty Cans" of course but that feels different somehow.

I reckon "Get Out Of My House" should be a single - it might pull in the Eamon/Frankee crowd somewhat.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 21:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Hey, I was just listening to the Squeeze Singles, 45's and Under compilation and it occured to me that it could be super awesome if the Streets covered "Up the Junction." I don't know his albums--only heard a couple of tunes. Is this a good idea or not???!!!

― Tim Ellison, Thursday, 20 May 2004 00:52 (twenty-one years ago)

no, snrub what i have is far worse. a live recording of him covering teenage kicks with heavy audience participation.

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Thursday, 20 May 2004 01:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I WANT! I WANT!

I don't care HOW bad it is. My purpose in life is to listen to every Streets song ever.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Thursday, 20 May 2004 03:40 (twenty-one years ago)

can someone explain the title's meaning/reference to me? I'm curious to know, though I don't wanna actually hear the damn thing.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 20 May 2004 03:45 (twenty-one years ago)

the album's about he loses a thousand quid, hstencil

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Thursday, 20 May 2004 04:14 (twenty-one years ago)

ah okay. for some reason whenever I see this thread I think of "My Love Don't Cost a Thing."

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 20 May 2004 04:16 (twenty-one years ago)

june 25 - toronto @ the mod club (same place we got dizzee!)
june 26 - montreal @ club soda

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 20 May 2004 12:12 (twenty-one years ago)

seeing the streets play live strikes me as akin to watching a high school stage production of a popular film

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 20 May 2004 12:15 (twenty-one years ago)

myke boomnoise are you sure that's not Busted?

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 20 May 2004 12:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Streets were great live at Astoria last year, only time i've seen 'them' - big video screen showing 'The Irony Of It All' for the first time a huge plus

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 20 May 2004 12:18 (twenty-one years ago)

shit that was 2002. WHERE DID LAST YEAR GO??

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 20 May 2004 12:18 (twenty-one years ago)

actually i'd be kind of curious to see him this go round because i have no idea what he'd do, other than play the album straight through.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 20 May 2004 12:19 (twenty-one years ago)

jess you said smth similar about dizzee too!

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 20 May 2004 12:31 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah but i think my reasoning for dizzee was different

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 20 May 2004 12:32 (twenty-one years ago)

i've just been burned by live rap too many times

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 20 May 2004 12:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Friends of mine saw them at Barrowland last week and weren't very impressed - I think the sound was shit, though.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 20 May 2004 12:55 (twenty-one years ago)

They were good on both occasions I've seen them live (once was with Stevem if I'm not mistaken) but Skinner live is by far the worst thing about them in that setting - so from that point of view I can't really see the new material coming off that well.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 20 May 2004 14:07 (twenty-one years ago)

it wasn't me it was Ben from Hollyoaks

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 20 May 2004 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Skinner actually really impressed me with his on-stage presence

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 20 May 2004 14:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Seen them once and they were shit.

Second time they were ace. It needs a sunny day. Don't want to see them at night, or indoors, ever again.

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 20 May 2004 14:43 (twenty-one years ago)

i've listened to it 4 times all the way through. i'd like to do a close reading of it* (plot holes and all) then put it away for a few years so when i next break it out, as it jogs my memory, i'll sorta get a fraction of the impact the first few listens had on me

did the streets tour north america after OPM?

tim otm about 'what a twat' not being about ice cream, no matter what skinny boy or his b-sides say

* unfortunately as a yank i couldn't possibly do this justice

― common_person (common_person), Friday, 21 May 2004 18:25 (twenty-one years ago)

it might be busted. i hope it is. and i hope i haven't been suckered by an wrongly named mp3. i really do. but the guy sounds like skinner. maybe it's them together! oh god no.

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Friday, 21 May 2004 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Even my mom loves this album.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 21 May 2004 18:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I like that the story arc is particularly simple; one of the things about Mr. Lif's I, Phantom that initially turned me on but now seems kind of overblown is how it starts very personal and grows into a whole-Earth-encompassing apocalyptic thing. Skinner seems way more, not necessarily more sincere, but more easily expressive of his sincerity on Grand.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 21 May 2004 18:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I listened to this a few times today, and surprised myself by actually liking some of Skinner's lyrics, and his delivery. He's clever. But I *still* can't get past the actual music (particularly most of the hooks / choruses). Like that "wouldn't have it any other way" chorus is just C-grade bad r n b...or the "go get out of my house" thing...
I can appreciate that some of his beats are endearingly amateurish, and interesting for that reason, but how could you listen to them over and over? They have none of the meance or ryhthmic interest of, say, Dizzee beats (not that I particularly think the Streets are grime)

― paulhw (paulhw), Friday, 21 May 2004 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

you have to let go of your ideas about the music having to be 'interesting' or 'not shallow'. it serves as backdrop to the lyrics on which you should be focussing. this is another reason why i won't be listening to this album with much frequency

― common_person (common_person), Friday, 21 May 2004 19:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I think the music is really fucking great, I especially like the juxtaposition of the drama queen acoustic piano bits over the beats.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 21 May 2004 19:37 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't think skinner did anything wrong in coming up with these beats -- as you point out, they work quite well in context. but like paulhw, i would have trouble listening to them over and over without the narrative. any payload they have is pretty much delivered in the first listens.

― common_person (common_person), Friday, 21 May 2004 19:46 (twenty-one years ago)

erm, ok. well, i've been paid, and it was ok i guess. but owning this? what happens when you can anticipate the lyrics, and the beats are still uninteresting?

― paulhw (paulhw), Friday, 21 May 2004 20:04 (twenty-one years ago)

that's when you make and release your own album

haha just kidding PLS DONT EAT ME ILM

― common_person (common_person), Friday, 21 May 2004 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

WTF "Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way" is one of the best tracks! That chorus is beautiful. I think on this and "Blinded By The Lights" (and pretty much everything else on the album really) Skinner shows how totally adept he is at constructing an arrangement that perfectly suits and reflects the narrative. Everything about this track, from the piano chords to the stuttering beat, seems to evoke a warm humble homeliness that totally reinforces the story. That's why the arrangements don't really work as "grooves" per se; they're not the sort of thing you'd want to freestyle over.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 21 May 2004 23:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Fatboy Slim....we need your help...criminy

― cs appleby (cs appleby), Saturday, 22 May 2004 02:35 (twenty-one years ago)

it seems he really did cover teenage kicks:

http://www.jasperfforde.com/phorum/read.php?f=4&i=37974&t=37974

― toby (tsg20), Saturday, 22 May 2004 06:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I honestly don't think the "Teenage Kicks" thing is all that bad. It's actually kind of charming. I like how the crowd goes nuts when he sings the first line of the song.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Saturday, 22 May 2004 22:14 (twenty-one years ago)

That's why the arrangements don't really work as "grooves" per se; they're not the sort of thing you'd want to freestyle over.

this is what i'm still up in the air about. is there a difference between grooveless beats that only reinforce a story and folk guitar strumming? without any "danceable sounding" beats, this album feels a lot more "singer/songwriter" to me than the debut, where he seemed in between poet and emcee. here it's a lot more of the former and i can't tell whether that compels me more or less.

― ryan kuo (ryan kuo), Saturday, 22 May 2004 23:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the suggestion upthread of Streets covering 'Up the Junction'. I want to ask - will this 'Wow, a narratice thread us such a great idea, really gets me into the album, he's a modern Homer' stuff translate into an apreciation for concept albums? Will the kids who drink outside my house start listening to the Wall now?

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Sunday, 23 May 2004 01:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Ryan I think you missed the first part of my point about the grooves. They're not just the garage equivalent of folk-guitar-strumming; if anything they're the *opposite*. An acoustic guitar strum is at the end of the day to folk the same as an anonymous but functional beat is to hip hop: economical, interchangable, content to sit in the background while the MC takes center stage (that's not a put-down of either approaches, incidentally). By contrast the grooves on A Grand... are defined by how radically unexchangable they are: the groove for "Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way" is so inextricably tied to the narrative (and vice versa) that it simply wouldn't work in any other context that I can think of. "Blinded By The Lights" even less!

Most obviously, the entire construction of "Empty Cans" musically is designed to best facilitate and frame the split-ending (you could go into a lot of detail on this: the use of the same beat isn't just a fancy trick but a very deliberate statement - to come on all Pink-like, I suspect Mike is using that pounding beat as a metaphor for the relentless struggle inherent to life, while all the differing arrangement flourishes are a product of yer point of view; the contrast b/w the two versions highlights the huge difference in quality-of-life that Skinner's positive outlook can effect, despite working from the same base conditions).

Yes, the album employs a strategy of constructing the groove to service the narrative that is markedly distinct from most hip hop (cf. the versatile ubiquity of "In The Club"), but if anything this approach necessitates thinking *more* about the groove, not less.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 23 May 2004 02:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay, so I just heard "Fit But You Know It" for the first time on the radio coming back from my friend's bachelor party and before the chorus kicked in I thought I was hearing some old Toy Dolls song. This is not a negative criticism, I should note.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 23 May 2004 05:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Now a Streets version of Nelly the Elephant I would like to hear!

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Sunday, 23 May 2004 08:57 (twenty-one years ago)

holy crap Tim you're right!!!

― ryan kuo (ryan kuo), Sunday, 23 May 2004 16:30 (twenty-one years ago)

the album DOES handle groove construction in markedly different way to most hiphop!!!

― m. (mitchlnw), Sunday, 23 May 2004 17:22 (twenty-one years ago)

(sorry, that came off assholish)

― m. (mitchlnw), Sunday, 23 May 2004 17:37 (twenty-one years ago)

markedly different to most groove-based music i can think of.

― ryan kuo (ryan kuo), Sunday, 23 May 2004 18:17 (twenty-one years ago)

(i wasn't faulting tim's thinking or anything ryan, it's just that yr response made it read as if you were the boy wonder to tim's batman)

― m. (mitchlnw), Sunday, 23 May 2004 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

i know i know. i just got excited listening to the album after reading that.

(to the Batcave!!)

― ryan kuo (ryan kuo), Sunday, 23 May 2004 19:05 (twenty-one years ago)

you mean your basement?

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 23 May 2004 20:00 (twenty-one years ago)

has mitch like taken over for me as resident asshole or something?

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 23 May 2004 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeeps.

Listening to the album all the way through now -- unsurprisingly I'm not as interested in narrative as I am in sound. The hollowness is both appealing and a bit stifling -- this is hardly an original comparison, but sometimes it makes me think of early Specials songs squashed completely flat.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 23 May 2004 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I got this yesterday. Haven't listened to the whole thing yet, but from what I've heard, it's a big improvement over OPM.

― o. nate (onate), Sunday, 23 May 2004 22:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha actually Mitch everything I wrote above is really stilted and kinda obvious so perhaps your sarcasm was appropriate!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 23 May 2004 23:11 (twenty-one years ago)

i read more into it than "the beat is more than just the beat" then. the first thing that struck me about the beats was that i couldn't pigeonhole most of them into subgenres; so i thought of them as being nondescript rather than tailored specifically for the lyrics. then you brought up the opposite point and the snare patterns themselves started to read like narratives of their own, as if he wasn't just using them to complement the narrative but to make grooves that would tell more of the story. i'm sure this in itself isn't a first, but as far as dance-based stuff from the past decade or so goes, it feels new.

in any case, i got excited because it's cool to suddenly like a record a lot more, not because it was an earthshaking revelation. maybe this is why cautiously detached sarcasm rules the day on ILM -_-

― ryan kuo (ryan kuo), Sunday, 23 May 2004 23:22 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe.

― m. (mitchlnw), Sunday, 23 May 2004 23:30 (twenty-one years ago)

(ha jess, i think i've confused this wacom pad sitting in my lap with some massive extended electronic penis and am only now acting on years of repressed cyberrage, drunk on digital male vigour.)

(alternatively, i need to get some sleep.) (or write an undie-hop song.)

― m. (mitchlnw), Sunday, 23 May 2004 23:35 (twenty-one years ago)

No Ryan I totally sympathise with your reaction - it's great to have those little revelations where the record suddenly opens up. I just wish I could express the idea a bit better, cos I think there's a *lot* of interesting stuff that can be said about the music on A Grand... (which, due to the vagaries of the story, is likely to be ignored or deemphasised), but I'm also wary of falling into the trap of simply creating a Skinner vs other hip hop dichotomy.

An interesting line of investigation might be: what precedents *are* there for this sort of thing? I sort of wonder if there's a general trend towards this at the moment because something like "Slow Jamz" (and indeed a lot of the sped-up soul stuff) fits this mould quite well in the sense of the groove and subject matter playing off against eachother. But I wonder - and something like Missy's "Back in the Day" is relevant here too - is at a tendency that has largely been confined to music which expressly talks about other music, hence making sample-based intertextuality somewhat more openly purposeful.?

And is it a practice that is (for reasons of practicality if nothing else) largely confined to producers who also rap/sing and vice versa?

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 23 May 2004 23:38 (twenty-one years ago)

it's definitely left largely to vocalist/producer switch-hitters, simply due to the mechanics of creating most hip hop (and grime, i imagine, though to a lesser extent) where you literally have producers brought in as hired guns.

not to throw a negative connotation on that; at the very least the blueprint tells us that a successful album can be created by running down hot producers, handing over cash and rocking the results.

but this is at work in the rock realm too- see the tradition of the band jamming out a tune before the vocalist shows up, having worked out the entire sound. concept albums or even songs- where what's happening musically relates to and comments on directly what's happening in the lyrics- are extremely difficult to construct. and usually sacrifice pure musical thrill along the way.

― .rob (rgeary), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:45 (twenty-one years ago)

the patched-over version of bridging this gap that i hate is dr dre (and even worse, eminem's) trick of adding sound effects at the end of every bar that cartoonishly illustrate every line. it almost works sometime, but it's a kludge to get an otherwise unrelated beat to interact directly with the lyrics.

― .rob (rgeary), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:46 (twenty-one years ago)

to all those who only have downloaded copies of this record, well you should probably buy it but i'll leave that to your conscience; i just thought that some people might not be aware that the early leaks weren't perfect rips and had glitches and the intro to 'get out of my house' was missing. copies marked retail don't. just saying coz that intro is rather good.

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Monday, 24 May 2004 13:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah - I was excited to hear the first 20 seconds of 'Get Out Of My House' on the radio.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 24 May 2004 13:22 (twenty-one years ago)

IMO a big part of what made the "Slow Jamz" track so fitting to the mood was that wisp of female vocal dancing over the beat. but hip-hop has never seemed to lend itself to the sort of groove articulation that Skinner uses here, because it still needs to adhere to that downward bap/stomp/nod/etc (even with approaches as complex as Timbaland et al's). whereas the intrinsic nervousness of garage rhythms allows him to throw his beats around like he's fully aware of each snare, to such an extent that the grooves are convoluted just beyond danceability, into allegory.

― ryan kuo (ryan kuo), Monday, 24 May 2004 14:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Also: what he's done with 'groove', he's done with 'flow' (to some extent at least).

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 24 May 2004 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

"the intrinsic nervousness of garage rhythms allows him to throw his beats around like he's fully aware of each snare, to such an extent that the grooves are convoluted just beyond danceability, into allegory."

Ha ha yes I was just thinking that the best example of a beat working in the same way in hip hop that I could think of was "Hovi Baby", which performs a similar feat of rejecting the dictates of an ordinary groove entirely. Perhaps beats have to be "useless" in order to qualify for this sort of narratological significace?

Yeah you're right Tim - I don't really hear the alleged "stiltedness" of Skinner's vocals on this because it just seems like he's talking in the manner he would if he were actually in the situation he presents himself as being in; it's just every so often he'll rhyme a word. A better angle than the "poetry" line that critics trot out might be single-actor monologue performances.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 24 May 2004 21:28 (twenty-one years ago)

OPM was excellent. AGDCFF is dreadful. A study in the pathetic fallacy, it oscillates rhythmlessly between sentimentality and banality. It is literally--and I mean literally--the worst case of sophomore slump mine ears have ever heard.

― MV, Monday, 24 May 2004 22:49 (twenty-one years ago)

That put-down sounds painstakingly constructed.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 00:13 (twenty-one years ago)

It is literally--and I mean literally--the worst case of sophomore slump mine ears have ever heard.

Why do you emphasize "literally" so much? How else can it be taken?

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 00:19 (twenty-one years ago)

One thing about this groove/subject matter interrelationship thing is that it's very much a double-or-nothing move: these grooves *only* work if you're in the mood to be seduced by the story and the rapping at the same time (kinda vice versa too). They're so co-dependent - it's hard to imagine people listening to this album and saying "yeah I like the music but the rapping is crap" as so many did for OPM (although strangely I *have* seen people do this so maybe my analysis is off!). I listened to the album again last night and maybe I just wasn't in the mood or had listened to it too much over a short space of time but even stuff which mostly tears me up like "Blinded By The Light" just passed right by me on both a lyrical, vocal and musical level (although I still almost cracked at the first chorus of the second "Empty Cans").

On one level I bitterly resent the construction of the album because it's gotten to a zone of dangerous familiarity in less than a fortnight when The Avalanches took me almost six months!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 27 May 2004 07:11 (twenty-one years ago)

i've barely listened to it ;)

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 27 May 2004 08:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I knew I was making a mistake overdosing on it but I couldn't help myself!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Ok, so I've heard three great albums this year now.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 30 May 2004 16:45 (twenty-one years ago)

is there any effort to really push this in the States? I think "Fit And You Know It" and "Dry Your Eyes" could both actually be small-size hits.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 30 May 2004 16:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I only just bought this! I am slow. It is blinding, blinding.

― Gregory Henry (Gregory Henry), Sunday, 30 May 2004 17:16 (twenty-one years ago)

It's weird how identification seems so crucial with them, it never seems to matter with anyone else. Like, OPM left me completely cold when it came out, but eighteen months of geezafication later I listened to it again, and loved it. And now, this is my album of the year. "My jeans felt a bit tight" is like the most perfectly delivered line in pop or something.

― Gregory Henry (Gregory Henry), Sunday, 30 May 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

It really is.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 30 May 2004 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm curious to revisit OPM but I doubt I'll grow to love it (even though I liked this album immediately). The beats on that album occasionally annoyed (the worst on this one just leave me to focus on the words), the chorus hooks weren't as funny, he did a lot more mere boasting. There's a lot of evolution between "It's Too Late" and "Dry Your Eyes" and I'm really impressed. I was respectfully indifferent about this guy before but I love him now.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 30 May 2004 17:40 (twenty-one years ago)

i think this album is terrific - been listening to it constantly these past few days. Just my two pennies.

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 30 May 2004 17:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm pleased that this album seems to be winning people over from all ends of the ILX spectrum.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 30 May 2004 22:11 (twenty-one years ago)

i wish i liked it more than i seem to. i think i overdid it like tim, though... let me wait a while.

― m. (mitchlnw), Monday, 31 May 2004 19:12 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

does this album remind anyone else of disco inferno or am I nuts?

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 14 June 2004 22:41 (twenty-one years ago)

― AdamL :') (nordicskilla), Monday, 14 June 2004 22:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I really like "Get Out OF My House" - she sounds really imposing and scarey!

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 14 June 2004 22:49 (twenty-one years ago)

blinded by the lights in particular. I'm not sure why.

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 14 June 2004 22:50 (twenty-one years ago)

fit but you know it sounds like It's a Kids World!

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 14 June 2004 22:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes you are nuts. But a good nuts. ;-)

This seems as good a time as any to note that our own Tico Tico has an excellent feature length piece on the album that's up at the Seattle Weekly.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 14 June 2004 23:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I miss Tico. :(

― AdamL :') (nordicskilla), Monday, 14 June 2004 23:07 (twenty-one years ago)

He hovers over us all like a kind spirit.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 14 June 2004 23:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I can see the Disco Inferno link sorta - there's a sense of particular sounds/riffs being used for their emotional impact in a similar manner, and Mike Skinner can get very Ian Crause in his more serious/melancholic moments.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 01:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Hmm...hmm! I will have to ponder this a bit more. There's a distinct difference in my head to how the two separately use language -- not just a matter of singing styles or vocabulary, more like how the words work with/against the music in question.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 01:36 (twenty-one years ago)

three months pass...

I avoided this album for months because I was afraid it wouldn't measure up. I was wrong. Incredibly, completely, totally wrong. It's magnificent.

― J (Jay), Friday, 24 September 2004 22:49 (twenty years ago)

i keep listening to it. everytime i get chills at the point in empty cans when he finds the money.
totally incredible record.
I'd like to read interviews with him, anyone have reccomendations?

― Magic City (ano ano), Friday, 24 September 2004 23:14 (twenty years ago)

totally incredible record.

YES! IT IS!

My opinion of it has changed not a whit in the past four months. It really is one of the greatest albums I've ever heard in my entire life.

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 24 September 2004 23:18 (twenty years ago)

A Review of "A Grand Don't Come for Free" in the Style of "A Grand Don't Come for Free":

I-was-check-ing-some-new-tracks-from-the-streets'-brand-new-al-BUM
you-might-say-that-I-did-not-re-ally-like-it-ve-ry-MUCH

― Hurting, Saturday, 25 September 2004 18:09 (twenty years ago)

This has not aged very well for me at all.
I was all on the bandwagon at first, I loved it.

Seriously diminishing returns.

― djdee2005 (djdee2005), Saturday, 25 September 2004 18:16 (twenty years ago)

I think that's a function of the album's style - it's not nearly as fun once you already know the story inside out, but I think replays 1 through 10 are pretty amazing.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 26 September 2004 04:16 (twenty years ago)

This is probably just a function of the way I listen to things but I find the story as such easy to tune out aside from the TV bit, though I've only heard the album in full twice or so. That said the Dizzee album is much better and in "Imagine" it has more emotional bite.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 26 September 2004 05:02 (twenty years ago)

Ned and Tim both OTM.

― djdee2005 (djdee2005), Sunday, 26 September 2004 06:18 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

Okay, I am FINALLY listening to this all the way through and I'm having to grit my teeth and concentrate to keep from turning it off. This album is incredibly grating to me, going beyond the ennui of the first album and into ARGH I HATE YOU territory.

So yeah, The Streets are not for me. (caveat: "Not Addicted" is actually great but mainly for the hook)

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:00 (twenty years ago)

I hate this album even more than I did upthread. Really, really hate it. Hate hate hate.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:06 (twenty years ago)

(ok "What Is He Thinking" is decent too)

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:17 (twenty years ago)

whatevs!

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:44 (twenty years ago)

I'm amused how much I DO like this album, as I am nobody's defition of an anglophile.

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:47 (twenty years ago)

But your lord and master on this earth only listens to MBV, Joy Division and the Smiths now.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:49 (twenty years ago)

whatevs!

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:49 (twenty years ago)

I *really* liked it, but I've still only listened to this album once!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:50 (twenty years ago)

all those bands have been rendered null and void by Good Charlotte and Interpol. It's sort of the flipside of how the Beatles and Rolling Stones rendered all those old black guys valueless.

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:51 (twenty years ago)

hahahaha I love the hairflip implicit in Anthony's penultimate post.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:52 (twenty years ago)

all those bands have been rendered null and void by Good Charlotte and Interpol.

Oh, you don't like Limp Bizkit anymore? Unusual!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:52 (twenty years ago)

Limp Bizkit didn't render any British bands null and void. They rendered all metal and rap null and void by putting them together and taking it to the next level.

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:53 (twenty years ago)

Now if you don't mind I have to start a "Crack: Classic or CLASSIC?!?!?!?!" thread on ILE.

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:54 (twenty years ago)

You're diggin' freak nasty without a shovel!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:54 (twenty years ago)

Wait, I'm confused, do you actively believe this anymore or is this the equivalent of 'honour the fire' or 'yay MBV!'

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:54 (twenty years ago)

*flees*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:55 (twenty years ago)

PENIS

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:55 (twenty years ago)

Sing the penis song!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:57 (twenty years ago)

The only white bands on the planet worth a damn are Good Charlotte, Interpol, Limp Bizkit and John Mayer. The Streets doesn't count because he's a spoken word artist like Henry Rollins.

(god I wish I really felt this way)

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 22:59 (twenty years ago)

x-post (my post does not refer to Ned Raggett's penis song)

i got this and listened to nothng else for a week or more straight. I absolutely loved it.

― H (Heruy), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 23:01 (twenty years ago)

it's high time i started listening to this again. (maybe this time around i'll be able to *love* it, as opposed to liking it a fair bit.)

― m. (mitchlnw), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 23:02 (twenty years ago)

my post does not refer to Ned Raggett's penis song

Saturday Night Live's, actually. With Matthew Broderick!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 1 December 2004 23:03 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

Haven't listened to this in ages. Really like it.

and now i hear shades of Garth Brooks in him.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 16 January 2005 01:00 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

listening to this fr the first time since the great hard-drive crash abt 6 mths ago, it still sounds amazing.

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 14 March 2005 16:18 (twenty years ago)

Wait, why does he say squid and not quid? Is that just another slang term?

And yes it still sounds great.

― mitch dub (ano ano), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 00:59 (twenty years ago)

"Dry Your Eyes" is still the worst song ever and this thread revive has just reminded me of its existence :(

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 01:23 (twenty years ago)

Christ, what an album. Took me a while to "get it" -- drawn in by "Dry Your Eyes," turned off by "It Was Supposed to Be So Easy," floored when i listened to the whole thing and realized it's a fucking STORY, mate. I think it equals similar "slice of life" achievements by Raymond Carver, John Dos Passos, etc. Mike's "realization" bit in the last song ("It IS true / No one's really there fighting for you in the last garrison / No one except yourself that is / No one except you / YOU are the one who's got your back till the last deed's done / Scott can't have my back till the absolute end / Cuz he's got to look out for what's over his horizon / He's got to make sure he's not lonely, not broke / It's enough to worry about keeping his own head above"), "Empty Cans," approaches the emotional weight of anything Dylan's done.

No one is making music like this.

― PB, Tuesday, 29 March 2005 23:36 (twenty years ago)

Dry Your Eyes floored me totally when I heard it. That kind of honesty, man...I have a whole other kind of respect for them. I loved "You're Fit" but that [ie Dry Your Eyes] was unexpected. I haven't picked up the album though. I should, I guess...

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 29 March 2005 23:57 (twenty years ago)

I hardly even noticed "Dry Your Eyes" upon first hearing Grand, but its gawky 'honesty' hit hard in a chance hearing in the midst of the JJJ [Aus 'youth' network] playlist! I'm not sure what this means.

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 01:33 (twenty years ago)

Dry Your Eyes == Clocks 2004

― a banana (alanbanana), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 01:35 (twenty years ago)

Still the best album of the 21st century so far.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 01:41 (twenty years ago)

four months pass...

Reminder: this is still fucking incredible.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 3 August 2005 10:42 (twenty years ago)

I shop at Harvey Nicks these days.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 3 August 2005 10:44 (twenty years ago)

Wow, was it only a year ago this came out? I have to hear it again when I get home.

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 3 August 2005 10:51 (twenty years ago)

still great, yes. after live 8 i listened to the wall all the way through, and then a grand DCFF. no word of a lie.

― Britain's Jauntiest Shepherd (Alan), Wednesday, 3 August 2005 11:14 (twenty years ago)

in the £3 bin by the counter @ Fopp, Cambridge Circus!!!

― zebedee (zebedee), Wednesday, 3 August 2005 11:19 (twenty years ago)

five months pass...

From Slate's year-end round up:

Malcolm Gladwell, author, Blink:
"2005 was the year I discovered the Streets. Oh my. For the second time in 30 years, the British take an African-American musical form and wonderfully reinvent it."

http://www.slate.com/id/2133842/?nav=tap3

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 6 January 2006 17:12 (nineteen years ago)

"oh my."

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 6 January 2006 17:17 (nineteen years ago)

cringe

― fandango (fandango), Friday, 6 January 2006 17:19 (nineteen years ago)

For the second time in 30 years,

What was the first time? Credit to the Nation? A Guy Called Gerald? FLEETWOOD MAC?

I MUST KNOW

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Friday, 6 January 2006 18:10 (nineteen years ago)

EMBRACE THE POWER OF RAPID COGNITION

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 6 January 2006 18:18 (nineteen years ago)

off topic but haha omg pinsky!!!:

"With each new season, the pre-adolescent characters in South Park, Col., enact more daring, unruly versions of reality. Those foul-mouthed yet innocent falsetto voices demolish cant from the left and the right. Mealy-mouthed moderation and evangelism, sanctimony secular as well as religious, get what they deserve, and the setting is a Western town a half-hour from Denver, a place where shopping mall culture and Main Street (site of "Tom's Rhinoplasty") thrive in co-existence. Even Hell and Heaven become part of the system with South Park Elementary School at the hub."

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Friday, 6 January 2006 18:41 (nineteen years ago)

For the second time in 30 years,
What was the first time? Credit to the Nation? A Guy Called Gerald? FLEETWOOD MAC?
I MUST KNOW

-- NoTimeBeforeTime (mbvarkestra197...), January 6th, 2006. (later)

seriously... what is he talking about?

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 6 January 2006 18:48 (nineteen years ago)

I'm assuming he meant to say 40 years, ie., the British invasion.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 6 January 2006 18:55 (nineteen years ago)

must be. still bullshit.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 6 January 2006 19:02 (nineteen years ago)

one month passes...

[spam removed]

― Phentermine, Friday, 10 February 2006 18:07 (nineteen years ago)

so i'll see you monday, phentermine?

― marc h. (marc h.), Friday, 10 February 2006 18:11 (nineteen years ago)

I think Phentermine is M. Skinner's online alias.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Friday, 10 February 2006 19:14 (nineteen years ago)

Man the Streets are embarassing.

― jimnaseum (jimnaseum), Friday, 10 February 2006 19:25 (nineteen years ago)

to quote, ah, someone: it's spelled teh

― marc h. (marc h.), Friday, 10 February 2006 19:27 (nineteen years ago)

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― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Monday, 13 February 2006 19:07 (nineteen years ago)

Did anyone hear the single on 6Music today? It's twenty mins into Vic's show if you want to listen to it again. Only one person text in to say they liked it. The rest hated it. I don't remember how it went two hours later but it slightly reminded me off the African nature of Talking Heads rhythm nature (This may be a bad first impression though)

It concerns Skinner's attempts to pull a famous women (*COUGH* Rach31 St3vens!) is just as hard as pulling normal birds was pre-fame.

It sounds like a lead off single, quick , catchy (not as catchy as FBYKI though.)

― MitchellStirling (MitchellStirling), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 15:13 (nineteen years ago)

interesting. which one's the single?

― marc h. (marc h.), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 15:16 (nineteen years ago)

When You Wasn't Famous out 27/3

― MitchellStirling (MitchellStirling), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 15:20 (nineteen years ago)

Video exclusive on 4 after The Friday Night Project (Shudder)

― MitchellStirling (MitchellStirling), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 15:21 (nineteen years ago)

oh, that one's hilarious. the commenters must have been pranging.

― marc h. (marc h.), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 15:25 (nineteen years ago)

didn't he already say 'fit but you know it' was about ilm's favourite lady?

― The Man Without Shadow (Enrique), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 15:27 (nineteen years ago)

Out of curiousity I checked out that radio show with the new single on it.

GAAAAAAARBAGE ! Holy shit, those of you who thought the new Flaming Lips single was bad (I love it, personally) wait'll you hear this shit.

Must be heard to be believed.

― Erock Lazron, Tuesday, 14 February 2006 23:26 (nineteen years ago)

why was mark's thread deleted?

― Lukas (lukas), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 23:43 (nineteen years ago)

The admin log says "duped" but there's no other thread about this new album. A misunderstanding, probably.

― StanM (StanM), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 23:52 (nineteen years ago)

a likely story!

― Lukas (lukas), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 23:54 (nineteen years ago)

turns out mine was a dupe thread! let's move the discussion here:

The new album by The Streets album is called 'The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living' and is out on April 11th

― mark p (Mark P), Wednesday, 15 February 2006 00:05 (nineteen years ago)

seven years pass...

i hadn't listened to it in forever, but i still love "empty cans." it warms my cold heart tbh.

― purp (roxymuzak), Sunday, 14 April 2013 15:43 (twelve years ago)

"No one's really there fighting for you in the last garrison. No one except yourself that is; no one except you. You are the one who's got your back til the last deed's done." It's really awesome that he manages to make this sound sweet and hopeful rather than embittered and fucktheworld, imo

― purp (roxymuzak), Sunday, 14 April 2013 15:47 (twelve years ago)

Mike Skinner OTM.

― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Sunday, 14 April 2013 15:53 (twelve years ago)

one year passes...

Oh god is this really nearly 10 years old??!

I have a distinct memory of going out to one of the best free parties on a Saturday night and picking this up from the record shop on my way home the next morning. It was a very good comedown album for that time - 'Blinded By The Lights' especially.

― 1 pONO 3v3Ry+h1n G!!!1 (dog latin), Wednesday, 16 April 2014 15:55 (eleven years ago)

nooooooooooooo i refuse to believe it is 10 years old

― 1 P.3. Eternal (roxymuzak), Thursday, 24 April 2014 18:26 (eleven years ago)

the time that it came out was a fun and great time in my life

i do remember sitting at my computer crying tears of relief at "empty cans" tho lol

― 1 P.3. Eternal (roxymuzak), Thursday, 24 April 2014 18:27 (eleven years ago)

Yeah me too Rox, 2004 was a good year. Ah the olden days...

― 1 pONO 3v3Ry+h1n G!!!1 (dog latin), Friday, 25 April 2014 09:19 (eleven years ago)

I don't think I've heard this since it came out, but I think I can be confident in saying that he never bettered it.

― Toni Braxton-Hicks (Turrican), Friday, 25 April 2014 13:24 (eleven years ago)

one year passes...

The delivery on this bit is the LOLziest...

You don't care about my broken TV
I sit on my sofa all day smoking weed
I never phoned that bloke from the TV company
So please don't be like this, please, please, please

― p:s nerds know (dog latin), Friday, 15 May 2015 11:08 (ten years ago)

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