The Streets: what's the big deal?

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I finally got to listen to The Streets' debut album. It left me wondering, what's the big hype about this guy? I mean, the lyrics are witty, the production is fairly good, but the flow of the guy is absolutely intolerable. He has no sense of rhythm, his nasal whine is highly intolerable, and his accent is... rather silly. I listened through the album a couple of times to get the lyrics, but after that it became totally useless, because no way will I want to hear that voice again

Is there something I don't get here? Is this a British in-joke I'm not even supposed to understand?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 11 April 2003 09:38 (twenty-two years ago)

More of an ILM injoke, maybe ;)

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Friday, 11 April 2003 09:42 (twenty-two years ago)

not an in-joke but, yeah.

there's not a whole lot to get. I think it should appeal slightly more to the british/english but your assessment is fine with me.

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 11 April 2003 09:43 (twenty-two years ago)

A Norwegian paper described The Streets as sounding like The Naked Chef backed by cool grooves. I still think that was a great description. :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 11 April 2003 09:44 (twenty-two years ago)

yeh 'getting' The Streets is like being in a special little club, we can't let just anyone in

how many copies has 'Original Pirate Material' actually sold i wonder?

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 11 April 2003 09:45 (twenty-two years ago)

So it was nothing but hype after all? I must admit that at first hearing The Streets sounded somewhat interesting, because it was unlike anything I've ever heard before. Then I came to realize that it doesn't matter if something's unlike anything I've heard before, if it's still utter shite.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 11 April 2003 09:50 (twenty-two years ago)

death to the Streets hataz....well alright not death...a particularly intense chinese burn perhaps

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 11 April 2003 09:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I finally worked out why I hate The Streets last night (apart from him being unmitigated shit in a bucket, of course). He's strongly reminiscent of that guy with the weird name that sang "Matthew and Son" back in the 80s. His hand movements are quite similar as well.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 11 April 2003 09:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Not "Matthew and Son", sorry, "Hey Matthew"

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 11 April 2003 09:57 (twenty-two years ago)

And then, that song got another namecheck here, just a couple days after being mentioned by me in the thread about records that had kids singing. :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 11 April 2003 10:00 (twenty-two years ago)

you saw 'Hey Matthew' on TOTP2 the other day i presume then Dom?

did Karel Fialka have any other songs? 'Original Prague Material' perhaps...

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 11 April 2003 10:02 (twenty-two years ago)

It is an ILM conspiracy, because The Streets is actually Mr Tom Ewing. Dig it.

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 11 April 2003 10:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Karel Fialka! That's it! Never more has a musician had a name that made him sound more like he was involved in the Velvet Revoultion.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 11 April 2003 10:11 (twenty-two years ago)

can jess do a post abt how threads are getting circular round here. thanks.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 11 April 2003 10:14 (twenty-two years ago)

can george gosset do a post complaining about how people don't use the search engine to see whether there are already threads about the subject involved. cheers.

― James Ball (James Ball), Friday, 11 April 2003 10:22 (twenty-two years ago)

can the secretary please send timmy o toole to the principles office please, he has forgotten his lunch. cheers.

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 11 April 2003 10:48 (twenty-two years ago)

hahahha

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Friday, 11 April 2003 11:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Two things absolutely essential for "getting" The Streets:

A deep appreciation of the very goofiest house music.

A passing familiarity with the Playstation 2 game console.

Other things that don't hurt: a marijuana habit, a propensity for not leaving the flat too often.

It's not for everybody.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Friday, 11 April 2003 12:18 (twenty-two years ago)

A deep appreciation of the very goofiest house music

don't forget The Kinks, Chas n Dave and Madness

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 11 April 2003 12:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Fuck, I only have Playstation One!

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Friday, 11 April 2003 12:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the key to liking Skinner is a personal deep-seeded appreciation for malaise and slack. I personally was initially very turned on by his oddly bouncy beats and his creative lyrical phrasings, not to mention I get a kick out of the accent. The thing is, after having seen him performing on TV a couple times, I realize why I only like his shit and don't love it is that, at the root of his music is simply SLACK, there's really no excitement or energy in his tracks. I mean, I still get a kick out of his tunes definitely, but at the same time they just don't get me off, y'know?

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 11 April 2003 12:34 (twenty-two years ago)

some of us don't even care about that and just love/admire his gabble and audacity

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 11 April 2003 13:20 (twenty-two years ago)

It's the way he makes living an essentially boring, drug-addled life sound like so much fun. This is particularly appealing to those of us who live bring, drug-addled lives. Notice there are no songs about having kids.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Friday, 11 April 2003 13:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Well he's like 21, isn't he?

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Friday, 11 April 2003 13:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah, to be 21 forever.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Friday, 11 April 2003 13:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, true.

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Friday, 11 April 2003 13:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I think you guys have it wrong. I'm not a house-fan, a pothead, or a brit, but I think the record is amazing. It's life laced with wisdom and regret. [my review]

― Sean@tangmonkey (Sean M), Friday, 11 April 2003 14:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I think he's more interested in X-Boxes now, apparently he's being fuckin' killin' that Halo game.

― Nick H, Friday, 11 April 2003 19:24 (twenty-two years ago)

would it make any sense here if i said that the album is exceptionally listener-friendly in way i haven't heard for a long time?

― mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Friday, 11 April 2003 19:55 (twenty-two years ago)

pop music in making 21-forevah an enticing concept shockah!!

(this is directed at the haters, not the other way around)

― jess (dubplatestyle), Friday, 11 April 2003 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I sure think he's adowable! I like how "Geezers Need Excitement" has more of a molokobar feel than a fake-wood-wallpaper-and-smoke bar feel. It seemed so sinister with my initial uncareful listens, but when I finally took care to follow the story it lost some appeal. The backing tracks all sound kind of silly. It is kind of lackadaisical. Sadly I think the biggest appeal to me is his appearance – hopefully this admission doesn't kill any other point I made.

― Fivvy (Fivvy), Friday, 11 April 2003 20:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Skinner should at least get some credit for a cool accent, although I'd rather listen to Madness or Ian Dury for that. :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 11 April 2003 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

haha, his accent is the least cool thing about.

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 11 April 2003 21:53 (twenty-two years ago)

in bars all across the canadian prairies, the streets is being used by dj's as a litmus test for cosmopolitanism. lyrics are quoted. witty anglicisms are exchanged. oh yes.

― fields of salmon (fieldsofsalmon), Friday, 11 April 2003 21:59 (twenty-two years ago)

how many copies has 'Original Pirate Material' actually sold i wonder?

The last US figures I saw (in January), he had sold all of 7000 copies. The numbers might be a little higher now (year end lists, Leno appearences, etc), but probably not by much.

― Vic Funk, Saturday, 12 April 2003 01:34 (twenty-two years ago)

yea skinner is trying to portray himself as this cute little english boy rapper and it's just not working. "cute" is the keyword. he's not cute at all. he's trying so hard to be though. his music and lyrical style are just plain horrid. i really hope this kid goes back underground.

― JP Albin (John Paul Albin), Saturday, 12 April 2003 02:27 (twenty-two years ago)

He is a lot like Jamie Oliver in that at first it seems mildly diverting, and you think "oh, well, maybe I could pick up something from this", but then he just keeps babbling on about his "mates" with that damn speech impediment, "Mate" this and "mate" that, so finally you just say "Fuck off you twit".

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Saturday, 12 April 2003 02:32 (twenty-two years ago)

(lisp for oliver = shit flow for skinner, separate from the similarity of their vocal timbre)

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Saturday, 12 April 2003 02:37 (twenty-two years ago)

haha.

― RJG (RJG), Saturday, 12 April 2003 02:51 (twenty-two years ago)

He makes us all geezaesthetes.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 12 April 2003 03:14 (twenty-two years ago)

(Whatever that is!)

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 12 April 2003 03:15 (twenty-two years ago)

he's sold at least 50,000 in the US according to Simon Reynolds' blog (he got his info from Vice)

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 12 April 2003 08:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I think you have to be English and drink grotty pints to get him.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Saturday, 12 April 2003 09:29 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, so there's a reason.

― RJG (RJG), Saturday, 12 April 2003 09:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Least he's not David Fucking Sneddon.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Saturday, 12 April 2003 09:40 (twenty-two years ago)

haha, sassenach sniping?

― RJG (RJG), Saturday, 12 April 2003 09:50 (twenty-two years ago)

ther's nothing particularly hard to "get", i don't think. its not like "o if i work at this i'll finaly be rewarded". its not autechre. for me, and a couple of mates, and several people here, it was record of the year. no doubt. i listened to it and got more enjoyment out of it than anything else. its warm, funny, descriptive. a song about a chip fight in a late night takeaway? the way he says "oi". its not brain surgery, its pop music.

― gaz (gaz), Saturday, 12 April 2003 10:17 (twenty-two years ago)

aka thres no "big deal"

― gaz (gaz), Saturday, 12 April 2003 10:17 (twenty-two years ago)

agree that it's just pop music, but it's pop with a strong, authentic, non-cartoony, counter-cultural air to it. which is nice. i like the lyrics myself and i think it's partially because the music comes from a tradition (x times removed) of faceless techno bollocks. and also it seems everytime i listen to it, i end up listening to the whole lp sitting down and not doing anything else (ok i wiggle in my chair when "weak become heroes" comes on) for the duration.

i would like to know why i haven't heard a single good remix yet.

― disco stu (disco stu), Saturday, 12 April 2003 11:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I think hating Jamie Oliver has become the new being Jamie Oliver.

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 12 April 2003 12:47 (twenty-two years ago)

just because you're jamie oliver.

― RJG (RJG), Saturday, 12 April 2003 13:13 (twenty-two years ago)

"I hated Jamie Oliver when hating Jamie Oliver was still underground"

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 12 April 2003 13:17 (twenty-two years ago)

The Stanton Warriors remix of "Has It Come To This?" ties with "Weak Become Heroes" as the best Streets-related track.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 12 April 2003 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Is there actually a Stanton's remix or do you mean Distraction by Jammin with the Streets-a-pella over it, the one on Stanton Sessions (a top mix)

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 12 April 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

That's exactly what I'm talking about (see also the Busta mix on that, which is KILLAH).

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 12 April 2003 16:08 (twenty-two years ago)

that one is getting a proper release in about 2 months

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 12 April 2003 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

See, I'm listening to "Bela Lugosi's Dead", but I'm thinking "HAPPY DRUMS! HAPPY DRUMS! HAPPY DRUMS!" It's the only thing making being at work tolerable.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 12 April 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

i would like to know why i haven't heard a single good remix yet.

There's a Royksopp remix of "Weak Become Heroes" that's mighty fine.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 13 April 2003 00:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I absolutely loved Original Pirate Material, but the fact that just about EVERY remix of those songs is better than the album versions should make me reconsider...it's odd, really:

Has It Come To This: the Jameson, Zed Bias and Stanton Warriors remixes
Weak Become Heroes: of course, the Royksopp remix
Let's Push Things Forward: Roll Deep remix
Same Old Thing: the Morph Resurrection and Outlaw Breaks remixes
Don't Mug Yourself: the Eight Frozen Modules (Drill'n'bass!) and Fusion remixes
It's Too Late: the High Contrast remix

― Siegbran (eofor), Sunday, 13 April 2003 11:51 (twenty-two years ago)

the royksopp remix is no better than the original and it's even longer.

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 13 April 2003 11:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah come on, those guitars, the gorgeous disco groove, the trademark Royksopp melancholia...the original is just clumsy in comparison!

― Siegbran (eofor), Sunday, 13 April 2003 12:09 (twenty-two years ago)

the original may be clumsy in comparison but the remix is no less boring in comparison.

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 13 April 2003 12:18 (twenty-two years ago)

i like the original WBH quite a bit more the royksopp remix: the clumsiness is essential - memory is clumsy.

― mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Sunday, 13 April 2003 12:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not a fan of the Royksopp rmx of WBH either...I'll have to check Siegbran's recommendations.

― disco stu (disco stu), Sunday, 13 April 2003 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

The "big deal" about the Streets = the record is both interesting and fun to listen to. This is, so far as I'm concerned, true of a very small number of records these days, largely because everyone appears to feel like their attempts to be "interesting" are obligated to run counter to the "fun to listen to" direction.

― nabisco (nabisco), Sunday, 13 April 2003 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

(mitch OTM re:stupid Royksopp remix).

― Cozen (Cozen), Sunday, 13 April 2003 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

this album is immunized against "clumsy"' as an unqualified dis / i just wish the flow was trickier (and clumsier) (this is not an oxymoron in my mind)

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 13 April 2003 19:37 (twenty-two years ago)

The album's selling point is in essence its clumsiness. What you normally get with UK Garage is people MCing to carry the tide of the melody / rhythm / flow along so they're not fighting the music they're riding it. The beautiful tension in the Streets music is his anti-riding stance towards flow: he does everything he can to be the tide the flow, to kick like the last eel in the bucket: he wouldn't use this many colons: felicities: rhythms: he'd use - hyp-h-ens and break it all up.< /Tim Finney>

― Cozen (Cozen), Sunday, 13 April 2003 19:50 (twenty-two years ago)

That's a mighty funny way of saying "he's got no skillz."

To me, Original Pirate Material is like one of those spoken-word record: once you get past the (admittedly witty) lyrics there's not much there, musicwise. The album is worth a few listenings, after that you might as well pass it on to a friend.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 15 April 2003 07:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Right:
1) Skinner's accent is not silly: it is simply different to US ears. that would be like me saying american or jamaican accents are silly and therefore is a completely daft observation...
2) Your're right, The Streets is "not Autechre". And thank God for that. Skinner's far more interesting in my humble.
3) The production on OPM is not bad, it is simply as it is supposed to be. Listen to it, and it's very like Skinner is walking down a road in London chatting over whatever sound happens to be coming out of the nearest shop, bar or car window. I've always seen this as a concept most people/critics have completely missed, after all he is called The Streets...
4) As for Skinner having "no skillz", well that's like saying just because he went all cubist, that Picasso couldn't paint (ok, it's a slightly highfalutin comparison, but nonetheless correct). Just because someone takes a different approach to MCing, it doesn't mean he/she lacks skill.
5)I find it very odd how OPM is continually assessed in terms of how it compares to US street rap etc. It doesn't bear comparison as it is a completely different thing and that's the whole point. The aesthetics are different, a huge amount of its influences are different and, crucially its central conceit is different; this brings us on to the main reason Skinner probably won't break massive in the US: geezer vs gangsta. These are two completely different archetypes and sadly where the gangsta translates pretty well on UK shores, the geezer sadly doesn't on do so well in the US. Besides skinner being tiny, soft-spoken and willing to admit his weaknesses (glorying in them in fact cf Weak become heroes), he couldn't exactly pull of being a traditional bad-ass mo-fo, threatening to pop a cap in yo ass, could, he? instead he takes a different and far more beieveable route. perhaps all US citizens of a certain age should have been made to watch old episodes of Minder and Only Fools And Horses before the release of OPM.
I'm actually working on a piece about this if anyone's interested, Tom, Mark!?

― David Stelfox, Tuesday, 15 April 2003 08:53 (twenty-two years ago)

1) Skinner's accent is not silly: it is simply different to US ears. that would be like me saying american or jamaican accents are silly and therefore is a completely daft observation...

It's mostly his voice, but the accent doesn't help. Coming from the electronic school of music, how a voice sounds like is extremely important to me. Some rappers, I can't listen to them because of their voice, and the Streets dude is certainly one of them. In my opinion, some people shouldn't rap, like some people shouldn't sing. This is a highly personal opinion, I know.

Just because someone takes a different approach to MCing, it doesn't mean he/she lacks skill.

Is anything that's not singing MCing? I think not. As I said, I have nothing against the lyrics, they're fine, and The Streets most certainly shouldn't be compared to US hip hop. I do not hate Original Pirate Material, it works well enough as spoken word / slam poetry record, it's just that because of the hype I was expecting something more.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 15 April 2003 09:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Skinner's accent, as opposed to any American accent there possibly is - black or white, is actually great-sounding.

There should be a law saying that everybody who makes a records should use English accents. :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 15 April 2003 09:24 (twenty-two years ago)

yeh, esp. on US hip hop

"its the Snoop D O double jizzle for shizzle by jove"

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 15 April 2003 10:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Geir, while I appreciate the sentiment, you are quite plainly bonkers! To refute your statement, I say just one word: dancehall.

― Dave Stelfox, Tuesday, 15 April 2003 10:09 (twenty-two years ago)

1) Skinner's accent is not silly

Gawd bless yaw, Maori Paaarpins.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 15 April 2003 10:42 (twenty-two years ago)

allo guvnuh

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 April 2003 11:53 (twenty-two years ago)

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