Album of the day - The Streets (Original Pirate Material)

[BlueHammer85]

Original Pirate Material is the debut album by the English rapper and producer Mike Skinner, under the name The Streets. The album is a unique take on UK garage and has lyrics dealing with everyday circumstances and occurrences. The album originally rose to #12 on the UK Albums Chart in 2002, and then peaked at #10 in 2004 after the release of the second Streets album A Grand Don't Come for Free. The album received critical acclaim; in March 2003, NME placed Original Pirate Material at number 46 on their list of the "100 Best Albums of All Time". They subsequently placed Original Pirate Material at number 9 in their list of the "100 Best Albums of the Decade". Observer Music Monthly ranked it as the best album of the 2000s.

In the United Kingdom, four singles were released from Original Pirate Material: "Has It Come to This?", "Let's Push Things Forward", "Weak Become Heroes" and "Don't Mug Yourself".


1. Turn The Page
2. Has It Come To This?
3. Let's Push Things Forward
4. Sharp Darts
5. Same Old Thing
6. Geezers Need Excitement
7. It's Too Late
8. Too Much Brandy
9. Don't Mug Yourself
10. Who Got The Funk?
11. The Irony Of It All
12. Weak Become Heroes
13. Who Dares Wins
14. Stay Positive


Review 205


Superb debut album - Was never a Garage fan back in the day but The Streets offered a refreshing change for this genre, whilst the general theme is based around getting wasted, drugs, playing the playstation and chasing 'birds' the lyrics are still intelligent, witty and relevant to the culture of the early 00's ; i think this has aged well - a lot of the music looping beats still sound fresh - 'Weak Become Heroes' gives a nostalgic look at those early days of clubbing/raving and being in complete euphoria, 'turn The Page' is a great opener and the upbeat 'Let's Push Things Forward' is another good track, 'Has It Come To This?' was the biggest hit.
Skinner's non singing, non rapping Brummie voice flows naturally throughout and it works, it sounds meaningful - all the more impressive this was recorded from his bedroom.
Whilst not for everyone this is a ground-breaking take on the British youth culture. and just as good as the previously reviewed, A Grand Don't Come For Free.

8.6/10

 

[RACHACE]

Mint album. Great album cover too.

I'm sat on a sun lounger in kefalonia now and I'm gonna put that album on.

 

[manimanc]

Love this album, I was into the streets big-time, played this to death when it came out.
Great shout.

 

[7evens]

Fantastic album that lives and breathes its environment. When those strings really kick in over the beat in 'Turn the Page' you immediately know you're about to be given something important, by the time 'Weak Becomes Heroes' ends it's deservedly cemented its place in your life. I always thought it was a shame that 'Weak Become Heroes' didn't finish this off, but the song is still there so I can forgive the minor quibbles like that. Cut 'Sharp Darts' and 'Who Got the Funk?' from the tracklist and you've got a note-perfect album. Give this to future historians alongside Boy in Da Corner and the first season of Peep Show to show them what inner-city Britain was really like in the early days of Blair's second term.

 

[ultimateharold]

It's a gooden

 

[Banned Tosspot]

Shite!

 

[stonerblue]

Best you've done hammer.

 

[Banned Tosspot]

Best you've done hammer.

He's reviewed Revolver, Abbey Road, The Stone Roses and Blonde on Blonde.