Like a poundshop prophet ranting in the wilderness, one more post and then i'll not darken your towers again. It's in response to B&W&BMT's review because I'm really glad someone has picked up on and used the word 'vulnerable' .
Why I Love This Album #3 – Relatability in it's different forms
I think this album has relatability in tons; though clearly I'm in the minority in this. The first level of relatability we've already discussed in the everyday minutia. I can't imagine there's anyone in this thread who hasn't muttered and swore whilst rummaging for their phone or had the "no I can't think of an example of when you last did the annoying think you do, but you do do it and it is annoying" conversation. My life growing up wasn't a facsimile of young mikes but to me there's enough in the detail to connect to his human frailty that we all suffer from.
Which brings me to the more daring level of relatability in one of its broader themes. Today it's commonplace to hear people talking about male issues such as mental health, the fragility of a masculine mask and admissions of vulnerability. 20 years ago, it really wasn't as commonplace and certainly it wasn't used as a core theme in a piece of music in quite as unvarnished a way as this does. I think it was
@supercity88 who said this album was ahead of its time and at least in the UK I think that is true.
He's far from the first artist to sing of male vulnerability, Otis Redding’s voice conveyed it without even saying specific words and I'm pretty sure that some 90's rock genres focus on male angst and there's a decent thread of socially conscious rap that addresses it too these days. But I'm not sure anyone before or possibly even since has articulated this in such a blunt matter of fact fashion as Skinner. It is simply a struggle for young mike to get by and he’s not faux angsty about it, he's pretty honest that he's a bit all over the shop.
@southamptonblue mentioned something about it being positioned as "represents the times and feelings on the street" and that he felt that was baloney but I don't think that is what it is about at all. Somewhat ironically there is nothing 'of the street' or attempting to be cool in this album and I don't think there was ever any intention to make it so. If it's hip-hop at all it's the least hip hip-hop album ever made. I think it was
@GornikDaze 's cousin who said it was a story that is "funny and sad in equal measure" and I would suggest there is no little pathos in there (and btw – your cousin is clearly the kind of chap who would elevate the quality of person on this thread!).
Personally the only way I think you wouldn’t find some relatability in young mikes vulnerability and at times desperation as he tries to navigate his relationship and feelings are if you were either (a) such a handsome bastard that you had girls falling at your feet during the entirety of your formative years or (b) a sociopath with zero self-awareness. For those not feeling this album at all, I'll leave you to decide which camp you fall into ;-)
Now for the confusing bit. I have never quite managed to put my finger on why this album appeals to some people and not others. I've come at it from a few angles, obviously the music genre and style is a significant thing but I've come across loads of people who have no time for hip-hop but genuinely appreciate if not love this album. I know a few people who like hip-hop in general but absolutely hate this. I have tried to find a correlation between all sorts of things like geography, other music preferences, upbringing and even class but I've never managed to pin it down. Tbf it's not a hole I want to dig further in this thread but as I said to Rob earlier, it continues to fascinate me.
Why I Love This Album #4 – It defies categorisation
So if I had to pick one thing I love most about this album it's simply the fact that Skinner decided to create it in the first place. In terms of genre it's hard to pin down a single definitive reference point
Is it hip-hop, sort of
Is it a concept album, sort of
Is it opera or spoke word poetry, sort of
Is it a bit poppy, sort of
Ultimately it is just the output of a then upcoming artist, with potentially quite a lot to lose by screwing up, counterintuitively deciding, f**k it I'm just going to do what I want. As I’ve already mentioned, If anything, I'd say it's true spirit is really that of punk. Skinner, aside from one wayward descent into popstar twattery (see poor third album, art imitating life), has always been his own man with a real DIY ethos. His first album was made in his bedroom; so was this, albeit a swankier bedroom I guess given the success of the first. 20 years later he's released a film, it's taken him best part of a decade because guess what he's decided to make and then edit it himself on his computer in his room.
On the subject of DIY, if I manage to behave myself, Santa is bringing me an Arturia midi controller for Christmas and revisiting this album and its ethos this week has inspired me to have a crack at my own middle-aged BM inspired version. I’ll be cordially inviting Rob, Bob, Benny, Gornik and SB to provide backing vocals should they so desire.
