British rap/garage, ‘The Streets’ are led by the talented, Mike Skinner with, Johnny Drum Machine the only other constant in the bands line up. After five albums recording as, ‘The Streets’, Birmingham, UK exile, Mike Skinner has spat his last rap. He should be proud…there hasn’t been another consistently exciting and commercially successful urban UK voice to touch him across the last decade. His rhymes are witty, selfless, self-questioning and oftentimes deep. ‘Computers and Blues’ is arguably a match for the best of, The Streets albums (the first two). This album is loosely about the way technology is a huge element of modern everyday life in which, Skinner displays his ability to deliver songs that touch the heart alongside lyrics that are ultimately hilarious.
In the band’s debut album, ‘Original Pirate Material’, Skinner strived to take UK garage in a new direction with material reflecting the club goers’ lifestyle in the UK. The track, ‘Let's Push Things Forward’ is the best reflection of the albums philosophy. The album was very well received and nominated for the Mercury Prize as well as best album, best urban act, best breakthrough artist and best British male artist. ‘A Grand Don't Come for Free’ followed in 2004 in which, single ‘Fit But You Know It’ was the most renowned, although the second and third singles, ‘Dry Your Eyes’ and ‘Blinded By the Lights’ also enjoyed a good degree of success and among my personal favourites from, ‘The Streets’.
‘The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living’ was released in 2006 and heralded a change in direction from the first two albums with the lyrical theme moving away from the stories about working class Britain and instead focusing on the ups and downs of the fame that Skinner encountered after the huge success of his previous albums. In September 2008, Skinner released his fourth studio album, ‘Everything Is Borrowed’. This was something of a failure, with Skinner losing public affection in abandoning his usual cheeky observations from street culture.
The final ‘The Streets’ album, ‘Computers and Blues’ was released in February 2011. ‘Outside Inside’ starts with an ear piercing noise before the beat absolutely blasts in. The deranged shuffle is accompanied by analogue bleeps and a riff that’s almost half of the theme music from kids TV show, ‘Rainbow’. It also hosts some amazing submerged bass. It’s busy and complex and reminds me of a, ‘Roots Manuva’ type of sound. ‘Going Through Hell’ is a brazen ‘curtain call’ tune. With, Robert Harvey (formerly of, ‘The Music’ who I loved) leering like a drunken spirit that sounds a little, Robert Plant. This layered on top of a high voltage guitar makes for a well designed tune that manages to somehow mix the best of, Skinner with something a little different. ‘Roof of Your Car’ is a quirky little tune which seems to recollect the story of a car full of stoners attempting to work out their satellite navigation system. It’s a fun little track that displays, Skinners clever lyrical arsenal.
‘Puzzled By People’ is certainly one for, ‘The Streets’ aficionados - “You can’t Google the solution to people’s feelings.” I like the mix that’s used on this one…this is more in the line with the dance variety that the band exuded in their initial albums. A smart drum and bass beat. ‘Without Thinking’ is fast, fun and poppy. Not my cup of tea and certainly not my favourite from this release. On the other side of the spectrum, ‘Blip on a Screen’ is one I can currently relate to right now with Mrs. ScoAustin currently seven months pregnant. This track starts with a cute piano riff that leads to, Skinner seeing his unborn daughter for the first time on an ultrasound scan - “A blip on the screen, you don’t know me. I think about you, what you’ll grow to be”. Strings and keys combine well here to cut a sensitive mood with the front man expressing excitement and apprehension.
‘Those That Don't Know’ is another in the quirky nature of tracks. Some good tunage, but not all that clever. Some smart rhymes and a funk like sound, but I’ll put this one next to, ‘Without Thinking’ in the skip songs. Thankfully, we are back on the right path quickly with, ‘Soldiers’ which, for me, is a stand out track on the album. Starting off with a jazzy, sax intro, I love the lyrical delivery of, Skinner here – “hesitate, hesitate, hesitate…wait. Any day, any day…too late”. Again I really enjoy the cameo from, Harvey. The vocal combination really does hit the spot and again, the beat isn’t half bad.
‘We Can Never Be Friends’ again featuring, Robert Harvey is a very poignant and heartfelt song seemingly referring to an old relationship that never worked out. It’s simple, but effective and along similar lines to, ‘Dry Your Eyes’ from the second album. ‘ABC’ begins in dark mood before a bass heavy house beat kicks in. ‘OMG’ is a saying or acronym that I am sick to the back teeth of hearing hundreds of times daily as I work and live in New York. That said, this tune is great. It has a narrative lightheartedness that describes a young lad who is traumatized by his intended one’s Facebook status. The track features some beautifully sung lyrics by, Laura Vane (of Laura Vane and The Vipertones).
‘Trying to Kill M.E.’ again features, Vane in a song where have a pre-comedown, Skinner full of hope. It tells the true story of his hospitalization during this album’s creation when he suffered from a bout of chronic fatigue - “The thing that I love most, is trying to kill me.” ‘Trust Me’ starts with a weird concoction which blends from like a movie’s opening title, to a computerized blurb and settles in to a funk sound not too dissimilar to the, Jackson Five. It’s a brief but brilliant French house-inspired (think Daft Punk and Phoenix’) disco beauty.
‘Lock the Locks’ is a wonderful piece of industrial soul which includes a smoky vocal by, Clare Maguire in a candid look back over his nine-year tenure – "Read the funny card signed by all, that was purchased by the person I will always recall". It’s a very fitting tune to end this talented young lyricist’s career…a parting gift to grip, upset and thrill his audience…Mike Skinner will be sorely missed.
‘Computers And Blues’ provides a lively swagger to The Streets’ finale. The number of sounds featured on the album is frightening. The album has a few lows points, but there are certainly more highs. The albums theme is thought provoking and in many cases of the witty nature that we expect from this cheeky chap from Brimingham. I hope to hear more in the way of collaborations or other from, Skinner. Rating 7.5/10
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