Wednesday, February 19, 2003
CD Review
The Streets
Original Pirate Material
Vice Recordings
Hip hop being almost Afro - American dominating, with topics such as crimes, guns, gangsters, getting chicks and swearing, that is well, until, anyways. The Streets aka Mike Skinner, a London bedroom DJ recorded Original Pirate Material. A 14 track album that totally reinvented or blew the old template of rap away (or can we call it rap?) with its invigorating “bangers not anthems” as the man himself claims.
You only need to hear the opener, “Turn the Page”, as Mike speaks in British accent to realize this guy is something to go against the grain and being casual. He goes for the personal revelation and some proclamations, “Brace yourself, cos this goes deep/ I’ll show you the secrets the sky the birds/ Action speaks louder than words/ Stand by me, my apprentice/ be Brave, clench fists”. Awed?
Considering one of the words in the title of the album is “Original”, a word often subject to abused, The Streets deliver it with a kind of optimist nonchalance making that assertion. In “Has it come to this”, Mike exclaims - “ You’ll bear witness to some amazing feat/ Bravery in the face of defeat”. Well -said.
And as if we need to be reminded again, “Let’s push things forward” rambles on about music technology and hype. Ironically, by belittling music trends and even himself, (I’m just spitting), we hear repeats of “Then you go buy them”.
Maybe you want to know more about his music, not just the lyrics, which is what the fuss is about because The Streets has a kind of naivety in sampling, looping and putting the beats amidst layering sound effects eerily reminiscent of Radioactivity Kraftwerk. Like, radio beeps, antenna disruptions and scratches. Maybe that’s why it’s called “Pirate Materials” Illegal airwaves?
His other songs, critics describe as Brit bloke confessional doused in humor. Closest reference is Irvine Welsh of Trainspotting if he writes songs. Mike however has his own axe to grind. They might both be “male” but divided by age differences, they spit it out quite differently. Except for perhaps “The Irony of it all” when a verbal confrontation ensues between a spaced out drug user and an unrepentant alcoholic.
He takes potshots in for example Sharp Darts. Cocky or what, “ Do you understand or do you need an interpreter?” while Same Old Thing parodies streetwise alecks, “Apparently there’s a whole world out there somewhere/ It’s right there, right there/ I just don’t see it, I just don’t see it, oi oi/ At street level”
It’s not just making statements. It’s also anecdotes of your typical day. Like a bloke who beats up another when he tongues his girlfriend! (Geezer needs excitement) or Too Much Brandy which is about wasting life away, “ take me home to my baby, two bags of mushroom, rooms mushed up and I need a cradle.” The wary tale of male hormonal crush in Don’t Mug yourself, “ Why should she be the one who decides whether its off or on or on or off or on”. Then, uncharacteristically feel good songs in Weak becomes heroes and Stay positive. Get it?
Quirky social commentary meets jungle beats. Street talk bewildered with poetry. I’m a little confused already. Yet, if anyone were to ask me what’s exciting, I would say, “Don’t bother with others. Buy Original Pirate Material... ...”
For lyrics, go to: http://www.vice-recordings.com/streets-lyrics.php
You can also download “Let’s Push Things Forward” from Salon.com archived audio section.
The Streets
Original Pirate Material
Vice Recordings
Hip hop being almost Afro - American dominating, with topics such as crimes, guns, gangsters, getting chicks and swearing, that is well, until, anyways. The Streets aka Mike Skinner, a London bedroom DJ recorded Original Pirate Material. A 14 track album that totally reinvented or blew the old template of rap away (or can we call it rap?) with its invigorating “bangers not anthems” as the man himself claims.
You only need to hear the opener, “Turn the Page”, as Mike speaks in British accent to realize this guy is something to go against the grain and being casual. He goes for the personal revelation and some proclamations, “Brace yourself, cos this goes deep/ I’ll show you the secrets the sky the birds/ Action speaks louder than words/ Stand by me, my apprentice/ be Brave, clench fists”. Awed?
Considering one of the words in the title of the album is “Original”, a word often subject to abused, The Streets deliver it with a kind of optimist nonchalance making that assertion. In “Has it come to this”, Mike exclaims - “ You’ll bear witness to some amazing feat/ Bravery in the face of defeat”. Well -said.
And as if we need to be reminded again, “Let’s push things forward” rambles on about music technology and hype. Ironically, by belittling music trends and even himself, (I’m just spitting), we hear repeats of “Then you go buy them”.
Maybe you want to know more about his music, not just the lyrics, which is what the fuss is about because The Streets has a kind of naivety in sampling, looping and putting the beats amidst layering sound effects eerily reminiscent of Radioactivity Kraftwerk. Like, radio beeps, antenna disruptions and scratches. Maybe that’s why it’s called “Pirate Materials” Illegal airwaves?
His other songs, critics describe as Brit bloke confessional doused in humor. Closest reference is Irvine Welsh of Trainspotting if he writes songs. Mike however has his own axe to grind. They might both be “male” but divided by age differences, they spit it out quite differently. Except for perhaps “The Irony of it all” when a verbal confrontation ensues between a spaced out drug user and an unrepentant alcoholic.
He takes potshots in for example Sharp Darts. Cocky or what, “ Do you understand or do you need an interpreter?” while Same Old Thing parodies streetwise alecks, “Apparently there’s a whole world out there somewhere/ It’s right there, right there/ I just don’t see it, I just don’t see it, oi oi/ At street level”
It’s not just making statements. It’s also anecdotes of your typical day. Like a bloke who beats up another when he tongues his girlfriend! (Geezer needs excitement) or Too Much Brandy which is about wasting life away, “ take me home to my baby, two bags of mushroom, rooms mushed up and I need a cradle.” The wary tale of male hormonal crush in Don’t Mug yourself, “ Why should she be the one who decides whether its off or on or on or off or on”. Then, uncharacteristically feel good songs in Weak becomes heroes and Stay positive. Get it?
Quirky social commentary meets jungle beats. Street talk bewildered with poetry. I’m a little confused already. Yet, if anyone were to ask me what’s exciting, I would say, “Don’t bother with others. Buy Original Pirate Material... ...”
For lyrics, go to: http://www.vice-recordings.com/streets-lyrics.php
You can also download “Let’s Push Things Forward” from Salon.com archived audio section.
