951. A grand don't come for free - The Streets

Chloe and I were both pretty thrilled when this album was selected. It is one that we know well, and I vividly remember playing this to a few mates in my car when I was in Sixth Form. It is a seminal album of the early 2000s, and marked a real breakthrough for The Streets from their more underground, slow burner of their debut.  

Mike Skinner's second album was a singificant departure from his first. Whereas Original Pirate Material built on more conventional garage material, with a range of song styles as Skinner honed his skills, his follow up is a much, much bolder body of work. Writing a concept album is a real statement of intent, but choosing to writing it about a fairly mundane story, of low level successes and failures. From leaving a DVD at home that needed returning to ITV's guidance on flirting, it is more accessible than the stereotype of a concept album. The characters are recognisable, and their flaws are reflections of every day experiences - from drunken infidelity to being too lazy to place a bet on a sure thing.

The opening track, It was supposed to be so easy, sets the whole album up, and with its mock pomposity makes a real statement of intent. The quality of Skinner's observations, a real recurrent theme of the whole album, are among their strongest on this track; the frustration of a queue at a cash point is hugely relatable yet endearingly comic. Not Addicted, a song I didn't originally care for when released, has one of the more compelling beats, and several layers that I hadn't fully appreciated. Blinded By the Lights, originally my favourite song off the album, has an exceptionally strong, classic trance type backing to it, and weaves the story beautifully as the music ebbs and flows. Fit But You Know It is outstanding, however many times you've heard it before. The stand out for me though is Empty Cans, which just brings the whole album together, and features a brilliant contrast of minor and major keys. 

This album really is superb. As excited as I was to select it, I was worried that upon repeated listens, it would slightly tire. The opposite is in fact true; there are layers to the album I was not originally aware of that reveal themselves only with real focus eg. The betting in Not Addicted is happening to replace the lost £1000. Even the songs I'm not as keen on musically I can't help but admire as an example of briliant songwriting, such as Wouldn't Have it Any Other Way and Get Out Of My House. Up until my final listen before writing this, I was planning on giving it a nine, but I just can't; it's got to be my first ten of the project. 

Skinner, take a bow son. Take. A. Bow.

Chloe's rating: 10
Chloe's favourite track: 4. Blinded by the lights
Olly's rating: 10
Olly's favourite track: 11. Empty Cans

Next week's album is 813. Casanova by The Divine Comedy. I know the band, but not the album, so that is a bit intriguing.