Mike Skinner

April 13, 2002 1:54 PM

Mike Skinner is a youngish bloke from the English West Midlands. He makes records under the name " The Streets". Over the past month or so he has become ubiquitous in any kind of media you care to mention and everyone is hailing the coming of young laureate for the garage generation. The entire album is avilable for streaming if you follow the link. Just one of dozens and dozens of astounding reviews can be found here.
posted by Fat Buddha (12 comments total)

'The Streets' kick ass. I'm not too keen on the latest single, but the first single, 'Has It Come To This,' was a classic. I'm surprised to learn that he's from the West Midlands, since Has It Come To This had the entire South London (garage/two-step's 'heartland') feel going on..

Cos Tony's got a new motor
SR Nova
Drivin like a joyrider
Speeding to the corner
Your mother warned you it's a sound system banger

Yep.. The Streets capture the whole South London feeling, for real. Respec'.
posted by wackybrit at 2:24 PM on April 13, 2002

I'm listening to Has It Come To This after listening to Turn the Page, and I'm underwhelmed so far.

But heck, I'm sure he'll get really famous, sell his song to a bank, everyone will hate him, and he'll get front page billing on Wired. People will bemoan the fact that he's the only musician to get any credit in the media, despite the legions of people more talented than him.

We're at the beginning of the cycle.
posted by jragon at 2:52 PM on April 13, 2002

He is just simply very, very good. That's why people like him. It's music for English people, it's OK if you don't understand it. But most of us do and we love him for it.

Oh and you can tell he's English, he's got one of the worst haircut/clothes combo's in music today. Endearring.
posted by nedrichards at 3:51 PM on April 13, 2002

nostalgie de la boue.
posted by rodii at 4:14 PM on April 13, 2002

I loved "A life of a geezer" and was very suprised when my musio m8tz started getting into the album. My fav track is "The irony of it all".

Great and amusing and so true to life..
posted by laukf at 4:44 PM on April 13, 2002

I guess you just have to have been there. meanwhile, more MC Paul Barman for me!
posted by mcsweetie at 5:12 PM on April 13, 2002

Here's my American take on it, since I'm a huge fan of both American hip-hop and English garage/two-step.

The Streets frankly aren't too good. "Has It Come to This" is very original and quite good. "The Irony of it All" is a song about the bizarre nature of policy banning weed and allowing alcohol that reminds me of Eminem's great "Guilty Conscience." Other than that, though, the songs are just a British guy that sounds like he's reading some kind of postmodern poetry about "life in 2002" while relatively simple beats play in the background. Dull.

As far as recent garage is concerned, Ana Ann's "Ride" is a fantastic piece as R&B styled garage goes, while the D&B remix of Luniz' "I Got Five On It" and Steve Feelgood's "True" ft/ Soulo are both good garage for those who want more of a club feel.

Here in America, "No More" by Guru ft/ Craig David is starting to get radio play and has some garage inflections in it (after all, Craig David started out with two-step's 1000 pound gorilla, Artful Dodger).

And Paul Barman, as McSweetie said, is America's own white guy pseudo rapper, although he's more comedic than anything. Listen to "Roommates Meet", a skit featuring him off the new Masta Ace CD, it's comic gold.
posted by Kevs at 5:21 PM on April 13, 2002

i really wish he would've stayed the 1000 pound gorilla, over there. but guru/gangstarr, i can dig. anyway, ::on my way to sample a taste of "has it come to this"::
posted by lotsofno at 8:54 PM on April 13, 2002

Thank God we get Q over here in the States. I've been listening to The Streets since last month's issue and I have to say it grows on you. The first time might have been underwhelming, but it gets so much better. And not just because it's so different.

I have to admit that the joy of my world is still Paul Barman.
posted by yerfatma at 9:41 AM on April 14, 2002

The Streets is alright, but, I have to say, it only gets so much praise because it's a touch different from yer 'arcetypal garage joint'. This music is hip-hop pure and simple, he just aligns with garage to pit himself against a genre so.....generic, self aggrandising and dull he stands out as a leader in its field. His poetry is good and original (again, in its field), but his voice and beats often leave a lot to be desired. Good effort, though.
posted by boneybaloney at 1:42 PM on April 14, 2002

shag the geezers and fight the birds! who got the tunk :)
posted by kliuless at 2:21 PM on April 14, 2002

I just discovered the Streets (not being a garage/two step fan) - from the radio play of his new single (Move things Forward?)...

He has a unique style - nowhere near the crotch grabbing posturing of the 'usual' two step crews (So Solid, Pay as U Go) - but with a great sense of humour....often poking fun at himself...

To hear what I mean - check out the 'Too Much Brandy' track on the CD...superb - an accurate portrayal of a night out in a UK club...top stuff!
posted by mattr at 12:38 AM on April 15, 2002