Original Pirate Material (You're listening to the Streets)

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Gorshin

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Dear Avforums readers,

It has come to my attention that this album is the greatest of the past 5 years. It is truly soulful, with genious production and truly intelligent, 'street-level' lyrics. Take a listen to 'Turn the page' at full volume and then tell me otherwise. Also, 'Weak become heroes' is a true piece of modern soul music. Who else accurately describes the lives of modern 20 something British males so accurately? I defie anyone to dislike this album.

It is must own 'product'.

P.s. Only 'Blinded by the lights' (from A grand don't come for free) gets close to recapturing the vibe of Original Pirate Material. Mike Skinner is a modern day poet loreate. :)
 
Turn the page on the day, walk away
'cos there's sense in what I say
I'm 45th generation Roman
But I don't know 'em
Or care when I'm spitting
So return to your sitting position and listen it's fitting
I'm miles ahead and they chase me
Show yer face on TV, then we'll see
You can't do half, my crew laughs
At yer rhubarb and custard verses
You rain down curses but I'm waving,
Yer hearse is driving by
Streets riding high, with the beats in the sky
All stare, eyes glazed
Garage burnt down, the fire raged
For 40 days and in 40 ways
But through the blaze they see it fade
The sea of black, the beaming heat on their faces
Then a figure emerges from the wastage
Eyes transfixed with a piercing gaze
One hand clutching a sword raised to the sky
They wonder how, they wonder why
The sky turns white, it all becomes clear
They felt lifted from their fears
They shed tears in the light
After 6 dark years
Young bold soldiers, the fire burns
Cracks and smoulders
5 years older and wiser
The fires are burning on fire, never tire
Slay warriors in the forests and on higher
We sing, hear the strings rising
The war's over, the bells ring
Memories fading, soldiers slaying
Looks like geezers raving
The hazy fog over the Bull Ring
The lazy ways the birds sing
A new baby's born every day
Few men may be scorned today
But look at things the other way
Cos it may well be yer final day
And then the crowds roar, they slay, they all say
I produce this using only my bare wit
Gimme a jungle, a garage beat and admit defeat,
Use war and past injury as my metaphor and simile
Get all applications into me before the deadline
Cos it's a fine line between strifeful crimes
And a life of crime
But you will reach the day, and it's all mine
You can take it or leave it,
I shake and reveal stage tricks like Jimi Hendrix
In the afterlife gladiators meet their maker
Float through the wheat fields and lakes of blue water
To the next life from the fortress
Away from the knives and slaughter
To their wives and daughters
Once more before the Lord judges over all of us
Cos in this place you'll see me
Brace yourself, cos this goes deep
I'll show you the secrets, the sky and the birds
Actions speak louder than words
Stand by me my apprentice
Be brave, clench fists.
 
Gorshin - I would both echo and appreciate your enthusiasm. I am glad you have discovered 'The Streets' and in particular the track 'Turn the Page'. I too have listed this track to be one of may favourites and on these very forums. I agree, it is a quite superbly written track, lyrically and musically. I am sure however there will be many challenges to the view that this is the best albulm of the last 5 years.. I do like both of the Streets albulms, actually preffering the second to the first, though in my opinion Turn The Page is the best song from either. Looking laterally across the musical spectrum and in the same urban territory, I would suggest that TWS 'Elephant' to be of equal, if not greater standing in the musical pantheon of class albulms which punctuate a particular genre.
 
Have you seen the video for Blinded by the Light's though?

The track sound's like it's all based in a nightclub, especially when he's mentioning taking copious amounts of E, and wittering about having to go to the doorway to use his phone, even though his (imaginary?) friends haven't arrived or got in contact with him (alarm bells should be ringing).

The video on the other hand is set at a wedding in a hotel.

I've been to quite a few weddings (including my own) and didn't feel the inclination to take E either out of fun or boredom.
I don't think standing in a (warm) foyer is the same as standing in the p :censored: g rain outside a club.
And did it ever occur to Mr Skinner that his mates may not have been invited to this wedding?

Anyway, I may be getting off on the wrong foot, and this thread is about the music not the video.

The problem I have with the streets is, I will agree that the 1st album had some excellent work on it, namely the tracks that wern't singles, but the wide-boy mockney persona, and IMHO the glorification of getting off your face on Stella and taking drugs makes the whole outfit come out looking like a bunch of twits (that's a typo!)

The same thing happened with Oasis & the Verve in the 90's. Good music, get more famous, turn into ******s and then mass produce rubbish that will sell because they built up a strong fan-base with the early good music.

I know other bands glorify drink & drugs, but the Streets audience I feel is, like most other bands out at the moment, the young teen (why else would they release the catchy pop tunes, when the more ambient stuff is infinitely better?) which is going to make, what is already a majority of little sods, into older bigger sods think that getting drunk, taking drugs and putting you pecker into anything that moves totally acceptable.

Sorry if that is blunt, but that is my opinion.

As for Mr Skinner being (quote) "a modern day poet loreate." (end quote), some of the stuff he right's is pure drivvle, and he feels the need to repeat it, and he feels the need to repeat it.

For good example's of this try listening to the track £3-10, on the "Casetteboy Vs DJ Rubbish - From inside a Whales C :censored: k" which emphasises some of Mr Skinners most memorable & stupid lines.

I'm with MC Pitman on this one
 
dj_johnnyg said:
Have you seen the video for Blinded by the Light's though?

The track sound's like it's all based in a nightclub, especially when he's mentioning taking copious amounts of E, and wittering about having to go to the doorway to use his phone, even though his (imaginary?) friends haven't arrived or got in contact with him (alarm bells should be ringing).

The video on the other hand is set at a wedding in a hotel.

I've been to quite a few weddings (including my own) and didn't feel the inclination to take E either out of fun or boredom.
I don't think standing in a (warm) foyer is the same as standing in the p :censored: g rain outside a club.
And did it ever occur to Mr Skinner that his mates may not have been invited to this wedding?

I wasnt aware that bands were under obligation to make their videos exactly mirror what happens in the song :rolleyes: Some of the best videos of the last few years have had nothing whatsoever to do with the lyrics of the songs they are connected to!

I would imagine Mr Skinner is writing and err "singing" about things he knows and has experience with;I have no problem with this whatsoever.Would you prefer he sang about the joys of yachting and fox hunting? :lease:
 
Gorshin said:
It has come to my attention that this album is the greatest of the past 5 years.

Gorshin, whilst I respect your views entirely (I have OPM and find it quite witty/funny), please dont confuse "greatest album" with "album that resonates most with me".

If OPM "accurately describes the lives of modern 20 something British males", then I feel very sorry for them :(

DT

:offtopic: Thought AGDCFF was terrible and sold it after two weeks.
 
dynamic turtle said:
Gorshin, whilst I respect your views entirely (I have OPM and find it quite witty/funny), please dont confuse "greatest album" with "album that resonates most with me".

It is my greatest album of the past 5 years. No other lyrisist cuts deeper, or more accurately than Skinner. 'Stay Positive' is utter lyrical genious.
 
digisocialist said:
Gorshin - I would both echo and appreciate your enthusiasm. I am glad you have discovered 'The Streets' and in particular the track 'Turn the Page'. I too have listed this track to be one of may favourites and on these very forums. I agree, it is a quite superbly written track, lyrically and musically. I am sure however there will be many challenges to the view that this is the best albulm of the last 5 years.. I do like both of the Streets albulms, actually preffering the second to the first, though in my opinion Turn The Page is the best song from either. Looking laterally across the musical spectrum and in the same urban territory, I would suggest that TWS 'Elephant' to be of equal, if not greater standing in the musical pantheon of class albulms which punctuate a particular genre.

The White Stripes are nothing compared to the genious of Original Pirate Material. In fact, they're massively overrated :rolleyes:
 
Skinner fan and a stripes fan. These things are too subjective
 
seany said:
Skinner fan and a stripes fan. These things are too subjective

Damn right, i dislike both.
 
Thank God for Itunes so I could listen to a little of each track - otherwise I may have gone out and bought this ;)
 
i really can't stand the streets, it just seems like another talentless chav's attempt at making money off other chavs who like what they're told to like by top of the pops and mtv.

Dry your eyes mate is quite possibly the worst thing i've ever heard
 
marc_angelus said:
i really can't stand the streets, it just seems like another talentless chav's attempt at making money off other chavs who like what they're told to like by top of the pops and mtv.

Dry your eyes mate is quite possibly the worst thing i've ever heard

You're so wrong. Skinner's lyrics are so deeply intelligent and the songs so catchy/soulful/well-produced etc that all other pop music is from fantasy land. The streets discuss real life feelings/events rather than meaningless depression or love songs. To call Skinner a chav is totally innaccurate and offensive. Chavs are doss ***** and have no place in a decent, intelligent and creative society.

Original Pirate Material is a masterpiece. It was comprehensively applauded by the tasteful music press. 'Weak become heros' and 'Stay Positive' are hymns to the human spirit. Also, just how accurate and intelligent is 'the irony of it all'?, or have you even listened to it? :rolleyes:
 
This ain’t a track it’s a movement/…/I make bangers not anthems/ Leave that to the Artful Dodger. - from Let’s Push Things Forward

There are so many ways to describe Mike Skinner’s debut as The Streets. The easiest is to look at it for what it is; a stunning debut album, which showcases the evolution of a 23-year-old Manchester ****er into the heir to London’s garage scene. Original Pirate Material garnished the coveted Mercury award in 2002. In a symbiotic fusion of urban northern English grit and the hard beats of the southern England, this disc has become a modern classic.

Original Pirate material is Mike Skinner’s personal gauntlet to the world. Starting from the opening challenge of turn the page to the final inspiration of stay positive, Skinner’s lyrics assault the listener on everything from blokes to geezers to on the doll. Using some of the richest rhymes to come out of the U.K., Skinner’s words come off as those of an inspired street prophet. While most North American listeners will need a personal interpreter or at least a half a year’s worth of Coronation Street to understand many of the lyrics, the streets message becomes clearer with patience. The Streets’ sound is fresh and embodies the grit of everyday urban life.

While the lyrics are at the forefront of this masterpiece, the beats are equally as impressive. The mixture of classical instruments, jagged beats, soft loops and dangerous base is impeccable. This mishmash of sounds is as about as confusing as an English fry-up, but somehow it comes out all right in the end.

From the opening beats and violin loop of the disc, the vibe of the record is simply brilliant. Turn The Page is an excellent opening track coupled with multiple layers, where Skinner’s rhyming warns of his intentions to unleash his music revolution. Declaring his credentials on one of the opening lyrics “I produced this using only my bare wit/ Give me a jungle or garage beat and admit defeat.” The third track Let’s Push Things Forward continues Skinner’s gripe with the current state of music today. Skinner calls on some friends to reiterate his idea over top a laid-back vibe “they say that everything sounds the same/then you go buy them/ there’s no excuses then my friend/ let’s push things forward.” These slew of tracks make it easy to forget the man behind the fury is nothing more than a scrawny bloke from middle class England.

After establishing himself, Skinner begins to release his quarrels with the current state of urban culture. The classic Geezers Need Excitement slices down the unfortunate Stella induced sub-culture of British Hooliganism. The dark beats coupled perfectly with the critical lyrics of the hotheaded blokes, easily make this an excellent track. Too Much Brandy mocks the stupidity of the boot-and-rally lifestyle of youth of today. Don’t Mug Yourself captures the feeling of the morning after perfectly. The Irony Of It All unleashes a highly sarcastic parley between a stoner and a hooligan on the state of drug laws, over top of a mismatch of beats.

But Original Pirate Material is clearly at its best when Skinner’ softens the drums and divulges through personal imagery. The excellent It’s Too Late elegantly relives a dissolved relationship. The soft drum beat and the use of a slow drawn violin matches the agony of the lyrics and back-up vocals. Easily the standout track on this album is Weak Become Heroes, which is a slow montage of soft beats and a beautiful piano loop. Musically it highlights the nostalgic atmosphere of the lyrics. The song is nothing more than a realistic connection to the naivety of ecstasy, pissers, Oakenfold, bouncers, triples, tall cans and nightclub culture in general.

The Streets debut Original Pirate Material is a capsule of urban life, for both sides of the Atlantic. The combination of garage beats and classical loops makes it a perfect album to lounge to. But the best ingredient of this disc is the lyrics, which encompass so many elements of urban society. Occasionally Skinner’s opinions become irritating, but the sheer number of standout tracks overshadows any real faults. While on this side of the Atlantic this record can easily be tossed aside as euro-trash, with some compassion and patience its perfection is revealed.
Eat lead. See how riled up you've got me? :cool:
 
I think we get your point now :) :rolleyes:
 
i've not listened to the albums, cos the singles i've heard make me want mr skinner to fall under a bus or two, and it's very unlikely i'll ever do so. My music tastes are somehwat different, each to their own and all that, but i'd much rather have on some Marilyn Manson.
 
mylo said:
I think we get your point now :) :rolleyes:

The force is strong in young Skinner. :D
 
For those of you unaware of how these things work, Gorshin doesn't "do" criticism or discussion. For the Magnum Opus of his threads type "Paula Radcliffe" as a search reference :clown:.
 
:rotfl: well put Tons ;)
 
What about Paula Radcliffe? See the New York marathon? :D :hiya:
 
Tons of fun said:
For those of you unaware of how these things work, Gorshin doesn't "do" criticism or discussion. For the Magnum Opus of his threads type "Paula Radcliffe" as a search reference :clown:.

I do both criticism and discussion. 'Original Pirate Material' is genious (criticism) and i'm conversing with you (discourse).
 
Well if you enjoy listening to an album where every track sounds the same......
 
JohnG said:
Well if you enjoy listening to an album where every track sounds the same......

Try listening to it. Have you?
 
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