A Grand Don't Come For Free (CD)


The Streets

CD
Currently Unavailable
SHIPS FREE in U.S.

Amoeba Review

Michael Keefe 06/16/2010

UK rapper and electronica producer Mike Skinner – who records as Streets – earned critical accolades and a UK #10 slot for his first album, Original Pirate Material, a post-house hip-hop record that alerted the world to his keen observations and hip electronica. He expanded his musical palette on his next outing, the brilliant concept album A Grand Don't Come for Free. Over the course of eleven tracks, Skinner chronicles the day in the life of a lovable loser. His average bloke anti-hero is a forgetful and suspicious druggie. Nonetheless, the listener can't help but sympathize with, and root for, this young man who loses a thousand quid, crushes on a girl, gets wasted at a club, and brawls with a repairman. The music ranges from sweet, mellow, and pop-leaning ("Could Well Be In" and UK #1 single "Dry Your Eyes") to menacing and beat-heavy ("Not Addicted" and "What Is he Thinking"). In between is the steady-paced, Blur-riffing "Fit But You Know It" and a lurching rap duet with MC C-Mone, the hilarious breakup song "Get Out of My House." The album (and Skinner's tale) concludes with "Empty Cans," an epic that brings about redemption through a lyrical do-over, which is musically cued by the squeal of rewinding tape. The Streets' A Grand Don't Come for Free is the rare album where innovative and memorable musical ideas mesh with an engaging story line. Along with mostly rave reviews, the record reached #1 in England and a modest #82 in the US.



Track Listing



Disc 1 Titles
Artist
Length
1.
It Was Supposed to Be So Easy
The Streets 03:55
2.
Could Well Be In
The Streets 04:23
3.
Not Addicted
The Streets 03:40
4.
Blinded by the Lights
The Streets 04:44
5.
Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
The Streets 04:36
6.
Get Out of My House
The Streets 03:52
7.
Fit But You Know It
The Streets 04:14
8.
Such a Twat
The Streets 03:47
9.
What Is He Thinking?
The Streets 04:40
10.
Dry Your Eyes
The Streets 04:31
11.
Empty Cans
The Streets 08:14

CD
Currently Unavailable
$14.98
SHIPS FREE in U.S.
x Sign-up for emails, sales alerts & more:


loading...

Register


New customers, create your Amoeba.com account here. Its quick and easy!


Register

Don't want to register? Feel free to make a purchase as a guest!

Checkout as Guest

Currently, we do not allow digital purchases without registration

Close

Register

Become a member of Amoeba.com. It's easy and quick!

All fields required.

An error has occured - see below:

Minimum: 8 characters, 1 uppercase, 1 special character

Already have an account? Log in.

Close

Forgot Password






To reset your password, enter your registration e-mail address.




Close

Forgot Username





Enter your registration e-mail address and we'll send you your username.




Close

Amoeba Newsletter Sign Up

Submit
Close