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Original Pirate Material by: Streets

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Rating: - Don't Mug Yourself-Buy This Album

WOW! is not a word that could sum up this masterpiece, 23 year old Mike Skinner A.K.A. The Streets is the garage sound we have all been waiting for and a whole lot more.
so ok..on paper it doesn't sound like it will be a massive dance album or the best music cd in the U.K., but Skinner deserves more credit then anybody out there.
Opener "Turn the Page" is just a sample of what is to come. "Has it come to this" is probably the most garagey track on the album. "Let's Push Thing's Forward" starts to show Mike's skills as a poet and rapper.
"Sharp Darts" , "Who Dares Wins" and " Who got the Funk?" are the shortest tracks on the album clocking at around under 2 mins for each of them, while the outro track "Stay Positive" lasts for over 6 mins.
"Geezer's need Excitement" goes more deeper into his sense of style and "Too much Brandy" show cases his love and hate for a famous drink. "Weak Become Heroes" is more of a piano type ballad but still works none the less.
"Don't mug Yourself is the track that just might make the odd listener want to buy this album with it's catchy beat and sing a long chorus.
Then we come to the best track on "Original Pirate Material" entitled "The Irony of it all", this track has to be the most orignal song ever. With two character's at the helm "Terry" and "Tim", this song has to be heard to understand what it is about.
Great debut Mike!! Finally Britain has it's own Eminem.

Rating: - This aint no pirate material

I bought this CD after listening to some of his tracks and then came here and read some reviews, which gently persuaded me to get it. Thank god i did, this is a great album, there are some great lyrics on it not forgetting the background beats.

The thing I like about this album is the great variety of tracks, they have all individually got something to offer and theres a range of different genres, so theres something for everyone

Skinners lyrics make this album, its just pure originality and pure genius - GET IT.

I think what's so attractive is that the lyrics ring true for many people and most people can relate to a lot of what he's saying

To summarise a great album, if u are thinking of getting it do, the only thing I would say is that if you are easily offended perhaps steer clear as some of the lyrics can be a bit crude

Rating: - Never thought you'd listen to rap?

Are you fed up of endless American rappers shoving "the ghetto" and "my homies" down your throat? Mike Skinner has produced a remarkable antithesis in his Original Pirate Material album.

Finally, there is someone who speaks about things that the British listener can relate to, namely what it's like in the suburban world of "the geezer." His style is more poetic than anything else, but without dressing up his experiences to be something that they're not. What's more, he injects a sly bit of humour in there as well.

If this man keeps up the good work, he will go far.

Rating: - marvellous

beautifully poetic, this album is harsh, sweet, funny and very real, utterly fantastic and a must have for all those tired of the too smooth and bling bling...

Rating: - You're listening to The Streets!

Having heard this album associated with the genre of garage, I thought I wouldn't like it. I imagined the cliché-ridden fantasies of the likes of So Stolid Crew (sic) or the Artless Bodger (sic), but this album bears far more resemblance to reality than the hackneyed acts that I had normally associated with garage.

Mike Skinner has had his lyrics compared to Shakespeare, which is a poor comparison, but there is certainly a great deal of art in his humourous and clever lyrics. The album is basically "A day in the life of a geezer". Although you can hear his Midlands accent quite clearly, he obviously knows a bit about life in London. It's pleasing to hear that he didn't try to hide his accent or assume one that wasn't his own. The lyrics are the antithesis of the lyrics used to describe the fantasy lives that most garage pundits seem to think they live, and it's something of a wake up call to those drawn into these fantasies. There's no pseudo-gangster fantasies, and no American borrowings here, just British city life.

Musically it melds together a number of disparate styles, not all of them very close to garage at all. If it seems that there is a nod given in the direction of early 80's social commentators The Jam ('Don't Mug Yourself' - that could easily be Bruce Foxton on bass) and The Specials ('Let's Push Things Forward'). There is certainly a garage feel to most of the music, but it's way broader in scope than the narrow definition that is UK garage.

This is certainly one of the best albums of 2002, and the more I hear this, the more I like it. I think I'll go and play it again..."Original Pirate Material - you're listening to The Streets!"

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