heres how to make Dance interesting. Mike and his home studio and the collaborators are the Streets. there's an interesting combination of groove and Garage with a taster of hip hop & g-funk all accompanying some rough yet humourous jamming

this is one of those albums that really makes you sit back and listen and appreciate the raw quality of the music as a whole then question why the hell arn't i making music.

this is an awesome album. if this is english rap then im in ... the sounds are really good, and the lyrics are almost poetic in places ... and that 'all music guide' review is the exact problem with music today; 'the raps are juvenile and lightweight' ... well, look 'all music guide' reviewer-loser, the problem with a lot of todays music is people taking themselves too seriously (see every other rapper today, and all those awful boy bands) and not just doing it because they enjoy it ... this is a breath of fresh air (copyright cliche machine 2002) ... im not a fan of a couple of the songs, but you get that ... but all up the album is top stuff, incredibly entertaining and funny in places, and in others thinly veiled social comments ... this is excellent ...… Expand

Refreshing, exciting, adventurous, accomplished, fun. Just buy it now - it's like nothing you've ever heard before!

Played it right the way through loved it, played it again.

How can anyone doubt this album? original drums and bass with poetry layed on top -the last time I heard anything this good was The Criminal Minds Tales fom The Wasteland EP - bring on the new sound of urban music

buy this unless you're broke- only coinage to show

awesome

not bestseller but cold classic

beautifully done!

to hear in every situation

Picked this album in Melbourne before I moved to London, cant do the tube without it.

Amazing. The best debut of the 21st Century without question. Probably the best debut full stop since 'Definately Maybe'. Incredible.

Ooof, Now you might think that, that was a good ooof but it aint. This is an abysmal album. They call him a poet...What? Mr Skinner is a chav with no musical intuition whatsoever.

Mark G. I guess that American hiphop is much better? Much better to talk about pimps, 40's and hoes This is what is wrong about society, people complaining for the wrong reasons!

Dis Album is phat. It is seriously the best album i have experianced in a long time. A beutifully done album. Mike puts together each song perfectly. Keep up the good work Mike. TWO THUMBS UP

every song tells a story to which you're inevitabley drawn into, and the beats complement them perfectly... i havent enjoyed an album as much as this one for ages.

Its everything you feel about life with Mike Skinner putting a beat to it. This really is a voice of pure observation .How can anyone beat this album ?

its sorted

yes yes yes yes this is the album I would have made if I had the time or talent /grumps

Turd album made by a Brummie putting on a false cockney accent. Fully wank!

Absolutely brilliant album, nothing else will ever sound the same.

Very Good... I've been living in the U.K for 9 months now and I find the music, Garage, very good.

Excellent beats, good samples, a lot of power conveyed through this album. The lyrics are well-worth the listen, wich can't be said of most of the actual musical production. Only down note being the ever-flat-tone voice of Skinner, a few more collaborations would have given the album a less monochord feeling to it. But a must have !

intolerable rubbish thats a chor to listen to. definately one of the most overrated albums of the year. Don't bother!

incredible....im 17 and this is the best album ive heard in years.....Mike Skinner is a genius!

The Streets are well and truely Sharp Darts, Spitting Masters!! I just glad to be a passanger!!

there is only one word needed to describe this album "wicked". the streets aka mike skinner is a lyrical genius and those who slate him or his album obviusly dont see class music when it slaps them in the face! when will he be doing a tour?

a classic already, best tunes I've heard in years and one of my top five albums ever bought .. Empties what is full, fills what is empty and scratches where it itches.

Skinner's use of imagery is amazing, transports you back to the day (weak become heros), has you in stitches (the irony of it all), and reminds you lost love. I was one of the very lucky ones to see them play thier first gig ever in Dublin, if you get a chance to see them live go.

THE best thing to come out of the album music charts in years.. Clever, funny, entertaining, it's one of those albums you'll listen to over and over again and find hard to get sick of... Let's push things forward!

This is home studio bangers and mash for a new generation, man. Get with it!

Very 'Relative' .Great to listen to whilst pillin', i cant wait for the sequel.

This lad has is down!! Skinner has focussed the past years into tracks. I heard "has it come to this?" & thought this boy was in my lounge, enjoying part of my life. Totally fresh. The track "weak become heroes" brought back memories of past day's. Summarising the previous day's in one. "it's too late" is one of the few tracks that has me with the odd tear in the eye. Keep it up & look for the next set, especially over here in Oz!!!!… Expand

the best album ive heard 4 yearz. da new face of garage

d album is da best album out,well dun mike ITS GREAT. n mike ur very good lukin!

classic album. good stuff indeed

it is the poo poo!

not my genre by a long long way, but an album i can totally relate too. go buy it !

Ranges from pretty good to totally inspired. The beats, the voice, the lyrics - everything is fresh. Great debut.

A must have.......Mike Skinner is a very hott guy and he could go very far in this career.

This is just simply awesome. Mike Skinner is the voice of a new generation

i have'nt heard anything as good and honest as this for a long while. i felt that i should stop everything i was doing so that i didnt miss a word.

Original Pirate Material is ace! Hip Hop, Trip Hop and Jungle intelligently layered. Clever lyrics never fall into cheeseball humor Barenaked Ladies/They Might Be Giants quirkiness.

Omigosh, wot a fab cd. From 'Turn the page', through 'Has it come to this', 'Weak become heroes', 'The irony of it all'. Cool Brittania!

**Thumbs up** :p

good

god f*ing dammit! where's this album been all my life! best rhymes since lord byron... sit back and let ur mind be blown.

This is a stokr of genius from the man Mike Skinner i also have "a grand don't come for free" both awsome living in australia but originaly from Croydon London English Hip-Hop is not that big over here but Mike skinner is certainly well liked by anyone who listens to the albums an awsome 10/10 for this one!

As a poet, there is no better than this working class hero. I was tempted to give this album 10, but decided not to bcause i am mean. It is really really good quality...... i mean, he is what Doherty could be

This album is genius lyrically. The use of all the British slang is mindblowing and whoever cannot appreciate something different like this can rot in hell because they are closed minded.

I think everyone on the forum can agree that Steven C, that guy who gave this record a 1 is a complete mindless twat. We all know what kind of person Steven is: "Just give me a good beat to dance to while I try my hardest to look tough in the club, never mind the lyrics." You are out of your mind Bro. This record is the most enthralling & interesting record that has come out in the 21st century so far. Forget about Eminem! Forget about 50 "Fucking" Cent! You are locked on to the Streets.… Expand

WONDERFUL. Amazingly, surprisingly goog album!

Music for those that know nothing about music.

this album rocks the streets rule dont mug yourself is da best song eva its so catchy wot else is there to say it rocks

The most original album I have listened to this year

I LOVE IT!!! American's like myself that have heard this feel the same way, I can't wait til it comes out on Oct. 22 for us over here. The beat is great, and rap has never heard anything like this before! A+++

simply amazing. mike skinner is a talented, witty geeza

Clubbers poetry!!

this album is fuckin great

I feel in love with the music the moment I heard it! I think Skinner is a truly talented artists who percieves life as it is without that bloody sugar coating.

great funkin album. all 2002 hype music packed in one thang.

fantastic. period.

totally raw, smack you in the face. got to love it or leave it, no inbetweens

Obnoxious blather piled over dated loops and sfx. I don't understand all the acclaim. Is it a british thing?

I have got this album and I think it is really gr8 music cos it is so different but i think sometimes the swearing ruins it and it gets a bit repetitive (when they are swearing).

I'm from Australia and it's safe to say the The Streets have taken over down under too... AN AWESOME album that's bound to go big, no matter what country it's in!!!

He's not only the saviour of 2-step,but of the whole deadly british music scene.

Very eclectic, but all good nonetheless

lyrics fit the tune and keep u listening to every word as he expresses his views on the youth and wot we believe today - i give this man all success - be brave - fist closed

I'm 21, I work as a web developer and I like to go to raves. I like to record my own music and this album has not only shown what an average person can do when they want to create something, but it has inspired me to finally record my own first single! Thanks to the creator and the label, well worth my money!

Raving is bad. The youth of today are drug addicted whores. I find this album very satisfying Especially "the irony of it all". LOVELY. Look forward to the tour. See you all on the dance floor :-) X (-:

Mike Skinner aka The Streets aka the legend has crafted a whole new genre in my oppinion - I've just downloaded the album, now I'm off to buy the CD..call me silly but I feel I owe it to this guy. I'm 17 and from Northern Ireland so my mates get at me a lot for listening to it, saying its crap...but the lyrics are so brilliantly crafted and interesting I just ignore them...the brummie/mockney accent is perfect for the lyrics in question - pills, smirnoff ice and playstations - what really matters these days. Mike Skinner, I salute you...roll on the sequel to 'Original Pirate Material' !!… Expand

This album is a definite for your collection. This album is amazing for a debut!

Classic Lean Cuisine. Ya get me.

Genius. The most original album of our generation. Sam from Canada

BEST ALBUM I'VE HEARD IN AGES!!! the only album that's i've wanted to hear the second i finished it, SUCH AN AWSOME ALBUM! anyone know where i can get lyrics for the songs though (on the net)?

This is incredible! A mixture between Oakenfold/The Specials/Aesop Rock.

this cd is awesome

This is the best album ever, I love it. The lyrics are so good and its funny as fuck!

luv it!

A marvouls album.

The best thing since "Never Mind the Bollocks."

Theres no such thing as a perfect album, but this is the closest you'll get

Unbelieveable! People who give this any lower than a 10 should be in a mental home! People say the future of garage music comes from the streets, now the future of garage is the Streets!

I have a new fascination with british people after i heard The Streets! This is the best CD i have ever heard!

This album makes me want to cruise london with a street sweeper.

This album is shit. There's no other man I'd rather see die right now than mike skinner.

AWESOME! You have to get it

Skinner is my future ex-husband... Awesome CD... a must have!!!

en 10a!

well i found this on alta vista contrary to the lyrics in one of the songs.not an incredible album,but this guy clearly has something to say i just hope he can keep to his convictions and not bow to what he is clearly pissed off at

I picked this cd up on a whim and oh baby this thing was a jewel! A few of my boys had a listen to it during a session and it grew on them.

i first didnt like it.....then i got high and had a listen, it was love..........

Bout time some gezzer did somethin diferent. The lyrics are classical and so is the album!!!!!

Really amazing... This is real and the most impressive thing with the album to me is the lyrics. I discover new things when I listen to it today, even though I bought the album early! The best songs is Weak Become Heroes, It's Too Late and Has it Come To This. Amazing!

an excellent and very innovative album. fave song is 'the irony of it all'

Revolutionary! Like nothing I've ever heard before. Skinner combines a great mix of wicked samples with social commentary that we can all appreciate. "Turn the Page" is an incredible track.