User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 226 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 180 out of 226
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Mixed: 18 out of 226
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Negative: 28 out of 226
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brucehAug 2, 2004its good
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EvanPMay 20, 2004A modern day flaneur, creating a philosophy upon the most mundane of daily activities. His concept is simple; it just a day in the life of Mike Skinner.
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GennaroFMay 20, 2004Brilliant!!! let all the naysayers eat a D$#@. We love you M.S. keep it comin.RESPECT
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AndrewTJun 3, 2004Pure Quality! Great story on top of good beats. Dry Your eyes is by far The Streets best ever song.
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DJAug 2, 2004its of the hook
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KelDec 1, 2005
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ClaireMar 6, 2005great albumn and even better when hes live!!
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rogersJul 28, 2005This CD is incredible. I can listen to it all the time and get something new from it. To Trust or not to Trust that is the name of the Game.
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NGMay 15, 2004Mike Skinner took a lot of risks to make this album. The first time I listened to it, I thought that is was less than Original Pirate Material, but the more you listen to it, the more the pieces fall together. Briljant album; if this is the best album of 2004, I think we have no right to complain.
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HalesMay 25, 2004master pece for the first time in a long time it's an album thats moved me
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[Anonymous]May 20, 2004Bloody Superb!!!!
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GennaroFMay 20, 2004Brilliant!!! let all the naysayers eat a D$#@. We love you M.S. keep it comin.RESPECT
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GennaroFMay 20, 2004Brilliant!!! let all the naysayers eat a D$#@. We love you M.S. keep it comin.RESPECT
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AndySSep 6, 2004
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joolzmonksJan 9, 2005Best album I've come across in about a decade. Well, five years at least.
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flatulantfartsFeb 3, 2005yea!!
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ChriscFeb 3, 2005at the end of the record, you feel as if you have reached nirvana
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ElizabethRMar 1, 2005This album is amazing. Mike Skinner talks about the most normal things in the most minute detail that really makes you think. If you pay attention, the songs all together also tell a story, which is something I've never heard before. Much more polished and together than "Original Pirate Material."
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BriannaJMay 20, 2005I am AMAZED!
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critic.xhost.roAug 7, 2005the whole album story is greatly depicted, very nice tracks and awesome beats, esp "blinded by the light" and "dry your eyes"
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ScholesyOct 19, 2006Better than OPM. MUCH better. This album is a true storytelling classic
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dannywJan 13, 2007mint
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AbiCNov 1, 2004this album is truly original and uniqe i give it 10 out of ten because i am totally in love with this album.
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SethB.Dec 2, 2004
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robinrDec 2, 2004Great album... nobody and i say nobody makes this kind of music.. inovative and extreem. Lyrics that people can relate to and maybe even some phylosofie in the tracks Brilliant
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RyanMOct 4, 2004just 1 word for this album BRILLIANT !!!
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MelSMay 15, 2004One of the best CD's released in the past few years. It doesn't matter if you like rap or not, you should listen to this album.
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SeanCMay 16, 2004This disc is brilliant.
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MartBMay 20, 2004Mike is a class above everyone else.Brilliant album.Get it.
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JeffFormOzMay 24, 2004exceptional album.
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nicoJun 8, 2004Genius. Make sure you listen to it from start to finish.
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ihlfilugJul 11, 2004cool
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JohnnyAJan 15, 2005I love it!
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AdamRJan 4, 2005
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StoPMar 18, 2005
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ThomasMJun 19, 20051 of the best albums ever skinners jus wicked and it was the best concert ive bin 2 an its great music 2 get lost in
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ChrisTOct 13, 2006Skinner is lyrically amazing. His songs flow is great, and is accent while rapping is an amazing asset to his songs. He can take really normal situations, and relay them in a perfect sence.
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davecFeb 28, 2006i love this album its great. blinded by the lights is awesome
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PaulVMar 11, 2006I hate rap, and I mean REALLY HATE. But this album? it's absolutely fantastic - It's just plain unique, Skinner has created an absolutely amazing, unique and creative album that has nothing else to compare with. Some nice easy background music. 100% recommended - and just to reiterate, I _HATE_ rap, but BUY THIS!
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TomRMar 19, 2006
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sachepMar 28, 2006Incredible, unique, - a genius is born.
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SimonEApr 21, 2006It's at least as good as his first album.
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BryanFNov 11, 2004This album was great!
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bryonfOct 29, 2004A Grand... ...the answer to hip hop with meaning
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TKMay 16, 2004Masterpiece.
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MacThelistMay 16, 2004Truly extraordinary. Like a difficult novel, it bears repeated readings, each of which reveals more of a story, each layer of which is increasingly complex and substantially more satisfying.
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JasonSJun 22, 2004This almost seems as a sort of homage to the narritive form that one would find in such rock opera's as Quadrophenia or Tommy. Yet, this seems to be executed much better than that. Yes, it's a story, but its a wonderful piece of music as well. It is good to know that someone in the hip hop genre still has innovation on their side. Mike Skinner does not dissappoint.
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CJJul 19, 2004Crackin album, And wicked live act!
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vincegAug 18, 2004This isnt just an album here; its a story. Mike Skinner transforms simple mundane daily activities into something smart and relevant without comprimising musical content.
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brennenCMar 16, 2005Shit man! awsome : )
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LouiseBApr 11, 2005Now, I know a lot of you think that this album is shit.. but you're all wrong! There's no-one else I have heard that can make an album that tells a story the way Mike does on this. I also don't think that this is only an album for hip-hop lovers cos anyone who loves good lyrics, tunes and catchiness should love this..... but thats only my opinion!
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TimDMar 29, 2006A simply brilliant album. Has to be heard to be believed. Great story
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LaviniaHJan 19, 2007loved it
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AlexBDec 14, 2006One of the best albums I have listened to in a long time.
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Aug 15, 2011brilliant from beginning to end,that all I need to say.
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Apr 17, 2013An urban hip-hopera masterpiece. Mike Skinner is a genius when it comes to this type of thing and raps over a series of electronic samples and textures. Standout track is obviously Dry Your Eyes.
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JasonTMay 30, 2004Doesn't have the stand out tracks of Original Pirate Material, but still is a great collection of musings. "Empty Cans" is a brilliant record.
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JoelJul 9, 2005This album is difficult to define. It's like "The Office" meets "The Wall" or something. The quality of the rapping (or talking) and music is usually nothing to write your homies about, but somehow the end result works great. I've listened to it about five times now straight through, and I rarely listen to albums straight through. Great piece of work they made.
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PelicaineOct 28, 2006Some of the most unique beats I've ever heard. This album is well put-together. An enjoyable story that gets better with each listen. Get this album any way you can! A must-hear.
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PHOEBEPAug 9, 2004GRAND DONT COME FOR FREE is a really majestic album. I find The Strees a great new breath of good shit. Keep it up, yeah.
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AdamMJan 20, 2005this is a great album that holds a hidden story if listned to correctli
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JoyLApr 18, 2005Great Album. Even better in concert. Although for me Original Pirate Material is still my favorite Skinner album.
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PaulieJan 4, 2006The spirit of Ian Drury lives on .
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DaveVMay 27, 2004It took guts to make a concept album in the genre, great stuff
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LawrencePMay 31, 2004At first listen i didn't think this record was beter than "Original Pirate Material." I was wrong...Mike has showned me a side of him i didn't think he had in him. Good job mate...keep up the good work.
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mattaMay 27, 2005A great album and so special becuase MIke Skinner truly is making music like no one else. Original Pirate Material was, song for song, probably a better record, but this one is so intriguing and works so well becuase Skinner's ability to tell a truly engrossing story over the course of this cd's eleven tracks. great stuff.
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ZachL.Jul 23, 2005This album is definetly best when listened to in it's entirety. Definetly unique and innnovative.
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JoshSFeb 12, 2006A great follow-up album and depicts a young-single man's life with his mates, girls and money excellently
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AlexPJun 12, 2007Americans don't get this record. LOL at Americans.
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AP.Feb 20, 2008Really cool album! People who say that they don't get it just don't listen to the words or even the music. The story is really cool and the beats are backing vocals are great. (Try out Dizzee Rascal's Boy In Da Corner if you like this) It may at first be a little hard to get used to (being American, it's hard to at first get past the accent) but it's ultimately rewarding!
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EliTAug 17, 2009
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JohnDOct 11, 2004this is what hip hop COULD be, but instead we have to listen to Petey Pablo.
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elainecMay 24, 2004complete original anybody who slates this album will be eating their words in years to come, a sure classic!!!
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JonGSep 23, 2004Although not as revolutionary as OPM, AGDCFF still impresses the mind. It's obvious that Mikee hasn't lost his skill of master storytelling, but at some points the flow gives way to the story. Still, an album I will be listening to for years to come. Cheap too, making this as essential as the pricier OPM.
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keithmJan 22, 2005Wow. From the first word I was swept off my feet into the middle of London, watching the world pass by with a new, fresh perspective. Who knew simple speech could be so profound?
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AWeinkleJun 19, 2005A refreshingly contemporary, listenable hip-hoppish, gen Y Everyman. My daughters played it this week and this baby boomer was instantly engaged... bought a legit copy of the CD for myself
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pADDYAJul 15, 2007Got this for
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MattSJul 28, 2009
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Mar 2, 2013This album is big in the game! Tells a quality story throughout and tells it from an average person's point of view from getting high to heart break. Quality stuff!
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Apr 14, 2015Wow. This album is even better than the first. The Streets have an excellent way of telling stories in such a picturesque way that it almost feels more like a movie than an album.
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BeckAJun 6, 2004
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AndrewPDec 15, 2004Great cd, but often a bit too much of a story than a song. The streets rule.
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jwMar 29, 2006
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ArnieGeezerJun 23, 2004
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patrickmJul 10, 2004
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mikeymikeyJan 30, 2005
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MattBOct 15, 2004
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T.BoneDec 16, 2004
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DDMay 14, 2004
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SmenkharonMay 19, 2004Very good, more of a cohesive album than his debut but not as many killer individual songs.
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ChrisPJun 22, 2004I don't love it, but I really like it. Some of the beats and "singing" (e.g. the chorus for 'such a twat') can be bland/obnoxious but it's very engaging overall - including Mike's "British flow".
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joedJun 25, 2004Class most of the songs are amzin the bonus track is simply class!
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AndreasJul 17, 2004
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DerekNFeb 13, 2005
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BRDMar 24, 2005He deserves credit for reviving the concept album. Might even be the most coherent one ever. The song about being on ecstacy in the club is great. There is a lot of obscure Brit-slang, which will limit accessibility in the US.
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Nov 30, 2015
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Apr 18, 2016
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shabaroOct 7, 20048 for the originality,10 for the creativity of the samples and loops; 4 for not trying to take this to the next level; 9 for the production quality; 4 for trivial lyrics. total a well deserved 7.
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CiaránMcCNov 8, 2004A little disapointing thought the 1 album is way ahead of this but did like the beats!!
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JohnPMay 17, 2004
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Awards & Rankings
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Vibe11 frenetic, oddball, and extremely original tracks. [Jun 2004, p.154]
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The problem with "A Grand Don't Come for Free" is that the pieces often work better as stories than as songs.... But it is still a thrill to hear Mr. Skinner toy with the form that he invented.
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This makes engrossing listening if the effort suits you, but it's useless as background music.