Grand Don't Come For Free, A [PA] - Streets (The) > Reviews > Skinners one up!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money

Advantages:	A veritable rock opera
Disadvantages:	Why didn't I buy the first album?

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Mike Skinners second album is just plain glorious. This album harks back to the "concept" album of the 70's ( and no I can't really remember). It is true British, dare I say English urban poetry.
The story that flows through the songs is a little tale of lost money (the Grand in the title), romance, lost love, drunken holiday, then...oh if I tell you it might spoil it, go buy it.
The production on some of the numbers are fantastic, the skill behind this clashes beautifully with the lyrics as they often describe the mundane and the minutiae of this boys life.
"So then I move my hand up from down by my side
It's shakin’, my life is crashin’ before my eyes
Turn the palm of my hand up to face the skies
Touch the bottom of her chin and let out a sigh "

There are 11 tracks on the album;

1. It Was Supposed to be so Easy
2. Could Well Be In
3. Not Addicted
4. Blinded By The Light
5. I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
6. Get Out of My House
7. Fit But You Know It
8. Such A Twat
9. What is he Thinking
10. Dry Your Eyes - in my opinion the best on the album and just released as a single.
11. Empty Cans

I don't know about what genre of music Mike belongs to and to label him I think would be restrictive, but I do think that street poetry fits.
I think it's an admirable quality for someone to expose so much of their inner process in a creative pice such as this.
The album gave me a fantastic insight into the young male in love and yeah perhaps thats too late for me but all you young teen girls take a listen and know they hurt just as much as us.