Grand Don't Come For Free, A [PA] - Streets (The)

This album does have a parental advisory on it and this review does contain reference to this although when this is mentioned, it is written with asterix.

I first became aware of The Streets when they released Fit but You Know It way back in May 2004. I thought the song was very catchy and loved it but I only bought the album after hearing their next single from the album Dry Your Eyes which was played on loop for many weeks in my bedroom!

Who are The Streets?

The Streets are an English garage project from Birmingham. They are led by Mike Skinner who has been a member of the project since 1994. Johnny Drum Machine has also been a member since this time with Kevin Mark Trail having a brief break from the project between 2003 and 2007. In addition to these members, various other contributors have joined the project for various pieces over time including Morgan Nicholls, Wayne Bennett and Leo the Lion. The project have released five albums from 2002 to 2011 with this being their second release and in my opinion, was probably the album The Streets are most well known for.

A Grand Don’t Come For Free

This album debuted at number 2 in the UK charts in 2004 but it did later reach the number 1 spot. What I didn’t realise when I first purchased the album was that the songs actually depict a short while in the life of Skinner and tell us about particular events. The album tells the story in order meaning by the end of the album we, as the listener know how events panned out.

Track One – It was supposed to be so easy – This is a really strong opening to the album and the music that introduces the song grabs your attention and although it has quite a royal sound to it, the lyrics depict a far from royal situation! The lyrics tell us about how Mike wakes up one morning needing to rush back to the DVD rental shop to get the disc back in time but of course when he gets there he’s forgotten to put it in the case. He then proceeds to the cash point but he has no money. He then goes to get his savings which he has left at home, however when he gets there the moneys gone. The song basically tells of a nightmare day which we have all experienced once in a while. Everything seems to be going wrong for Mike and the same tune from the beginning of the song plays behind Mike’s vocals which gives the song a good beat and the chorus fits with this music especially well. I think this is an absolutely brilliant opening to the album and I really enjoy the realness of it. Mike sounds very annoyed and fed up which we all would be if we had dealt with the same that day. Favourite lyric “Press the fifty squid button….insufficient funds” Brilliant. 10/10.

Track Two – Could Well Be In – This was immediately one of my favourite songs on the album. It was released as the last single from the album in late 2004. This has a bit more of a tune to it and features chords from the piano with a drum and bass steady rhythm. It is a slower song that the first track and the lyrics talk about him meeting a girl who he really likes and why he thinks he could be in with a chance. I love the lyrics as they are so matter of fact. The song also includes vocals from another member of The Streets which gives it a slightly more soulful feel and this is definitely one you can sing along to. My favourite lyric is “I saw this thing on ITV the other week, said if she played with her hair she’s probably keen” 10/10.

Track Three – Not Addicted – This track begins with a harsh bassy beat and is quite abrupt. The opening lyrics are sung with short and sharp lines which grab the listener’s attention and this is followed up with a verse from Skinner. He raps quickly and accurately which really shows off his talents. The lyrics are about him being addicted to gambling – betting in shops in particular and him struggling to make it to the shop in time much to his annoyance. However, this is actually lucky for Mike as it means he’s managed to keep his prior winnings. Favourite lyric: “Yes I don’t know the first thing about football, but my instincts tell me this is my windfall” 8/10.

Track Four – Blinded by the Lights – This is definitely one of my favourites on the album and it always will be I think. This was released as a single in 2004 but it didn’t do as well as I thought it should have done. This song introduces the vocals of a female which is a nice touch because we haven’t heard a female voice up until now so it gives something fresh to the song. The song opens with a slow and steady beat which then gets a little bit faster when Mike starts talking. The lyrics tell us how Mike has gone to meet his girlfriend and his best friend in a club but he cannot see them anywhere and he’s beginning to get a bit frustrated. Favourite lyric: “Ah that’s proper rank, that tastes like hairspray” 10/10.

Track Five – Wouldn’t have it any other way – This song has a summery feel to it and drums and percussion instruments are used to provide the backing music along with a piano. It’s one of those songs that you just can’t help but nod your head along to and it always brings a smile to my face. It is quite a relaxed song compared to others on the album and the chorus is sung slowly and to a good tune. The lyrics refer to Mike just sitting in with his girlfriend. He knows he should be at the pub or out with friends but he just wants to be here with her just doing normal things, watching TV and chilling. Favourite lyric: “She does her ting, sitting on the sofa at her end” 9/10.

Track Six – Get out of my house – I’ve always really loved this song and I really like the attitude that is in it. This song also features female vocals and is basically an argument between Mike and his girlfriend and from the lyrics we can tell that this seems to happen quite often and after being kicked out, Mike’s always asked to come back. The reason is because Mike wasn’t there to rub her back and hold her hair back when she had a hangover and she thinks this is selfish…but he was at the chemist getting his medication to control his epilepsy. Initially Mike is apologising but in the second verse this all turns around and I love the way he basically tells her she’s a bit pathetic! Favourite lyric: “So when you being in bed is because last night you got p***ed, it’s you that’s being selfish, it’s you that don’t give a s**t” 10/10.

Track Seven – Fit But You Know It – I feel that this song was what really projected the group to fame and I think in the summer of 2004 everyone knew the lyrics to this song. The lyrics talk about Mike going away on holiday, without his girlfriend. Whilst there he meets a girl and yes, he does find her attractive but he also notices that she also finds herself very attractive! The song includes lots of details of drunken holidays – which give a fun feel and definitely brings a smile to my face. The song is really upbeat and has a really catchy tune to it making it one on the album that once you’ve heard; it will be going round your head for weeks. Favourite lyric: “See I reckon your about an eight or a nine, maybe even nine and a half in four beers time” 10/10.

Track Eight – Such a T**t – This song tells of Mikes return home after his holiday and he’s basically recovering from all of the alcohol induced fun from the week. He’s worried about how he got with another girl because although he thought him and his girlfriend were probably through it turns out they weren’t. He’s angry with himself and is on the phone to a friend in the song telling him how he feels about the situation and also sort of trying to explain why he did what he did. Favourite lyric: “Why did I have to go and do a stupid thing like that? Cuz yeah, it felt like we were through though but I could have ruined it, I’m such a t**t” 9/10.

Track Nine – What is he thinking? – The opening line of the song tells us that Mike thinks someone is lying to him. As the song progresses we learn that he is referring to his friend Scott. He knows he’s done something that he shouldn’t have done because Mike’s coat is in his kitchen when Mike didn’t take it there. Therefore, Mike is certain that Scott was the one who stole his £1000 which he noticed was gone back in track one. However, as the song progresses we learn that Scott actually got the coat from Mike’s girlfriend…is he trying to steal her? The song ends with Scott’s take on the situation and he tells us that actually it was Dan, Mikes best friend who left the coat there…it’s him that’s been seeing Mike’s girlfriend. This song has a heavy beat to it and Mike’s tone of voice suggests he is quite angry and miserable. Favourite lyric: “If he don’t stop looking at the TV though, I’m gonna wrap the cable round his wee throat” 8/10.

Track Ten – Dry Your Eyes – If I were to sum up this song in one word it would be Amazing. This song was a massive hit back in 2004 and I’m still really pleased when I hear it on the radio today. The song is quite different to the rest of the album and has a much more ballad like tone to it. The lyrics tell us how Mike is feeling after his break up with his girlfriend and it is such an emotional song and listening to the lyrics has made me cry on more than one occasion (yes I am a wimp but they are quite moving!). I just adore this song and I think that it shows a really different side to The Streets that I felt was unexpected. However, they do this just as well as their normal scene. Favourite lyric: “Your well out of order now, this is well out of town” 10/10

Track Eleven – Empty Cans – After Dry Your Eyes I do tend to feel quite sad so I am very pleased they decided to close the album with this song. This song has a really strong beat and has a much more upbeat tone to it making us all feel a bit more human again after the last track! The lyrics are quite angry with Mike telling us how everyone wanted everything to go wrong for him and how he hates all of his friends. I love the revelation that comes about in the song and it actually brings a smile to my face everytime I hear it. I’m not going to say what happens but it’s a very good ending to the album. This song is actually split into two parts with a long pause in the middle so only diehard fans tend to hear the ending of the song. The song is basically two songs but with the majority of the same lyrics with the first song being very negative and the second having a different conclusion. The second song includes the sound of the piano which gives the impression of early morning sunshine which gives a refreshing tone. Favourite lyric: “It’s the end of something I did not want to end, beginning of hard times to come” 10/10.

What I think of the album as a whole

I love this album! I love the way that it tells a story because although all individual songs tell a story I love how this one is like a continuous story and it is easy to follow. The album was written by Mike Skinner and tells the story of his recent events in life. The way it’s written shows off his talents and I think that in addition to the cleverness of the story going through the album, the songs are also fab to listen to out of order and the lyrics are amazing and very clever.

I really like the way that the album sounds so informal and as though you are actually there with Mike, listening to his story. The tone is very laid back and I think the majority of people will fall in love with Mike immediately because he simply tells it how it is. He’s not pretending in any way, this album depicts the truth. Yes, he recognises he’s not the perfect vision of a man, he knows he isn’t doing things as well as he could but he is real.

I have had this album since 2004 and its still being listened to today. I have it on my iPod and I often return to it because I find that although I know the songs inside out I still find it a refreshing and new experience every time I hear it. I think that Mike and the rest of the project are all extremely talented and by working together they manage to produce the most amazing music.

I feel that The Streets are not appreciated as much as they should be. I have other albums of theirs and these are also extremely strong but although this album was very successful, they seem to have gradually gone off of the radar since this. They are one of the more controversial groups out there because of the content of their music and the explicit language used but I think that the lyrics should be recognised beyond this – the lyrics are extremely clever and well thought out and they are definitely what I would consider to be some of the strongest lyrics I have heard.

I can’t really think of any group or individual that are similar to The Streets as I find them an extremely diverse concept and haven’t come across anything in the same genre that is quite like their music. Although artists like Dizzee Rascal, Kano, Artful Dodger and M.I.A are vaguely similar I believe that The Streets are really leading a genre of their own.

Additional Information

The album was released in 2004.
It is currently available on Amazon for £5.09.

Summary

I’m sure you have realised from this review that I adore this album and I would recommend it to anyone to be honest, either fans of garage or rap or even fans of well written pieces as I think the lyrics are very strong.