Computers And Blues

There's a pretty relaxed vibe to this album; it's not chillout music or anything, but it feels like the end of an era, in that it's warm and vaguely wistful, but not really immediate. In true Skinner style, he's going out sounding as he started, with a spliff and a reflective whisky, rather than with a bombastic bang. This is the last Streets album, and it's no exaggeration to say they encapsulated some people's youth, especially if you were into them between 2002 and 2005. `A Grand Don't Come For Free' has an incredible nostalgic emotional resonance to me and several people I know, and it's not just our rose tinted classes; most end of decade lists had The Streets top ten, with The Guardian claiming `Original Pirate Material' was the best album off the 00's [not sure I agree, but still...].

Quality wise it's been downhill since the first two releases, but as a final album this is a more than respectable effort. His flow isn't great these days, but as a beat-maker he's maturing with age like a fine wine, and will craft a fine career as a producer if he wants to stay on behind the scenes in the music business. Lyrically he's preoccupied with technology, with liberal references to Google, Facebook etc, and is essentially wondering about electronics and their relation to human emotions, with copious weed references, for old times' sake.

Nothing on here is going to match the finest songs he's written [Weak Become Heroes, Blinded By The Lights etc], but if you go in with lower expectations, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find fourteen very enjoyable, nicely crafted tracks. `Blip on a Screen', `Puzzled By People' and `Trust Me' are my favourites so far. Also, if you get his `pre-album' Cyberspace and Reds, released for free online two weeks ago, there's another thirteen good songs with a plethora of fine guest verses from various grime artists, which this album could have done with. Either way, he's released almost thirty good songs in the last month, which is pretty impressive by anyone's standards, let alone from someone apparently bored with the music industry and past his prime as a relevant songwriter. It's hard to criticise, since Skinner seems such a likeable dude, and in fact `likeable' is probably the best way to describe this LP. Not a classic, but likeable at least, and sometimes that's all you need.

If this is truly the last we are to hear of The Streets then
Mike Skinner has indeed managed to quit the stage on a high.

The mixture of droll humour and heart-on-sleeve emotionality
we have come to expect from this likeable urban hero is as
evident here as it has been since his 2002 debut, 'Original
Pirate Material'. 'Computers and Blues' delivers fourteen new
songs some of which finds Mr Skinner dabbling with synthesised
vocal treatments more than he has in the past but this should
not distract us from the canny deadpan rhyming to which we
have become accustomed. The lines are still as sharp as a new
Fred Perry polo shirt worn out on the town for a first time.

There's a lot of delicious detail to look out for. 'Going Through
Hell' struts its stuff like a backstreet hoedown! The arrogant
swagger is enchanced by some stridently soulful backing vocals
(listen out for the hilarious "Nee-Naw" ambulance siren!)

In 'The Roof Of Your Car' Mr Skinner does what Mr Skinner does best.
He mixes up charmingly funny imagery with a liberal dose of pathos
to fine effect. That he has chosen to sing it together with a
chipmunk is a lapse of judgement we should not hold against him!

Another small furry creature seems to have snuck into the studio
on 'Puzzled By People' but the collaboration is again a happy one!

Coming in at just under three minutes 'Those That Don't Know'
pulls up the rug and delivers a terrific dose of inner-city funk.
(Kind of James Brown-meets-Bob The Builder on a fire escape!)

'We Can Never Be Friends' is a really cracking composition, not
least of all due to the contribution of The Music's Robert Harvey.
A proper song with a proper chorus and a quirky guitar solo.

Final track 'Lock The Locks' is a beautifully constructed swansong.
Claire Maguire's vocal support adds warmth and depth to the mix.

'Computers and Blues' is a worthy "goodbye".
I wonder what Mr Skinner will get up to next.

Highly Recommended.

As with all Streets albums I find they take a few listens before the words and the tunes sink in.

I found myself expectedly finding it quite fantastic! The lyrics are sometimes funny and wrapped up in feel-good tunes.

Overall the album has an up-beat and dance feel at times with some eletric and acoustic guitars thrown in for good measure.

If you like the Skinner style then i'm sure you will thoroughly enjoy this.

Just don't expect it to be a 'grand don't come for free'.