The Streets

The Soundwaves Vinyl Of The Week is Original Pirate Material by The Streets.

 

Back in 2002 when I was in college, a classmate who was a DJ turned me on to this album. It had a different feel than other electronic music albums that I listened to at the time. It had a hip-hop swagger, and the vocals were English, as in from the UK.

 

This 2023 re-issue is pressed on green vinyl and is a Rough Trade exclusive that I picked up on a recent trip to London. It’s a cornerstone album for any UK garage or hip-hop fan. Mike Skinner, a.k.a. The Streets handles everything: the beats, rhymes, and that unmistakable Birmingham drawl. 

 

The opening track “Turn the Page” is like manifesto with orchestral violin rhythms. “Has It Come to This?” remains the ultimate garage anthem. Skinner quoting in the chorus, “Original Pirate Material, You’re listening to The Streets, Lock down your aerial”, in simple UK slang translates to, don’t let others change your perspective. “Same Old Thing” is a highlight for me. He uses string instrument samples and killer beats that blend well with his working class wordplay. “Don’t Mug Yourself” is a bouncy cautionary tale about chasing girls who ghost you. It’s pure comedic gold! Think of “The Irony of It All” as a hilarious pub argument between two people, a lager infused geezer and a smug stoner with two distinct perspectives.

 

Across the 14 tracks, Original Pirate Material flips between club bangers, spoken-word vignettes, and lo-fi experiments, glued together by Skinner’s observational genius. It’s British youth culture bottled into one incredible album.