For a few weeks now, I’ve been hearing a British rap tune on Indie 103.1. It’s a fun song, but I never knew much about it.
I heard a little explanation of the album on the radio today and was intrigued. After I got home tonight, I took the girls out to the record store and picked up a copy of the album, A Grand Don’t Come for Free by The Streets.
The album completely rocks. The man behind The Streets is Mike Skinner and he tells the story of a day in the life of a young British man through rap and music.
The day starts he tries to return some videos to the rental store and his day starts to go badly. Along the way we see him fighting with his girlfriend, trying to track down a missing thousand pounds, hit on a girl in a pub and many other snapshots of life. He struggles with the modern day problems of a cell phone with a low battery and trouble with an ATM. Hilarious stuff.
The best song, Get Out of My House, is when his girlfriend kicks him out and you can hear him begging in the background while she continues to explain his failings. His pathetic rationalizations for his behavior are pure genius.
Good fresh music in these days of American Idol and sober Metallica ain’t easy to find.
Give it a listen.
6 thoughts on “A Grand Don’t Come for Free”
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Yeah I’ve been enjoying that little gem on Indie as well. Thanks for the positive review of the rest of the album. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to chance it based on one funny and enjoyable song. Guess I’ll give it go.
Don’t be dissin’ American Idol.
You still listenin’ to that pseudo-indie ClearChannel station? 🙂
Sounds a little like Del the Funky Homosapien. Similar “everyday life” subject matter.
this album is a gem. but it was tough to get into… all these tedious details of his life, off key singing, strange irregular beats and broken pentameter are challenging at times, but it is really unique and special and grew on me immensely. glad to hear you picked it up and dug it!
Hi Michael,
Upon your recommendation, I downloaded, er “acquired” A Grand Don’t Come for Free, and boy am I enjoying it. Its just something different for a change. Thanks for blogging about it!