I've never wanted my money back more ...
2
By ubrgeek
Never, ever have I wanted a refund after buying an album as badly as I wish I could get one for this stinker. There are no redeeming tracks, the writing is sophomoric and it contains none of the punch of the earlier albums. No matter how much of a fan you might be, avoid this one. It will detract from your opinion of his earlier stuff.
A Suprise.
5
By October81
This album isn't the Streets best work, but my god some of this music is beautiful. The strings on The Escapist give me chills, and it really does give more mening to his words. I admit that some of the lyrics aren't as gritty as his earlier ones, but I do believe that they are jsut as good, just more personal. The only really weak song on this album is the Sherry end, which is kind of annoying, a bit like War of the Sexes off of Hardest. And yes the tunings on some things are a little off, The drums on On the Edge of a Cliff and the singing in Everything is borrowed. Still an insteresting step for Mr. Skinner. I wonder where we go from here...
FANTASTIC
5
By UKE_Knoxville_TN
This is a fantastic album, in its own way! I love it because Mike dares to be different, the streets has always been progressive starting with Original Pirate Materials using garage beats , Some of the best of Skinners work :) to Everything is Borrowed. On the Edge of the Cliff and Alleged Ledgens are 2 of my favorite songs.
Skinner Cheers Up
4
By phcool
This is not "Pirate Material." Tragedy is great drama, but "Everything Is Borrowed" is a wonderful album. The choice to use live instruments gives it a pulse; standout tracks include "Everything Is Borrowed," and "The Escapist," but heard in its entirety, the album stands up fine. I really enjoyed it, despite some obvious cheese in the lyrics. "Flip" and "Edge" are Mike's efforts to provide a cheerful medidation, and he largely succeeds. It's obvious Skinner is trying to break out of his acquired persona into something more meaningful, but he hasn't quite put his finger on it yet. Regardless, this is Skinner upsetting expectations again, and it's quirky enough to succeed. Don't buy this album first, but don't toss it either, it's worthwhile.
Walk these Streets
4
By Estorbo
Mike Skinner has once again taken a style that is all his own and written an album that tackles topics as heavy as suicide and the extinction of the human race and still managed to make me smile with his witty cockney delivery and leftfield lyrics. "Heaven for the Weather" and "The Escapist" are highlights that represent both sides of the emotional coin.
Excellent Music
5
By Jimbo Dawe
Mike is maturing, I didn't think I'd be ready for that. But this is a great listen. Cheers!
Streets fans, DO NOT MISS THIS!
5
By WormholeAnthropologist
This is the first review I ever wrote but I had to come on and plug this CD. This is really an amazing album. I am a huge The Streets fan ever since I heard Turn the Page about 6 years ago. This CD is A LOT different but it is incredible. This is where The Streets gets deep, exestential, and intelligent. Do not miss this or let the rating throw you off.
Go on You Tube and watch the video for The Escapist to see - I love that video. I usually buy stuff on Amazon MP3 because it is DRM free but I bought this on iTunes just for that video.
Keep it up The Streets!
AWESOME!!!
4
By zcheeze
Love this album! The beats are great, the lyrics are spot-on. I think I may like this one more than the last album...
the kids on here talkin' trash about this album must be... kids.
Leave this good stuff for the grown-ups.
Great and Different
5
By tha j-train
What people don't realize is that this is a different album than anything Mike Skinner has ever made. It isn't Original Pirate Material or his other albums. I didn't know what to think when I first heard it, but after a few listens I realized that this is great. Mike Skinner never stop making great music.
You have got to be joking
1
By Grime Fan 2008
What happened to the original, definitive Streets albums? Mike Skinner has truely gone astray with his musical career. How can one manage to go from recording near perfect odes to young British street culture and life, creating a seemlessly spoken love tale to which we can all relate, to generating pure rubbish? The third album, a misdirected and utterly half-assed approach to mocking Epicurian celebrity over-indulgence and drug culture, was bad enough surely. However, the unforunate Mr. Skinner has now realeased his most recent work, a compilation of odd, limp, and utterly uninteresting tales of what exactly? Mike has transfromed from the lovable, carefree, and ultra-slick garage revolutionary to some sort of half-decent street poet, mumbling over a cadre of mismatched elevator beats, soul long since dissolved. The Streets honestly used to be my favorite band. I haven't even bought the last two albums.
