In Retrospect: The Streets - Original Pirate Material

Today, while running some errands here in Brooklyn, I saw some of the first dead leaves on the ground, indicating Fall. Maybe this is the first time I noticed them. Summer is coming to an end and you start to think about what has happened during the season that brings the most life, and prepare for the Winter of solitude, holidays and Family. Soon enough the days of BBQs, water slides and Bikinis will be over. This all got me thinking of the past. Much as Fall does.

So I have decided to look back on some albums that have effected my musical tastes and seeing if they still hold up. The first one I chose to look at is the first album by the 45th generation Roman, Mike Skinner; also known as the Streets.

The title alone is great for something that came out in 1992. Just two years after Metallica went after Napster and demanded money for the music that was exchanged over the web, a British artist is pretty much telling us to pirate his music. I actually don't recall buying this album. But, this article is not about the pros and cons of music's easy accessibility on the web. (but on a positive note on music's future, with the the web dying and consumers turning more and more to aps, we may see earnings start to go up in the music industry. Or at least stop falling)

Original Pirate Material starts with a great mellow, down tempo track that sets the tone for an album that would change the way many would look at electronic music. Mike wrote the whole album alone in his bedroom at the young age of 21, though he out performs his age in both production and in lyrics. The album is still incredible and feels fresh.

The best song on the album is Weak Becomes Heroes. Maybe because I am a Raver at heart, this one definitely touches me in a happy place.

Other legendary tracks include The Irony Of It All which is a debate of weather a pot head or an alcoholic is worse on society, and Turn The Page which lets the world know that british-produced beats will influence Hip Hop from this day forward. Don't believe me? Have you seen actually listened to Usher lately? Though in the end we can thank Detroit Techno and Chicago House for all this magic that we are hearing now.

If this is not an album you are familiar with, I would definitely pick it up and give it a listen. I think you will be surprised that it is 8 years.