how many ppl think "the streets" suck

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

is it me or do 'The Streets' totally suck and are completely overrated? (excuse me for being redundant if this question's been asked already)

lyrics (from Could Well Be In):
I saw this thing on ITV the other week,
said, that if she played with her hair, she's probably keen
She's playin with her hair, well regularly,
so i reckon i could well be in.

― whoever (whoever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:08 (twenty-two years ago)

count me in!

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:11 (twenty-two years ago)

yep

― don (don), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

"I" am not a big fan of "them" either.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:14 (twenty-two years ago)

i blame hstencil for this thread.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:14 (twenty-two years ago)

aye!

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:14 (twenty-two years ago)

me!

― Chris 'The Velvet Bingo' V (Chris V), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Infuckingdeed.

― rasheed wallace, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:16 (twenty-two years ago)

how many people think ILM sucks

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:17 (twenty-two years ago)

That's perhaps my favourite line on the album. It's not trying to be clever. It's just sweet, illustrating the daft things that go through human minds.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't start it, Marcello. You brits did.

I love I Love Music.

― ha stencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Like thinking about buying Streets albums, for example?

― daft things in mind, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I LIKE THE SONG WITH TH SYNTHS

― Be sure to Loop! Loop, Loop, Loop. (ex machina), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:22 (twenty-two years ago)

this is a really useful thread & clearly designed to stimulate involved discussion.

― pete b. (pete b.), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:22 (twenty-two years ago)

i listened to the new album last night for about the 5th time and it sounded wonderful, it really clicked. i think reading tim finney's bit on that other thread about each beat dramatizing the emotional content of the song really helped. i love this record now.

― pete b. (pete b.), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

there's another 20 on the way threads like this on the way.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I can barely wait.

What? You say he has no flow? Cripes!

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:26 (twenty-two years ago)

so are you guys positing that it's now somehow "unfair" to be negatively critical of anything on ILM?

― ha stencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:26 (twenty-two years ago)

It looks that way.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:28 (twenty-two years ago)

i aint feeling the Streets at all. his whole style just drifts over me. bunch of basic presets and a few choice words (the best part i'm sure), nah. does nothing for me.

― mark e (mark e), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:28 (twenty-two years ago)

surely Mike Skinner and his supporters can handle a l'il negative heat.

― ha stencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

this is a really useful thread & clearly designed to stimulate involved discussion

Wrong. It's more like a quick headcount. Look for useful and involved elsewhere.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

NO I'M JUST SICK OF FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW HAVING TO READ "WHY DO I NOT LIKE UK GARAGE" THREADS ON THIS BOARD.

20 ABOUT ORIGINAL PIRATE MATERIAL, ABOUT 20 ABOUT DIZZEE RASCAL LAST YEAR AND NOW THE STREETS.

I think it's a perfectly valid feeling too. Why can't people just shut the fuck up, the idea that because something gets critical acclaim you have to scratch your head and go WHY ARE PEOPLE LIKING THIS publicly, over and over, is absurd.

You don't see me starting White Stripes threads or something.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't question why people like the Streets, and I don't think that's what this thread was asking. I do question why I don't like the Streets, and on further hearing the music, my questions are pretty much answered.

Also, White Stripes = non-starter. They suck harder than the Streets do.

― ha stencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:31 (twenty-two years ago)

x-post... No no, Stence. But when the last Streets LP came out we seemed to have a bunch of threads which said the same thing, which rarely excited or illuminated particularly. I mean, go ahead, but at the same time if the critiques seem unimaginative, it's OK for us to comment on that, right?

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:31 (twenty-two years ago)

You don't see me starting White Stripes threads or something.

ILM's a big place. You could if you wanted to, y'know.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean, go ahead, but at the same time if the critiques seem unimaginative, it's OK for us to comment on that, right?

absolutely.

― ha stencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes but nobody starts threads going "what is all the fuss about the White Stripes for", dude check the archives, the level of unwarranted head scratching and "this is shit" type comments about the Streets first record and Boy In Da Corner is ridiculous.

It infuriates me when people feel just because something hits their radar it should be something they like, otherwise they might as well unload on it.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

x-post

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

at the same time, positive critiques can be just as unimaginative (although having read through most of the threads on the new album, that seems to not be the case so far).

― ha stencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Ronan you've never seen me battle with Nate in STP (tip a 40 to the departed) about the Strokes? And I would gladly start a White Stripes thread if you so like.

― ha stencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:34 (twenty-two years ago)

well that's the point isn't it - if people don't like the record why don't they engage with it on the discussion threads? starting endless snipey little 'i don't get it' threads just seems a bit unhelpful, somehow?

x-post

― pete b. (pete b.), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought of the Strokes yet, but the criticism threads are not nearly as common

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

by that logic pete then I don't think you can fault people who just contributed to this thread, just the starter of it. And look, even its contentiousness is feeding discussion.

― ha stencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

nor do they contain the same old criticisms, over and over

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought of the Strokes yet, but the criticism threads are not nearly as common

maybe us "haters" are scared of child-molester lists? Then again, not enough to post to this thread, ha!

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I love Dizzee to death, but I couldn't be less interested in Skinner. I guess that's where my wonderment comes from.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

hstencil my only problem was with the guy who started the thread and his tone! of course i'm happy for you and others not to like the record!

― pete b. (pete b.), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

nor do they contain the same old criticisms, over and over

there is no criticism on this thread, really, just people voicing dislike. We probably all have different reasons for disliking the Streets, some reasons that may even be inarticulateable (is that a word?).

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I LIKE NELLY
I LIKE NELLY
I LIKE NELLY
I LIKE NELLY
I LIKE NELLY
I LIKE NELLY
I LIKE NELLY
I LIKE NELLY
I LIKE NELLY
I LIKE NELLY
I LIKE NELLY
I LIKE NELLY
I LIKE NELLY

― Be sure to Loop! Loop, Loop, Loop. (ex machina), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:38 (twenty-two years ago)

What's with the tremendous emotional investment in preventing negative sniping about The Streets? Who cares? It all just strikes me as protesting too much. And by posting on the sniping thread, you keep it alive. So what gives?

My reason for disliking the Streets? The lyrics and delivery seem calculatedly precious. I dislike stuff like Belle & Sebastian for the same reason.

― rasheed wallace, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:39 (twenty-two years ago)

for a message that's inarticulable, there's a hell a lot of threads started failing to articulate it:

http://ilx.wh3rd.net/searchresults.php?board=2&q=streets&mode=threads

(xpost - to stence)

― zebedee (zebedee), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't like The Streets because I find the music behind his voice dumb. And that's about as complex as my reasons get.

― paulhw (paulhw), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

awful.

― ddb, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

zebedee - I meant that dislike of the Streets might be inarticulable, not like. I for one don't like what I've heard but I'd be hard-pressed to find a way to explain why. There's just something about the music that I don't have any time for.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

TEH SUYCK

― Be sure to Loop! Loop, Loop, Loop. (ex machina), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

also, I can articulate a lot of auxillary reasons - the main one being the sponsorship/marketing of the Streets from Vice - but when it comes down to it there's something about the music that I find just sorta boring. Different strokes (what you talkin' 'bout Willis?!?!?) and all.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

The Streets: what's the big deal?

The Streets: please explain.

Not sure about Dizzee Rascal ...

Dizzy Rascal: what drugs are you guys on?

this is the thread for people who don't think the streets are that great

Can Someone Please Explain The Streets To Me?

Dizee Rascal: Overrated?

Why are we supposed to take the Streets seriously and not MC Pitman?

I don't like that guy from The Streets

That's discounting any similar "WHAT IS THIS NEW MUSIC" sentiment in the threads where the title praises either Dizzee or the Streets.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:46 (twenty-two years ago)

why tie Dizzee Rascal in with the Streets? They seem pretty significantly different to me.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Funny, I just was listening to this last night and thinking, "This just is not for me." The flow just doesn't hit me. It's the exact same way I feel about a movie like Snatch or Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. I can see where it goes down well for some, though. I'm not gonna say there's no value to it, but I don't feel it.

― frankE (frankE), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, I think my dislike of The Streets is somehow tied to my love of Guy Ritchie movies. I haven't quite worked it out yet.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I meant that dislike of the Streets might be inarticulable, not like
so did I. there were about 10 "i don't get it" threads on that page i linked to. no doubt all as useless as this one has been so far. not that i wouldn't be averse to reading a convincing Skinner diss, but I ain't holding my breath that anyone will write one any time soon

(xpost - I see Ronan's made my point more clearly)

― zebedee (zebedee), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Face it, Ronan. Some artists are just more prone to ridicule for whatever reasons. See: Conor Oberst.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

the tone of the threads is similar and the music is in the same ballpark, new style of British MCing and first UK garage stars to hit the mainstream and the album buyer audience. I don't think it's a crazy comparison to make.

Also it's worth remembering OPM was released in 2002 so we've had 2 fucking years of this crap already.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

we've also had 2 years of praise to the high heavens, too.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Still no comparison to the extent Dave Matthews Band bashing.

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Interesting also that all these threads seem to be started and/or propagated by American posters.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Interesting also that all the threads praising the Streets seem to be started and/or propagated by British posters.

(actually, no, it's not interesting)

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes and what's wrong with praise, the praise is interesting generally and goes further than conservative "he can't rap" bullshit. You must ask yourself why the Streets, why Dizzee?

The answers are fairly obvious.

x-post you never even checked that Hstencil, so don't talk rubbish.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:54 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm "British" but don't like the Streets.. same reasons as frankE upthread.

― don (don), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm lampooning Marcello, Ronan, so there's no need for accuracy on my account when there's none from him. I've no idea who started this thread and what their nationality is, nor why that is important.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:55 (twenty-two years ago)

But point taken. I don't see the need to repeat threads on the same subject, especially when it's just a matter of bashing a particular band or artist.

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

and comparisons to Dizzee are VERY superficial (xpost)

― don (don), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

xpost to Ronan: there's nothing wrong with praise but it's fairly obvious that blind praise of anything isn't particularly useful.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

You must ask yourself why the Streets, why Dizzee?
The answers are fairly obvious.

No need to ask, as I already know. Most of the stuff I listen to is in standard 4/4 time and most of the UK garage I've heard retards the flow.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:57 (twenty-two years ago)

http://ilx.wh3rd.net/newquestions.php?board=55

go request that this thread be deleted. I come here once in a blue moon and am not familiar with ilm netiquette. 8-P~~

― whoever (whoever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I know next to nothing about garage compared to most of ILM but it seems clear to me a great percentage of the dislike for the Streets comes from house snobs who've become addicted to "lush production" or some crap like that or people who like very little rap but are annoyed by Mike Skinner's terrible rapping.

Comparisons to Dizzee aren't superficial, not when the exact same tack and language has been used in the "what is the fuss about Dizzee" threads.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

The comparisons between Dizzee and The Streets maybe superficial, except they're the only two British mc's that have made any sort of impression at all in America over the last few years.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Dizzee and the Streets have made more of an impression on American music critics than the American public.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

True, but they're actually on the new release racks in stores, people at least have the opportunity to say, "hmmm, what the hell is this?"

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I made my comparison to support my complaint about this message board, I don't know if it stands up as regards anything else, nor does that matter.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it's fair to say that sometimes a reaction to something can be perceived as knee-jerk without it actually being the case. That's true for both Streets-haters and Strokes-haters and classic rock-rockists and pop-rockists and whathaveyou.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

It doesn't have to be knee jerk to be an utter pain in the face. I like to think if I was criticising the Streets the notion of saying "he is a crap rapper" would seem fairly facile to me.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

i already requested the thread be deleted so quit whining bitch.

― whoever (whoever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

The Streets still fucking suck.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

what a shame they sold too many records for them to be one of your precious favourites.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I like to think if I was criticising the Streets the notion of saying "he is a crap rapper" would seem fairly facile to me.

what if, say, Nas said "he is a crap rapper?" I'll concede that Mase, Diddy and many others couldn't call him out.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Ronan- my theory on the over-abundance of "Teh Streets suxx0r" threads compared to other artists is because he's one of the few artists that gets across the board critical praise that actually translates into record sales as well. Madvillian, Loretta Lynn, and The Icarus Line aren't in the top ten, are they?

Compare with, say, Franz Ferdinand and The White Stripes, who have critical acclaim, record sales, and the diss threads to match.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

And, Ronan, was that comment aimed at me? Because that's retarded if it is.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:11 (twenty-two years ago)

If Nas said it?

erm I'm not sure how this would make a difference. the point is it's all based on him deviating from conventional ideas of MCing. he is a different rapper.

x-post, one facetious turn deserves another Dom. I agree with you, to a point about his sales and across the board acclaim but reactions to this acclaim seem pointless, as I've been saying. An indie critic or indie mag giving the Streets a good review does not mean they're automatically going to appeal to an avid reader of said mag. This is where the problems arise, I agree.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Americans might be somewhat impervious to that issue since he hasn't sold very much here.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, this is my biggest problem with The Streets and Dizzee Rascal, is that (some) critics that are praising them are using their praise of said artists as a basic excuse to not look at anything else from that genre.

(x-post)

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll grant that it's really difficult to negatively critique interestingly. I mean, what Skinner has done with his 'flow' this time is interesting: he's dispensed with it almost entirely. Now, if I like what he's done, which I do, then I can sensibly spend time thinking about how well it works and what the minute effects of his technique (for technique it surely is) are, generally while I'm listening to the record.

If it didn't work for me, then it's more difficult to see how I could come up with interesting things to say about why it didn't. I probably wouldn't feel inclined to spend the time listening and analysing without the enjoyment factor (or perhaps a payment factor).

I would probably avoid saying "he has no technique" because that's demonstrably untrue. (Don't think anyone's said that here.)

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:15 (twenty-two years ago)

the only problem with this thread is that it's yet another anonymous/cowardly nonce not thinking to just revive one of the previous threads that Ronan later linked to.

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd like "the Streets" a lot better if "Royksopp" remixed all "their" songs.

― Allyzay, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Sometimes these threads read like the haters are huddling together for warmth and comfort in the face of an overwhelming downpour of critical praise. I'm happy that people feel so aggrieved by reading criticism with which they disagree.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:17 (twenty-two years ago)

-- Dom

you realise this is the most irritating reason for criticising an artist ever and falls in with 'cos their fans are wankers' - i know you think his beats are weak tho (i sorta agree!)

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I think my hatred of The Streets is justified, holding diametrically opposed views to Victoria Newton is always a positive thing.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

The problem, crucially, with what Tim says is that generally people don't acknowledge the difficulty of coming up with interesting but negative criticism. It's ten times easier to discuss how rubbish something is, and this is even more the case with something different, a white British rapper, using a totally different vocabulary from US rappers, the potential for slating the odd one out is extremely strong.

x-post with Tim, the funny thing is the amount of anti-Streets threads shows what a ridiculous schtick the "WHAT IS ALL THIS FUSS I AM UNAFFECTED BY YOUR DISGUSTING POP HYPE MACHINE" is.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

and fuck royksopping a hat (tho yeh they're better when they go to the disco)

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:20 (twenty-two years ago)

stevem- I think you've got to seperate "not liking their music" and "not liking them as a concept". I mean, I think Elbow are fucking shit, but I'd never start a thread claiming as such because there's nothing to them. With The Streets, there's so much cultural baggage to take onboard as well. Why do people remember Sigue Sigue Sputnik more than other bands that flopped in the mid 80s?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm happy that people feel so aggrieved by reading criticism with which they disagree.

that totally cuts both ways, Tim.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

That first album really grew on me. In a good way. I put it down for a long time not really being that impressed, and then put it on again months later and it sounded really good. I want to hear the new one. I'll probably buy it eventually.

― scott seward (scott seward), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

No it doesn't hstencil, positive accounts of records are almost always better than negative ones, at the heart of it, even if they are a simple expression of someones liking for a record, no frills, nothing.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

yes but the point is it's a bit unfair to criticise the artist for causing critics to focus on them and not look at some idea of the bigger picture - not that Skinner or Dizzee fall into any scene anyway - they've distanced themselves from any one thing and that strikes me as a good idea. nobody is really doing what they are doing (for better or worse) so you would be better off basing your criticism primarily if not purely on their flaws as vocalists, lyricists as producers only.

(x-post x2)

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I appreciate Sigue Sigue Sputnik a lot more now too. When they first arrived, I wasn't that impressed either.

― scott seward (scott seward), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

The Streets cover "Love Missile F1-11."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

also Dom, isn't that as much a praise of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, or the Streets, as a criticism. I still have yet to see any great critique of the cultural baggage of the Streets though.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Ronan you're right about positive criticism being better in general, but my point was that if Streets-likers were not "aggrieved by reading criticism with which they disagree" this thread would've ended ages ago!

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Ronan, it's easy to say "he's not a convential U.S. rapper and shouldn't be judged as such", but this is still the main stumbling block for a lot of people, I think. No matter how it developed, the music still has all the earmarks of what most Americans think of as hip-hop, and I can absolutely see why people are saying he can't flow (it's my main problem with him actually).

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Stence that sounded snarky of me, and it wasn't meant to: it does absolutely cut both ways and what I was saying is that I'm happy that people want to get worked up about criticism. I get worked up about criticism and I think it's fun (the Saatchi thread on ILE today has been kind of about criticism...).

Free pass for criticism you agree with is the sucky thing. Again, that's not meant to be pointed at anyone.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm with Jordan.

― deanomgwtf!!!p%3Fmsgid%3D4581997 (deangulberry), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

well, if you agree positive criticism is better in general then I think it follows that threads like this are worse in general. I fail to see how other people praising a record could really really annoy anyone, or at least annoy them and yet leave them with no decent explanation as to why.

Last time I remember being mildly irritated by praise was on the Erland Oye DJ Kicks thread, I felt I owed a blogpost on the matter and also felt it was necessary to check my own opinion thoroughly. Also I think the more effort you put into liking something which is getting heavily praised the better. People are too concerned with their own significance sometimes.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

haha Loretta Lynn is TOTALLY in the top ten! what a knob!

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

like maybe it's YOUR problem and not the records. that's a non specific "your"

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Ronan has a PMT problem of everyone not being exactly like him.

― ___ (___), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

What's that in aid of?

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Have you gained that impressing from this thread, triple? Because it doesn't read like that at all, to me.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:30 (twenty-two years ago)

some people just see praise as hype. Can't say that I'm not guilty of that probably 99.999999% of the time.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I just hate peoples entire conceptualisation of "hype". It's a mythical thing surely, also I can't help but feel "hype" is inevitably tied in with records which fit the anti-hypsters perceptions of inorganic, so stuff with an image or attitude or electronic production is somehow backed up by hype, because let's face it to some people hiphop and electronic music are a form of faddish hype themselves.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Ronan you're right about positive criticism being better in general . . .

Like kittens are better than baby gila monsters?

― jack cole (jackcole), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha, The Streets don't suck, YOU suck! I think you're trying too hard here, Ronan...isn't part of the fun figuring out why people hear music differently, cultural influences and all?

You know, I think I would go see The Streets live if there was a show around here, it sounds like fun.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Matos- the highest chart position I can see for the new Lynn in the States is one week at 24. It's not made the top 60 over here, and I doubt it's gone top 40 anywhere else either. So.... schtum.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

It's a mythical thing surely, also I can't help but feel "hype" is inevitably tied in with records which fit the anti-hypsters perceptions of inorganic, so stuff with an image or attitude or electronic production is somehow backed up by hype, because let's face it to some people hiphop and electronic music are a form of faddish hype themselves.

I don't think that's necessarily fair as there are plenty of "rock" bands hyped to the skies who suck suck suck far worse than the Streets ever could (cf. The Strokes, White Stripes, all those nameless/faceless/interchangeable "The [something]" bands).

However, I wouldn't mind seeing the Streets live though, oddly enough, if it was free.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

"Don't Believe the Hype" was a hip-hop song, too, heh.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I forgot an asterisk to denote I was joking, Ronan. *

I just feel you may be a little bit stressed at the moment. It comes across that way. It's a new "I think the Streets suck" thread for the new album.

I dunno. pfft.

― ___ (___), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Over on ILE I mentioned that the concept of "emperor's new clothes" is one I particularly hate: it's saying that not only is the art bad, but those who like it have been fooled, and can't possibly find any 'real' worth or enjoyment because there's none to be had. I think this is kind of offensive, and people crying 'hype!' in the face of others' enthusiasm seems the same trick to me.

It's when massive promotion is met with public indifference that 'hype!' must be called.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

What would you say is a good example of "hype!" then, Tim?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:41 (twenty-two years ago)

It's when massive promotion is met with public indifference that 'hype!' must be called.

cf. Streets in America.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Does anyone else find a car-crash-like appeal to Skinner? To me, his beats have always been pretty catchy but I don't find that his vocal style meshes with them in a way that is pleasant to me. I often find myself listening to him both intrigued and appalled simultaneously.

― deanomgwtf!!!p%3Fmsgid%3D4581997 (deangulberry), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I have not read this thread - but I think that Tim H is being harsh in his last post. There must be some validity in what he says. But still, there is another side to it.

The phrase 'ENC' is a cliche, but the idea it expresses still seems to be one that seeks expression - one that feels valid, sometimes: whether about art, philosophy or whatever.

Also: 'Fooled' or 'keeping quiet because uncertain / unwilling to rock boat of consensus / hegemonic opinion'?

All this != my view on The Streets, just on TH's comment.

― the bluefox, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

neutered is not much better than fooled.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Dom: the Roaring Boys, from before you were born, most likely.

Stence: have they really been pushed that hard in the
States? Or have they managed to get lots of reviews in the specialist music/fashion mags? (I don't know the answer to this question btw).

PF: it's not aimed at people 'keeping quiet' usually though, is it? It's aimed at people expressing enthusiasm, and it's saying that enthusiam can't be genuine. Or something similar.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

It's when massive promotion is met with public indifference that 'hype!' must be called.
cf. Streets in America.

-- hstencil

sod that, might as well be marketing him in China

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Also Hstencil, surely public indifference would have to mean on some global level, you don't live in a box. I know people say America is insular but come on! Though at least two of the above threads were started by Miccio so....

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Steve otm.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Stence: have they really been pushed that hard in the
States? Or have they managed to get lots of reviews in the specialist music/fashion mags? (I don't know the answer to this question btw).

See: Vice Magazine / Vice Recordings --- http://www.vice-recordings.com/

― deanomgwtf!!!p%3Fmsgid%3D4581997 (deangulberry), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I know people say America is insular but come on!

As far as the musical mainstream goes, it's totally insular. I'd almost be willing to bet that the Streets have never been played on regular MTV (and probably only light rotation on MTV2).

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

if The Streets sold as many records in the US as he did in the UK (where he is deemed to be reasonably successful) would he not still be branded a 'failure' in the States?

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I have little doubt that the Streets do utterly suck, but I don't think it would have occurred to me to use the 'ENC' phrase in relation to them.

I suppose with 'keeping quiet' I meant that in the actual ENC image, the people are subjects, surrounded by guards etc, so are somewhat fearful, maybe? Keeping their heads down?

― the bluefox, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I think they've been pushed pretty hard here despite the relative inexperience of Vice, yeah.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

if The Streets sold as many records in the US as he did in the UK (where he is deemed to be reasonably successful) would he not still be branded a 'failure' in the States?

Everything released in the States that doesn't crack a million units is a failure these days.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't underestimate Vice.

― deanomgwtf!!!p%3Fmsgid%3D4581997 (deangulberry), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

xpost:

how much have the Streets sold in the UK? I'm sure US sales are probably a very tiny fraction of such, and that was probably offset somewhat by the amount they had to spend publicity-wise.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

PF: where are the guards here?

Our US friends: if the Streets haven't made it onto MTV (or wherever) have the public had the chance to express their indifference or otherwise yet? I'm not sure how this works over there.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

My point regarding America was that it's hardly too much to ask for Americans not to deem anything which doesn't sell over there as "hype", given that it's highly possible to be aware of what else is going on on the planet, nowadays. I mean my point about "maybe it's YOU that is the problem" was not suggesting people are thick not to like the Streets, but rather that making a special effort to enjoy something from an alien culture is something which should be done.

ie it's a good thing if people feel under pressure to like the Streets.

x-post Tim otm, but in fairness PF did say ENC did not apply to the Streets.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

xpost to Tim:

I don't know if "radio programmers" and "MTV execs" count as the public, but I'd guess to some degree, yeah they have.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

stence -
not trying to have a go at you specially but you've twice mentioned Strokes and White Stripes now as comparators. But in both their cases there's some top quality writing around (including in Freaky Trigger) which makes good arguments why they might actually suck. I happen to still love the WS and could never get worked up one way or t'other about the Strokes. Point is, I don't believe it's beyond the Streets-hatas to come up with some useful counterpoints to all the praise. So let's 'ave it.

(p.s. for reasons already demonstrated, it's going to have to be a more rounded critique than "crap beats" or "no flow" though)

(zillions of x-posts)

― zebedee (zebedee), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean my point about "maybe it's YOU that is the problem" was not suggesting people are thick not to like the Streets, but rather that making a special effort to enjoy something from an alien culture is something which should be done.

I guess my riposte to that is, all kinds of people here seem to like Sean Paul.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

It's a good thing to feel under pressure to like a record? That's ridiculous. No genuine enjoyment or appreciation comes from having something forced on you.

― that's garbage, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

But in both their cases there's some top quality writing around (including in Freaky Trigger) which makes good arguments why they might actually suck... Point is, I don't believe it's beyond the Streets-hatas to come up with some useful counterpoints to all the praise. So let's 'ave it.

I don't believe it is either, but I would bet that if the Streets get to the sort of public profile in the States that the Strokes and the White Stripes are at, there would hopefully be some quality negative criticism generated by that, just as much as there would be crap negative criticism, quality positive criticism and crap positive criticism (which in the case of the Streets there probably already has been both of the latter two).

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Our US friends: if the Streets haven't made it onto MTV (or wherever) have the public had the chance to express their indifference or otherwise yet? I'm not sure how this works over there.

MTV2 and college/independent radio are really the only two places an uncategorizable artist can really "break" anymore. Regular MTV plays no more than 4 hours of videos a day (tops!), and even then there's a bunch of repetition. Mainstream/corporate radio's playlists are also closed off to anything not approved in a focus group.

Any exposure the Streets get in the US is directly from print magazines/popular review web sites and word of mouth.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

...all kinds of people here seem to like Sean Paul.

and then again, thinking about this (and I should've posted to the hype/grime thread), dancehall in particular and Caribbean culture in general are not as foreign to the US (at least big US markets esp. New York City) as grime in particular and British culture in particular. At least that's how it seems to me.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess so, and I mean I'm not for a second saying everyone here is insular and closed minded except a choice few or something. I just think as regards the Streets it's difficult to deny they're original, and it's difficult to deny that alot of people see something there, hence I personally would be very very slow to criticise until I'd given the album a real rinsing. Even then I'm not sure I'd bother.

But obviously some people don't want originality, there are some essential differences with the way we all listen to things at work here.

x-post with "that's garbage", how is the record being forced on anyone? if the pressure's there it's because of good writing and good ideas about the record, not armed guards.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

It's not that America is insular or unaccepting to "Streets-like things" in any way, it's way more specific cultural differences. Which, I know, is weird, since Streets fans seem to think a large part of the Streets' allure is the universality of the lyrics. But they aren't at all, really. See, cause, the geezer lifestyle (or what I gather to be the lifestyle described by that word, as an outsider), sitting around playing playstation, doing drugs, going to clubs but being a regular guy instead of a "glamorous" club-goer, etc., is really romanticized in the Streets' songs. But in the USA we don't romanticize that lifestyle; we (rightly or wrongly) think of guys that do those sorts of things as losers, and prefer not to identify with that "archetype" of the modern man-child even if the real-life creature with which it corresponds is actually just as prevalent here as over there.

― Dan I., Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Any exposure the Streets get in the US is directly from print magazines/popular review web sites and word of mouth.

yeah, don't forget those MP3 blogs!

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

sorry my initial "I guess so" was in response to your Sean Paul post stence.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

So it's not a difference in cultural practice so much as cultural introspection.

xpost

― Dan I., Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:07 (twenty-two years ago)

fwiw i wouldn't be surprised if 'Fit Buy You Know It' was The Streets best-selling single in the States (assuming it got/gets a release there) purely because of the geetaw (seeing as it seems a lot of people would fail to acknowledge his vocal style as rapping - despite the universal message of the song)

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

stevem have you heard the remix I am talking about? I was trying to upload the MP3 to my webspace but it won't let me send up a file of that size :(

― Allyzay, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

So it's not a difference in cultural practice so much as cultural introspection.

Perhaps! Maybe that is just as valid a reason as the Streets being marketed more through indie channels as the current supposed craptastic state of the US music industry.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Streets fans seem to think a large part of the Streets' allure is the universality of the lyrics

This isn't true really, as a glance at the album thread will show you. I'd say plenty of people in the UK think of the Mike Skinner stereotype as a "loser" too, however not everyone, and I doubt that's true of the US either.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

B-but Sean Paul quite deliberately has a US hip-hop radio-friendly sound, doesn't he?

I suspect most people here listen to plenty of stuff which is outside their own frame of reference, which doesn't invalidate the point about how you listen. I remember when I first started hearing jungle / drum and bass in the 90s, and I thought it was a terrible tinny racket until I pretended I was listening to reggae, at which point it made total sense and I was in love...

And Dan: most of us over here think that lifestyle is sucky too.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

That was a crashing cross post, obv.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Nah, a crashing cross post is when you ask a single poster randomly if they've heard a remix that you obliquely referenced 57 posts earlier, Hopkins you rookie.

― Allyzay, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:13 (twenty-two years ago)

B-but Sean Paul quite deliberately has a US hip-hop radio-friendly sound, doesn't he?

hip-hop isn't static, and I'd guess that dancehall - although a probably pervasive influence in hip-hop's origins - wasn't as pervasive through hip-hop's evolution as it is now. It's almost kind of like reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone or something (that's probably a bad analogy but still).

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:13 (twenty-two years ago)

a crashing cross post is when you hit into a post, at a crossroads, at a high speed, in a car.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

ON THE STREETS!

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

sorry, dumb joke.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Ally: as you say, Master.

Yes stence but my point was that Paul is quite hip-hop friendly and designed to attract the US hip hop market (nothing wrong with that) so using him as an examplar of adventurous listening seemed a bit odd. I could have been misreading, of course.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Perhaps Mike Skinner should write a song about it.

ok xpost hstencil you're fired.

― Allyzay, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

America's chart flirtations with dancehall are (or were before the last couple of years) very few. The same goes for reggae and any other sort of islands/ethnic music.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

oooh and the other interesting thing about Sean Paul/dancehall-hip-hop "influence" et al. is that I'd bet that the influence has traditionally been greatest in New York City, but that has changed significantly and there's more overlap/interplay/cross-influence/whathaveyou between the US South and the Caribbean than ever before. Maybe there's some sort of larger demographic shift that accounts for that, but I dunno what that would be specifically.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

America's chart flirtations with dancehall are (or were before the last couple of years) very few.

Driving through Atlanta last summer I heard a dancehall commercial for McDonald's.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Allo Ally - yes I do know the remix, the Ashley Beedle one is alright as well but i love the original anyway

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

in fact i walked home from a friend's on New Year's Day 2003 dancing on the street by myself to that 'Sopp remix thru my earphones

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

the thing is, yeah, I get disappointed now when iTunes plays the original instead of the remixes, I think it's just I only quite like the Streets, in the British sense of quite liking something and not the American sense. I really enjoy what Skinner does vocally, lyrically--but I don't enjoy what is being done musically about half the time, sometimes more.

Not sure why because it's not something like I don't enjoy the genre in general or whatever, perhaps I just think it'd be better if what he does vocally and lyrically is set to, I don't know, Daft Punk or something but OTOH I think that about all music.

xpost DANCING ON THE STREET BY YOURSELF IS FANTASTIC AND CLASSIC.

― Allyzay, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Mike Skinner might get upset if somebody tries to dance on him.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

what about the Audio Bullies-zay?

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Dancing On The Streets = an upset Mike Skinner
Dancing in the Streets = Mick Jagger and David Bowie killing a classic song

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I am disappointed in their album actually, I really like The Snow but nothing else on it is really grabbing my ear at all unfortunately.

haha does the Streets = band = pavement for driving hilarity ever END? OH NO I SAID PAVEMENT who will protect us from Malkmus!

― Allyzay, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I still don't agree w/you all that often, Dom, but mea culpa.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:30 (twenty-two years ago)

A big part of ILM is just reaction to new releases, not all abt criticism.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

PAVEMENT who will protect us from Malkmus!

I'm still trying to make a joke out of this.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Reaction to new releases is criticism though Jules.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:36 (twenty-two years ago)

*insert "Pavement is a joke in and of itself" comment here*

― Allyzay, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

hahaha Allyzay wins.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Reacting means either saying its good or terrible (or 'meh') but maybe not being able to articulate why.

I think if someone, having just heard the record, posts a thread six months after the record has been released instead of reviving some of the old ones from the archives is lame but its the circular nature of the board.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Much like the Saatchi thread and what Tim was saying, what I object to with (negative) criticism of The Streets is the inference (although it may be an insinuation, it's hard to tell) that because the critic doesn't get anything out of it, nobody else should be able to and anyone who does is being duped.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah I'm not saying it's good criticism but it's criticism.

I think of this board as more rhomboidal.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Three gurl rhomboid.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

he's a novelty artist.

― thesplooge (thesplooge), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

a more literate, lyrical jive bunny.

― thesplooge (thesplooge), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

No that's Soulwax.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 17:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I LUV DA BEET FOR NOT ADDICTED IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I HAVE TOO MUCH LA COCA UP MY NOSTRIL

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 17:31 (twenty-two years ago)

So, people ended up liking this thread after all? It's a funny old game!

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 18:26 (twenty-two years ago)

i can call you Greavsie at Glastonbury now

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 18:36 (twenty-two years ago)

whoa okay I made a pretty ridiculous point re: British culture and America - obviously please take for certain that I mean "American pop culture circa now" and not American culture in general ('cause duh like we wouldn't exist duh). But I do think there obviously has been a huge shift away from British culture over time in America, to the point where we hardly understand each other's pop cultures. Are Anglophiles the original rockists?

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 27 May 2004 03:34 (twenty-two years ago)

1. Please can we have a moratorium on the whole relevance to America issue - the only thing more prevalent than the Boy does Dizzee/Skinner suck don't believe the hype argument on all their threads is the Yeah but it'll never make it in the US so THERE! argument.

2. The funny thing about the Emperor's New Clothes argument in relation to these two artists is that both were hyped on ILM before *any* published magazine discussed them (unless Touch or Deuce got in there but they sort of don't count anyway!) - we were the tailors!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 27 May 2004 05:03 (twenty-two years ago)

fine - "are the Streets gonna break in Uzbekistan?"

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 27 May 2004 13:02 (twenty-two years ago)

depends how thick the tarmac is

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 27 May 2004 13:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey guys, guess what, I think The Streets suck

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 27 May 2004 13:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm sorry to hear that, I thought they'd be right up your, er, alley.

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 27 May 2004 13:31 (twenty-two years ago)

All your asphalt is belongs to us

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 27 May 2004 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

people who like very little rap but are annoyed by Mike Skinner's terrible rapping.
Isn't it the Pete Rockists that only accept a certain type of rap that you're complaining about? I think that generalization is unfair.

Also, why is it legit to attack Anti-Pop Consortium (and their ilk) for having wack beats and no flow, but not the Streets? It's an equally cliched criticism for undie rap, but it's still a fair one.

― Sym (shmuel), Thursday, 27 May 2004 18:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I've inexplicably reversed my opinion on the new album after listening to it a few more times (but I'm still not fond of Original Pirate Material). I'm not sure I want to switch camps altogether, but I can no longer profess "The Streets suck" with any credibility.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Sunday, 6 June 2004 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

listen, i'm sorry to say that the whole rap element that 'the streets' try to blend with their "music" just falls completely short of anything one could regard as "entertaining". I am and eclectic music listener, and i'm sorry to say that hearing someone from my native nation of britain trying to rap is just sounds too unnatural.

― joe manchester, Sunday, 27 November 2005 04:08 (twenty years ago)

The Streets suck yo! I'm from the Bronx, NY and this shi** hurts my ears.
If you want somethin good, try try 50 Cent or Mos Def, straight-up gangsters from STATESIDE.

― gangbang3r, Sunday, 27 November 2005 04:14 (twenty years ago)

Criticisms of 'flow' are usually garbage (to a non rap-fan, most of the time) something either works with the music or it doesn't, sometimes it's about character, sometimes content. I can rarely get off on flow alone if the first two repel me.

Sadly, this is something like the norm for mainstream rap. Little of worth to say and usually an ugly & offensive way of saying it.

― fandango (fandango), Sunday, 27 November 2005 04:26 (twenty years ago)

Corny 4 life obviously in this department.

eh, i like the first streets album okay (weak spots but overall concept a win). a couple of the singles off the second are good enough but no real desire to investigate the full album AT ALL. and wouldn't care a bit if I hadn't liked the first one.

― fandango (fandango), Sunday, 27 November 2005 04:29 (twenty years ago)

I've always hated the smugness of the spoken word style lyrical delivery on the first album. Consequently The Streets suck, forever.

― blunt (blunt), Sunday, 27 November 2005 09:34 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

this thread is funny

― the streets suck (bato), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:56 (twenty years ago)

four months pass...

What a joke of an album!, I can't believe any record label can allow shit like this to hit the shelves. This so called artist was crap from day one; give the boy some fish and chips and send him back to the shit-hole he's from. What a joke.

― t/rex, Wednesday, 31 May 2006 09:24 (twenty years ago)

Thanks to the Conservative MP for Surrey Heath and Times columnist Michael Gove for his comments, there.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 09:31 (twenty years ago)

The first album was pretty good and had some great tracks, album two - only listened to it nce, album three... should I bother?

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 09:49 (twenty years ago)

No.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 10:01 (twenty years ago)

Chewshabadoo - what he said !...except I'll go as far as to say the first album was really really good (for 4 months - then i never played it...but the boys at work did overkill it for me )

― grapple (grapple), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 10:05 (twenty years ago)

first album AMAZING second album WORST THING EVAH third album BOTHERD

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 10:22 (twenty years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.