After almost a decade since their last album release, Computers and Blues (2011), Birmingham’s The Streets are back with a new 12-track feature album, None of Us Are Getting Out of This Life Alive, released on July 10th. The mixtape contains features with an eclectic variety of talent, ranging from Tame Impala to upcoming rappers and artists like Ms.Banks and Greentea Peng. Skinner got the features in true DIY style by simply messaging his fave upcoming stars on Instagram, to collaborate with.
However, now a settled married family man, you would think what’s he going to talk about now? After a near ten year silence with making an album, he can’t exactly rap about narcotic use, drinking copious amounts of alcohol, raving, life on the dole, and basically the life of a LAD - can he?
Opening track, ‘Call My Phone Thinking I’m Doing Nothing Better’ ft Tame Impala is one of my favourites on the album. Combined with Kevin Parker’s angelic psychedelic voice, it creates a stark contrast which surprisingly compliments the track. Skinner raps about modern technology and trying to get through to people in the digital age, and how, at times it can be rather… invasive. He goes back to this topic on ‘Phone Is Always In My Hand’ ft Dapz on the Map - “my phone is always in my hand, if you think i’m ignoring you, I am.” Amen Skinner. The 21st century digital reality struggles and communication battles are real - if someone is ignoring you, it’s probably done consciously (but they also don’t owe you anything), “You’re ignoring me but you’re watching my stories” relationships and friendships summed up in 2020. How quick and easy it is to get in touch with someone now a days really does question somewhat a privacy issue, why do people feel so entitled to invade your space without asking?
Title track, ‘None of Us Are Getting Out of This Life Alive’ ft. Idles is a punk track, combined with pirate radio beats, Skinner opens the track shouting in punk angst, “I don’t like my country, it’s more of an addiction.” “None of us are getting out of this life alive” Skinner constantly repeats emphasising on the reality of the rat race, and the only thing in life that is guaranteed… death.
Next track, ‘I Wish You Loved You as Much as You Love Him’ ft. Donae’o & Greentea Peng is also one of my favourite’s off the mixtape, a garage classic. Greentea Peng really makes the track, this was the first time I’ve ever heard her, so thanks for introducing me Mike.
In ‘The Poison I Take Hoping You Will Suffer’ ft Oscar #Worldpeace Mike says, “There’s several ways that this is gonna go bad. The devil says he misses me and wants me back. Me and you are like a boxset that I wish I forgot and watched again.” Is this conflicting two minds between Skinner’s old and current life? The devil being his past life? “I told you I’d come along for the jokes but that was two hours ago, I was younger back then, I was full of hope.”
The struggles of the working class, and the poorer side of society are spoken of in ‘Falling Down’ ft Kah Baker, it enters with a piano intro, with a slow distorted garage beat over the top, “But see me cash flow’s a travesty, the reason why I’m nickin these bag of peas, oi oi oi.” The cut throat brutal honesty which shines through Skinner’s work is why so many people are drawn to him. There really aren’t many artists out there like him in that sense, that can actually relate. “Everyone who comes into your life, is a blessing or a schooling.” / “When you fail they rejoice, falling down is an accident - staying down is a choice.”
Second to last on the mixtape is the song I had been waiting for, the (somewhat) paradox of the album, ‘Conspiracy Theory Freestyle’ ft Rob Harvey. Bringing The Music ex-frontman, Rob, in full time with The Streets is one of the best decisions Skinner has made. An incredible vocalist, songwriter and musician. Harvey and Skinner have collabed previously on co-written tracks,‘Going Through Hell’ and ‘Soldiers’ off the last album Computers and Blues (2011). I find that both artists are very raw and emotive, so combined it makes for an incredibly powerful and real track, “We’re not gonna live this way (Where now do we go from here?) we’ve got to stand up and change.” / “The world is round to stop you seeing too far down the road, unless of course the world is incredibly flat. But if you want you a conspiracy, there’s an edible for that.”
Alongside ‘I Wish You Loved You as Much as You Love Him‘, the other tune you’ve probably been hearing on the radio as of late is closing track, ‘Take Me As I Am’ ft Chris Lorenzo - and it’s for good reason. One of the other top tunes on the mixtape. The best song to close off with - end the album on a high. “She said take me as I am or watch me as I go” A proper upbeat dirty garage tune.
A DIY mixtape mastered to true traditional Streets style, keeping them living up to their name. The garage gods. This album is somewhat a nostalgic reminiscent deja vu of their debut Original Pirate Material (2002) of which they took the music industry by storm. Skinner delves into more modern matters on this album in comparison to focusing on a young twenty somethings life, like technology for example. A great project released, but for me - it still doesn’t compare to A Grand Don’t Come For Free (2004) - but that’s just me.
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