Track Listing

1. It Was Supposed to be so Easy
2. Could Well Be In
3. Not Addicted
4. Blinded By The Light
5. I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
6. Get Out of My House
7. Fit But You Know It
8. Such A Twat
9. What is he Thinking
10. Dry Your Eyes
11. Empty Cans

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11506 in Music
• Released on: 2004-05-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
How do you follow an acclaimed debut in your own inimitable style without repeating past glory? The answer is simple--make a concept album. Mike Skinner's (aka the Streets) A Grand Don't Come for Free tells the story of his recent troubles and triumphs in a manner that is as much music-hall as it is friends chatting on the phone. The story is simple but the narrative is far more cohesive than a string of songs explaining the plot. His broken television, a pivotal part of the story is referenced throughout, as are warning signs that his girlfriend, Simone, is seeing best mate Dan behind his back. It may sound like a soap opera but is given added depth by the attention to detail in lyrics ("she was with the white-shirted man in McDonalds car park" on "Such a Twat"); the structure of the music as if it were following the dialogue (hi-hats, whooshes and piano stabs as the effects of Ecstasy take hold on "Blinded by the Light); and an openness to wear his heart on his sleeve (the beautiful ode to stoned love "I Wouldn't Have it Any Other Way" and the heart-wrenching break-up song, "Dry Your Eyes").

Musically the breaks and beats are in a similar style to Original Pirate Material; erratic urban drum loops, synths and classical strings except for the lead single "Fit But You Know it" where the punky guitar and steady beat drive the song as much as the content of the lyrics. A Grand Don't Come for free will have much written about it--not only does it stand out for being a latter day concept album, but the complexity of the narrative and the believable swings in emotion provide much food for thought and command attentive listening. --David Trueman

CD Description
'A Grand Don't Come For Free' is the quasi-concept album follow up to 2002's hugely successful 'Original Pirate Material'. This release sees the Birmingham rapper Mike Skinner merge street talk, garage beats and rock guitars as he follows the loose story of losing money and love and how to regain them. The album doesn't steer too far from the winning formula used on earlier work and includes the single 'Fit But You Know It'.

Customer Reviews

more genius from Skinner
the streets debut album, although not recongnised now was a landmark innew music. genre defining and a surely a source of inspiration of songs tocome.
His second album, bizzarely comes across as a concept album, allbeit abouta relationship falling apart after a holiday. Its an ingenious idea.Similair to the Who's narritive in Tommy, the streets employ the sametactic on a grand dont come for free. and it works. As fascinating as itis enjoyable, Skinner shows off as a fantastic lyricist andstoryteller.
The lyrics are as candid and hilarious as ever. "That blue Topshop topyou’ve got on is nice,
Bit too much fake tan though but, yeah you score high" is an example ofone of many. The simplicity and honesty of the lyrics only add to thebrilliance of the album, hardly eloquent, but very accessible andwitty.
One of the greatest pleasures here is letting the story reveal itself overrepeated listens, so I'll try not to spoil it. Just expect fullerinstrumentation, stronger melodies, and a carefully crafted compositionthat can only be described as literary.
The highlight of the album comes from the Chris Martin inspired "dry youreyes" where Skinner creates a Garage ballad, would you believe it, full ofstrings and acoustic guitars. it proves the diversity he can reach on thisalbum.
Following his debut was always going to be a difficult job, but with thismasterpiece, Skinner makes it look so easy. superb.

chavtastic
You shouldn't really like Mike Skinner. He looks the type of bloke who sells dodgy pirate DVDs in your local, you can see him in a greasy spoon clutching a copy of The Sun with 10 Bensons and a clipper on the table. He doesn't seem the kind of guy that has produced one of the best British albums of the past ten years, yet with Calvin Schmalvin his partner in crime, The Streets are one of the most important acts in Britain, as well as one of the best.
Skinner is a true working class hero, he tells it like it is. His lyrics can relate to most urban youth, tinged with intelligence, humour, and grit. "Original Pirate Material" was The Streets acclaimed debut, nominated for Brits, Mercury, loads, fusing hip hop, garage, and dance to create a gritty insight into modern urban Britain. So how does he follow it up? With a concept album. This is the point where alarm bells start ringing. Concept albums have always been associated with arty psychedelia types, recent examples include The Mars Volta, and Liars. The Streets arent arty psychedelia types, so what are they doing toying the idea of a concept album? Skinner's second album is a story, about losing a grand, meeting a bird, arguing with bird, splitting up with bird, losing mates due to bird, end. And its damn damn good.
The album kicks off with horns introducing "It Was Supposed To Be So Easy", which sets the background to Skinner's tale and the missing thousand quid. A cracking intro which leads nicely into "Could Well Be In", which brings Simone into the story as Skinner's new lady. His lyrics are genius, colloquial and funny and totally unpretentious, he could be talking to you direct about how he thought Simone "looked rough in her work stuff". "Not Addicted" tells of Mike's unsuccessful trip to the bookies, whilst "Blinded By The Lights" is about a drug-fuelled night in a club, both raw, gritty tracks, "Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way" is a nice change in direction, all about the cosiness and warmth of a night in with your other half. Nicely followed by a blazing row with Simone in "Get Out Of My House", a tense wirey track which leaves unfinished business by the time Mike goes on holiday in "Fit But You Know It", a rocky single reminiscent of Blur's "Parklife". "Such A Twat" tells of Skinner's regrets of his Ibiza antics, straining his relationship with Simone, whilst "What Is He Thinking?", a stand out track, deals with Mike's paranoia over Simone and a coat left round her flat, which finishes with the revelation that she has been knocking off Mike's mate Dan. "Dry Your Eyes" shows his devastation and heartbreak, things ain't looking too good for our hero. Album closer "Empty Cans" concludes the story with a shock, a superb track which leaves you begging for more.
"A Grand Don't Come For Free" is excellent. Some won't like it because theres garage elements, admittedly garage isn't a genre I particularly like, but The Streets are a big exception. Their debut was superb and their second release is better. If you can understand that chavs CAN make good music, then this album will grow and grow on you, its just brilliant. Buy It.

Not a dry eye in the house . . .
If "Original Pirate Material" was the "Never Mind The Bollocks" of this decade, with his new album Mike Skinner has took his lead from the prog rock heavyweights and delivered what in all but name is a concept album. And this means it features both the ups and downs of this medium - the first half of the album is intent on scene setting, and as a consequence sacrifices hooks for detail. It's very difficult on the first listen to really become too engaged by the first six tracks (barring the sublime "Blinded by the light") and the mockney knees up of "Fit but you know it" only seems to reinforce the sense of disappointment. In fact, just as the attention begins drifting, Skinner tightens up his beats, drops his laddish front and delivers the finest four tracks back to back of any album I have ever heard.

The concealed rage of "Such a twat" and "What is he thinking" holds such incredible energy it sends shivers down the spine. But that is nothing compared to the devastating final two tracks. For 13 minutes Mike Skinner takes hold of you and drags you through every emotional rollercoaster you have ever been on. "Dry Your Eyes" is simply breathtaking - his honesty is frightening, and I defy anybody to listen to this without a lump in the throat. And then "Empty Cans" fires home his final denoument, cleverly told from two different perspectives that brings the story round full circle. And suddenly the slow build up of the first half of the album makes perfect sense. And you're left completely drained from it.

So it's no "OPM". Indeed, it feels more like the second act of a three part play. If only Mike Skinner could focus his massive talent on refining what he does on the last third of the album into 50 minutes he would deliver one of the greatest albums this country has ever produced, period. The question is, does he have the guts to do it ?