CD Revue: The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free

Concept albums almost always fail. Sure the album could be great but rarely does the concept hold up or work. This album is an exception. A Grand Don't Come For Free is the first successful hip hop concept album since Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet 14 years ago. Compared to The Streets' first album Original Pirate Material the beats and tracks are rather pedestrian, but that's because Mike Skinner puts the story first and the album is the better for it. The takes place over the space of a day in which Skinner reflects loses a thousand quid and reflects on a failed relationship. "Could Well be In" recounts the intial hook up. "Fit But You Know It" details her vanity. "Dry Your Eyes" is one of the best break up songs in a long time and the first hip hop romance song to really move me. I mean break out the hanky! Skinner reportedly almost scrapped the the Streets moniker after Original Pirate Material, thank god he didnt!