The Streets - Original Pirate Material

Locked On/679

March 25th, 2002.

20 years ago on this day The Streets released their classically stringed, chilled statement. A classy affair narrated by a questionably classy wordsmith, The Streets began their career in head-turning style. Pulling off a breath of fresh air is a one in a million occurrence. Said breath of fresh air remaining as fresh 20 years on is a sign of something truly special.

Turning the page offers a fresh start and with it new possibilities, avenues, and techniques. Original Pirate Material, The Streets debut album, offered up a clean slate. A chance to revel in new ideas and potential for amazing feats - lock down your aerial. The streets don't always have to be stern. Lessons can be learned in a less harsh way - or at least can be taken in a way that leaves room for creativity on the other side. You can have fun with the most serious of topics, in fact, it makes them easier to wrap your head around - if you can't laugh, what can you do? Acts like Mike Skinner outline the somewhat unreachable topics in comical double dutch. 45th generation Romans have a way with words. They make sense(do they?), in a sense, but have an obscure timelessness to them. Wrapping your head around the assembled lyrics becomes something of an experience in itself - a communal search for meaning, lyrical cluedo's on the cards.

Original Pirate Material exists on its own plane. Anything that resembles its style and characteristics is taken as an ode, instead of its own being. It lives in a realm where influence is only given, not taken. It's hard to sum up how important this album was to the UK scene - a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart. A kick start to the psyche of a scene. Timeless material.