A Grand Don't Come for Free

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Lynskey, Dorian (May 2004). "The Streets: A Grand Don't Come for Free". Blender (26): 130. Archived from the original on 4 May 2006 . Retrieved 23 September 2016. In his book The Story of the Streets, Skinner explained his decision to create a story that ran through the album: Repeated listens reap rewards. Skinner’s vocals are so high up in the mix that it’s easy to forget there’s some music underneath. And he certainly hides his thingy under a whatsit. He plays with a broader musical palette than the just-thrown-together feel suggests: from the Hammer horror strings and brass stabs of ‘What Is He Thinking’ and the acoustic guitar on the beautiful heartbreak-balm of ‘Dry Your Eyes’ to the sweet soul vocals that punctuate the tale of sofa-bound inertia that is ‘I Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way’, where the lyric “The ashtray needs emptying and the Clipper needs a shake” is delivered with the kind of heartfelt conviction usually reserved for love songs. The first single from the album, " Fit But You Know It" reached number four on the UK Singles Charts with the second single, " Dry Your Eyes" entering the UK Charts at number one. The album itself reached number one in the UK Album Charts, number eleven in Australia and number eighty-two in the United States. Is stood up at a nightclub by Simone, but passes the time drinking alcohol and taking ecstasy. He thinks he sees Simone kissing Dan but the drug-induced high distracts him before he can think about it properly. ("Blinded By the Lights")

Suspects his mate Scott of stealing his coat, money, and girlfriend but discovers that Simone is actually having an affair with Dan. ("What is He Thinking?")Selected items are only available for delivery via the Royal Mail 48® service and other items are available for delivery using this service for a charge. Christgau, Robert (6 July 2004). "Consumer Guide: Squirt You". The Village Voice . Retrieved 15 September 2015. But comparisons with drama aren’t too far off the mark. ‘Get Out Of My House’ is as much an audio drama as it is a song. A thrilling argument between girlfriend and boyfriend, Skinner reveals with a dramatist’s cunning that Mike’s contentious stash of pills isn’t ecstasy but medication for his epilepsy. A Grand Don’t Come For Free’ emerged two years after their breakthrough debut album and The Streets had already become an international phenomenon. This time around, Mike Skinner constructed an album with an on-going narrative that was by turns hilarious, touching and energising. ‘Dry Your Eyes’ became The Streets’ first #1 single, while ‘Fit But You Know It’ and ‘Blinded By The Lights’ both hit the Top 10. British album certifications – Streets – A Grand Don't Come for Free". British Phonographic Industry.

Kuipers, Dean (23 May 2004). "A striking kind of storytelling". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 5 December 2015. Sinclair, Tom (21 May 2004). "A Grand Don't Come for Free". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016 . Retrieved 4 February 2014.a b Blashill, Pat (27 May 2004). "Streetwise!". Rolling Stone. No.949. p.80. Archived from the original on 8 July 2009 . Retrieved 15 September 2015. Petridis, Alexis (7 May 2004). "A Grand Don't Come for Free, The Streets". The Guardian Friday Review. p.17 . Retrieved 4 February 2014. On first listen, ‘Fit But You Know It’ is the obvious single. Nothing else is as immediate as ‘Don’t Mug Yourself’ or ‘Weak Become Heroes’ from his debut. A great first single, it takes a guitar chug and a boozy rant and combines them to joyous effect. Close your eyes, put four moptops in suits in the picture, and you could easily imagine it as an early Beatles song. It captures the naivety of tunes like ‘She Loves You’ or ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ but transplants it to an era when ‘innocent’ means not yet having your brown wings.