By Angus White
The 00s gave us some of the greatest bands in indie/rock history, most of them are still together now and are keeping us on our toes as we wait impatiently for new material. There’s nothing better than when a classic from your childhood comes on. It takes you back to the good old days. If you have somehow missed these bands, well now is your moment, get listening.
Our next Noughties band are The Streets. Another project that defines the 00s that you need to know about. Forming back in the mid-90s before disbanding in 2011, due to frontman Mike Skinner “running out of avenues” and logic. Nevertheless the project managed to last the whole of the Noughties and change the UK pop scene for ever. Skinner has now gone onto another project called The D.O.T.
Originally from Birmingham but eventually spent most of their years as The Streets in London. The Streets were composed of Mike Skinner (vocals/keyboards/synths), Kevin Mark Trail (vocals), Johnny “Drum Machine” Jenkins (drums) and Morgan Nicholls (guitar and bass). Skinner himself first starting making tracks at 15. In The Streets he composed, produced and arranged every single note.
The band have become pioneers of a new style of garage in the UK and influenced the likes of Plan B and Lily Allen.
The Streets released their debut single, Has it come to this?, on Locked on label which has had previous success with the Artful Dodger feat. Craig David. The debut hit was a huge success and it reached the top 20 in the UK charts. This track was part of the Streets debut album, Original Pirate Material which was released in 2002. This was Skinner’s attempt to take UK garage music down a new route which reflected the lifestyle of UK clubbers. The ideas and direction of the album are summed up in “Lets push things forward”. Not only was this album the first of its kinds but critically it was a success. It gained nominations for The Mercury Prize, four BRIT awards (including: Best album, urban act, breakthrough artist and British male artist). As well as, peaking at #12 in the UK charts.
Next up for Skinner was “A Grand Don’t Come For Free” in 2004. Lead single for this album is the infamous “Fit But You Know It”, which became his highest single to that point. The sophomore album narrates a short period of time in the protagonist’s life which tackles the issues which are born out of losing a grand, starting a new relationship, going on holiday, breaking up and finding all your lost possessions. This album was Skinner’s first UK #1 album but entered the charts at #2. In 2008, The Streets began to work on the penultimate LP, Everything is borrowed. Computers and Blue is up next but it received an upgrade and was complimented through Cyberspace and Reds, the latter is an example of Skinner’s messy style in the form of a mixtape. After The Streets, finished their Big reunion tour and The Streets disbanded.
The Streets are a project who will most likely never return due to the organisation of their record deal and Skinner running out of avenues to adapt his style. So he decided to call it a day. Skinner went off and created his own project, The D.O.T, who released their debut album in 2012.
