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Friday 27 November 2009

The Streets Original Pirate Material reaches Zane Lowes Masterpieces.

The Streets 2002 debut album Original Pirate Material has been honoured with Zane Lowe's Masterpieces 2009. 

BBC Radio 1's very own master of all things really-good-musakified DJ, Zane Lowe, will present The return of Masterpieces. Four of the greatest albums of all time will be played in full on Zane's shows as we learn about the influence these artists had on other successful acts. Also includes interviews with the artists involved.

Masterpieces is renowned for it's success and being a commendable introduction of music genres to Zane's younger listeners.

Past Masterpieces include Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV,
Guns N' Roses - 'Appetite For Destruction',
Public Enemy - 'It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back',
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses,
Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine and
The Prodigy - Music For The Jilted Generation.

This years awesome foursome announced for 2009 is

The Streets - Original Pirate Material 
Daft Punk - Discovery
The Clash - London Calling
Metallica - Metallica




Original Pirate Material
Released May 2002 (UK) Original Pirate Material, the ground-breaking album about being young and raw, with piano loops through indie garage beats was completely different because it was so honest, sharing day-to-day circumstances at a time when everything else was either over glamorised or an utter sob-story.
written, arranged, produced, 'beat-talked' and mixed by Mike Skinner, It is hard to talk about Original Pirate Material in past-tense because it was so fresh and true in 2002 - the same excitement and adoration is exuberated from today's generation when they too discover OPM for their first time.
With well respected classics such as Has It Come To This? Lets Push Things Forward, Don't Mug Yourself, Turn the Page, Geezers Need Excitement, Its Too Late, The Irony Of It All  and Weak Become Heroes, this was the album to gain Mike Skinner a huge amount of respect and loyalty from the fans that rightfully still stand strong by Skinners side today, as witnessed when an army of European Streets fans followed Skinner to each and every venue of The Streets October 2009 tour of America.
Addolorata 27th November 2009


The Streets Original Pirate Material will be aired on Tuesday 1st December. When asked recently by Zane Lowe "Have you heard the good news about Pirate?" Mike Skinner replied on his Twitter feed "yes i got an email about it. cant really take it all in to be honest. those sorts of honours are very surreal"


To be a part of it, tune in to Zane Lowe BBC Radio 1 From Mon 30 Nov - Thu 3 Dec between 7-9pm

Listen live :  http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/

Follow the Zipper on Twitter : http://twitter.com/zanelowe

and The Streets : http://www.skinnermike.com/

Let us know what your favourite masterpieces are? Why you think they are relevant and who you think should have been honoured? in the comments box below.





Friday 20 November 2009

THE STREETS Original Pirate Material and A Grand Don't Come For Free makes NME'S Top 100 Greatest Albums of the Decade.

The NME's Top 100 albums released between January 2000 and December 2009, as voted for by NME staff - past and present, plus a selection of musicians and industry figures that included Carl Barat, Johnny Marr, The Killers, Ian Brown, Jarvis Cocker, Pete Doherty, Elbow, MGMT, The Big Pink, Snoop Dogg, Alan McGee, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Michael Eavis, Arctic Monkeys to name but a few.

THE STREETS cut the top 10 with a swift number 9 for The Streets 2002 debut album ORIGINAL PIRATE MATERIAL and at number 16 THE STREETS are rewarded for the 2004 successor album A GRAND DON'T COME FOR FREE.
This list is taken from the ‘End Of The Decade’ issue of NME magazine which is on sale 18th November 2009, where each album included is reviewed again from a 2009 perspective, alongside brand new interviews as well as a look back at the defining musical moments of the past 10 years.

Personally, I feel strongly that The Streets 2008 released 'straight-up' album EVERYTHING IS BORROWED could have made the NME list proud as well. With it's peaceful, positive vibes encapsulating Mike Skinners usual charm and wit, boasting gig-goers and fan faves such as Heaven For The Weather, On The Flip of a Coin,  The Escapist, The Strongest Person I know, On The Edge Of A Cliff and Everything Is Borrowed. EIB is the penultimate album of lyrical magnificence that swept up a huge wave of new fans onto The Streets scene to boot and held the hard-core anchored for more skiinner, skiinner, skiinner!!!

The thing is with The Streets, within his 5 album Warner's deal, he has never released a below standard or average album, the four that have already been released (Original Pirate Material, A Grand Don't Come For Free, The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living & Everything Is Borrowed) have all been of an original, diversified direction to the last and exceptional standard.




The fifth and final Streets album is due for release in February 2010. Fortunately, The Streets hard-core followers are already in-the-know that they are in for a euphoric treat after Mike Skinner leaked many ravey, dark and inspirational tasters for his new Computers and Blues album via Twitter and his Skinnerblog.com. It is going to be massive, honest, clever and unique because that's what Skinner does best. Addolorata 20th November 2009.


The top 50 albums of the decade are:


1. The Strokes – 'Is This It'

2. The Libertines – 'Up The Bracket'

3. Primal Scream – 'XTRMNTR'

4. Arctic Monkeys – 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'

5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – 'Fever To Tell'

6. PJ Harvey – 'Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea'

7. Arcade Fire – 'Funeral'

8. Interpol – 'Turn On The Bright Lights'

9. The Streets – 'Original Pirate Material'

10. Radiohead – 'In Rainbows'

11. At The Drive In – 'Relationship Of Command'

12. LCD Soundsystem – 'Sound Of Silver'

13. The Shins – 'Wincing The Night Away'

14. Radiohead – 'Kid A'

15. Queens Of The Stone Age – 'Songs For The Deaf'

16. The Streets – 'A Grand Don't Come For Free'

17. Sufjan Stevens – 'Illinois'

18. The White Stripes – 'Elephant'

19. The White Stripes – 'White Blood Cells'

20. Blur – 'Think Tank'

21. The Coral – 'The Coral'

22. Jay-Z – 'The Blueprint'

23. Klaxons – 'Myths Of The Near Future'

24. The Libertines – 'The Libertines'

25. The Rapture – 'Echoes'

26. Dizzee Rascal – 'Boy in Da Corner'

27. Amy Winehouse – 'Back To Black'

28. Johnny Cash – 'The Man Comes Around'

29. Super Furry Animals – 'Rings Around The World'

30. Elbow – 'Asleep In The Back'

31. Bright Eyes – 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning'

32. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – 'Show Your Bones'

33. Arcade Fire – 'Neon Bible'

34. Grandaddy – 'The Sophtware Slump'

35. Babyshambles – 'Down In Albion'

36. Spirtualized – 'Let it Come Down'

37. The Knife – 'Silent Shout'

38. Bloc Party – 'Silent Alarm'

39. Crystal Castles – 'Crystal Castles'

40. Ryan Adams – 'Gold'

41. Wild Beasts – 'Two Dancers'

42. Vampire Weekend – 'Vampire Weekend'

43. Wilco – 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot'

44. Outkast – 'Speakerboxxx/The Love Below'

45. Avalanches – 'Since I Left You'

46. The Delgados – 'The Great Eastern'

47. Brendan Benson – 'Lapalco'

48. The Walkmen – 'Bows and Arrows'

49. Muse – 'Absolution'

50. MIA – 'Arular'







Wednesday 7 October 2009

Kid British *EXCLUSIVE* Interview Pt 2

Last Wednesday saw Kid British at the MOBOs in Glasgow, enjoying the red carpet and performing with the Young Soul Rebels.


If you missed the performance of 'I Got Soul' or if you just want to watch it again it is now available for fans in the UK via the BBC iPlayer.

whereas this morning see's poor James at the dentist having his wisdom tooth pulled out. 2 injections and a lot of blood later we are hoping he is back on form soon because he will be playing the Guild of Students (14+) Liverpool in 2 days time.




I got a moment of Adio's time to bring you part 2 of the Exclusive to Like The Sound interview with Kid British.

Addolorata: Hello Adio, how old are you and what do you do for Kid British?

Adio: iam 25 years young and iam a songwriter and part time vocalist!

Addolorata: What is your proudest moment of 2009 so far?
Adio: Being told by lynvial golding from the specials than we are the future as i listen to what people like him have to say than most people involved in music who claim to know it all .

Addolorata: Who is big in your game right now?
Adio: kid british

Addolorata: Our House Is Dadless is the third single to be taken from your debute album It Was This Or Football, will there be a fourth single to come from it? and what will it be?
Adio: i should hope so ha it would be a shame if we didnt .

Addolorata: The law is about to change. A defendant usually has the right to know who his or her accusers are, soon this will no longer be the case for defendants aged 11-30 charged with murder or manslaughter in English courts. In your opinion, is it right to use anonymous witnessess?
Adio: i think that law change could cause problems because if the person is not fount guilty they may want to go looking for the accuser.

Addolorata: If you wasn't in Kid British, what would you be doing now?
Adio: selling tables and chairs at any furniture store that is willing to hire me ha

Addolorata: V festival virgins aren't you? So how did that go at the weekend?
Adio: it was amazing we really had a good time we were not really expecting anybody to turn up but on both dates the tent was packed before we got on !

Addolorata: Have you got a girlfriend? (or boyfriend?)
Adio: nop

Addolorata: Who is your biggest influence?
Adio: my mum

Addolorata: From this moment in time, what's next for Kid British
Adio: we are looking forward to our tour in october and for more people to hear about us and get to know what makes us tick as we think many people dont know to much about us !

Many thanks Adio and Kid British

Addolorata - Follow  www.twitter.com/spaziodiarte




Thursday 17 September 2009

Ian Brown - Stellify

Big up for Ian Brown because he's done it again, what a great singer/songwriter he is.




Stellify is out now http://ianbrown.co.uk/news

Thursday 10 September 2009

KID BRITISH *EXCLUSIVE* INTERVIEW

With Kid British Moho Live Manchester date just six days away, what better time to nab Simeon Mclean for an EXCLUSIVE to Like The Sound interview.



Pic : Simeon live @ itunes festival 2009

Hi, lets begin by getting the formalities out of the way, What is your name?
Simeon : Simeon Mclean

How old are you?
Simeon : 25 years young ;)

What do you do for Kid British?
Simeon : I'm a vocalist and one of the song writers in KB

What is your proudest moment of 2009 so far?
Simeon : Probably doing our album launch at HMV Manchester to a packed room. It feels good to know that you have got strong support from your home town.

Who is big in your game right now?
Simeon : At the moment probably Dizzy Rascal.. That guy just keeps getting better and better. The Courteeners are doing really well on the live scene also.

Our House Is Dadless is the third single to be taken from your debut album It Was This Or Football, will there be a fourth single to come from it? and what will it be?
Simeon : Well Our House Is Dadless is really classed as our first single as the others were just put out as limited edition singles.. only a limited number of them got produced so you never know we might re release one of them or surprise you all with another. Rest assured that whatever the song is it will be good.

The law is about to change. A defendant usually has the right to know who his or her accusers are, soon this will no longer be the case for defendants aged 11-30 charged with murder or manslaughter in English courts. In your opinion, is it right to use anonymous witnesses?
Simeon : Yeah i think that's fair. Does it really make a difference whether the defendants gets to see the accusers or not? I believe that the new law will make it safer for the accuser.

If you wasn't in Kid British, what would you be doing now?
Simeon : I was a fire fighter before KB really took off properly so id probably be fighting some fire somewhere or doing home fire safety checks ( Very boring but very necessary) LOL

Wow, I never knew that!
Simeon : Yea! I had to leave the fire service for the band. I was only in there for about 7 months so I hadn't grown attached yet :)


V festival virgins aren't you? So how did that go at the weekend?
Simeon : Yeah its the first time we've played V so we all lost our virginity's this weekend. We wont regret it as it was done out of love ha ha! It was an amazing experience, we played to a full tent at both sites which is a very promising sign of how things are going.

Have you got a girlfriend? (or boyfriend?)
Simeon : Nope not got a girlfriend or boyfriend as to have both would just be greedy. I wouldn't mind a girlfriend at the mo though.. do you know anyone that may be interested?

*Cheeky chuckles ensue*

Who is your biggest influence?
Simeon : My mum and Heartless Crew ha ha

From this moment in time, what's next for Kid British
Simeon : We do a University tour that starts in Oct through to Sept so we're just looking forward to that. The 2nd half of our album plus a 2nd single should be out soon also so keep your ears wax free and your eyes open O_O

Thank you for your time Simeon, great interview and eyes wide open ;)



Tuesday 8 September 2009

Mike Skinner reveals his latest collaboration's.

Today, Mike Skinner revealed via his Skinnermike Twitter account his latest music collaborations. He tweeted last month that he intended to work with other artists. Since that he got together with Gigg's and on 17th August released the highly recommended Slow Songs, did vocals work with Laura Vane, Robert Harvey and Professor Green.


Mike tweeted "im working on so much music at the moment. a tune with sway, tune with kane, claire maguire, hopefully jack penate, one with rinse"


Sway, who recently confirmed that Liverpool FC and Holland footballer Ryan Babel is to feature on his forthcoming album, also tweeted today "just finished a banger with The Streets @skinnermike 4 my LP!!"


For more up-to-the-minute news follow Mike Skinner www.twitter.com/skinnermike
and Sway www.twitter.com/Sway_Dcypha

Wednesday 2 September 2009

What THE STREETS did this summer part deux

"At Slottsjell in Norway, we got so well looked after i didn't want to leave, including prawn dinner, boat ride and sun hired in especially for the occasion"
From festival fever to swine Flu, crowd-surfing to boating, reel tape to real tapas dinner with Skinner and a lovely shiney new Gibson 335 - visit http://www.skinnermike.com/ for the outside inside view of where his heart has been in "What I did this summer part deux"
here ... SKINNERMIKE.COM what I did this summer Pt deux

--------------
For more on what Mike Skinner and The Streets have done so far this year read my summary here January-to-August-2009-Skinner-way.


Friday 28 August 2009

Kid British, Chipmunk, Ironik, Mpho, Egypt, Tinie Tempah & Mz Bratt Join The Sun's Brrrap Pack Tour

Kid British have been invited along to play dates on the The Brrrap Pack Rhythm and Beats tour that's being organised by The Sun newspaper.



The line-up already features Chipmunk, Ironik, Mpho, Egypt, Tinie Tempah and Mz Bratt.

Kid British will join the tour for shows in Manchester, Birmingham and London.

IRONIK and CHIPMUNK. Kicking off at Bristol's O2 Academy on October 17 and it all rounds off on October 26 at London's Koko.

Live Nation Ticket details here ... http://www.livenation.co.uk/brrrappacktour

Exclusive interview with the boys from Kid British coming to Like The Sound soon, so watch this space.

Monday 24 August 2009

I'm Giving Your Bird Them Feelings. Calzo Houdini versus The Streets Download

This is the new orchestra based remix from Calzo Houdini, the chief of DimeRock Records.



Once again the team have created an all new version of the classic sound system banger "Has It Come To This" from The Street’s Mike Skinner.



It starts with the very young and haunting echo of Mike Skinners "You're mother warned ya, it's a sound system banger."

I'm Giving Your Bird Them Feelings has been cleverly recorded with the Heritage Orchestra. The original orchestra that played with Mike Skinner & his team at the BBC Electric proms, this is very different to the average remixes going around, this one really makes you want to listen and enjoy over and over again.

"I have mixed, recorded, sweated and created, this is our studio team’s take on the classic ‘Has It Come To This’ which has been titled ‘I’m Giving Your Bird Them Feelings’" Said Calzo Houdini.

You have set yourself a new height with this one Calzo Houdini, top work.
The original score was written and recorded by Callum James Greens with the help or Larissa Dahlbeck and Trick Rick.

Download it here http://bln.kr/1V9/

Follow Calzo Houdini on http://twitter.com/CalzoHoudini

http://www.dimerockrecords.com/

Tuesday 18 August 2009

SB.TV/RWD Exclusive Interview By Chantelle Fiddy with Giggs & Mike Skinner

Part's 1 & 2 Filmed and edited by Smokeybarz TV.
I'm a big fan of both Smokeybars TV and Chantelle's World of Whatever. Enjoy!

SB.TV/RWD - Giggs & Mike Skinner [The Streets] interview [Part 1/2] (HD)



SB.TV/RWD - Giggs & Mike Skinner [The Streets] interview [Part 2/2] (HD)



Subscribe to SB.TV here http://www.youtube.com/user/smokeybarz
Follow sbtvonline here http://twitter.com/sbtvonline

Subscribe to World of Whatever here http://chantellefiddy.blogspot.com/
Follow Chantelle Fiddy here http://twitter.com/ChantelleFiddy

Monday 17 August 2009

The Streets Re-Schedule Edinburgh

Today Mike Skinner aka The Streets announced via his Twitter page, "my throat is much better. they're coming out after the festivals. not the throat, the tonsils. Edinburgh gig has been rescheduled for 31st august. sorry again about the bad vibes"

And don't forget you can purchase Giggs ft Mike Skinner's Slow Songs via iTunes here http://bit.ly/12N7I4

Follow Mike Skinner http://twitter.com/skinnermike

Kid British - Our House is dadless

Kid British - Our House Is Dadless

This is a personal fave of mine at the moment, it's getting lots of play.

Kid British are Adio Marchant, James Mayer, Sean Mbaya, and Simeon Mclean, they hail from Manchester. They are on Mercury Records.

Our House Is Dadless is the fourth Kid British single release and the third single to be taken from their debute album It Was This Or Football.

Kid British Tour dates as follows


22 Aug 2009. 14:00 V Festival Chelmsford
23 Aug 2009. 14:00 V Festival Stafford
30 Aug 2009. 20:00 Proud Galleries Big Bank Holiday Special London
16 Sep 2009. 20:00 Moho Live Manchester
18 Sep 2009. 20:00 Loopallu Festival Scotland
9 Oct 2009. 20:00 Guild of Students (14+) Liverpool
10 Oct 2009. 20:00 Strathclyde Students’ Union (18+) Glasgow
12 Oct 2009. 20:00 53 Degrees (16+) Preston
13 Oct 2009. 20:00 Students’ Union (18+) Derby
15 Oct 2009. 20:00 University Union (14+) Leeds
16 Oct 2009. 20:00 University Union (14+) Hull
17 Oct 2009. 20:00 Students’ Union (14+) Sheffield
18 Oct 2009. 20:00 Students’ Union, The Forum (18+) Hertfordshire
20 Oct 2009. 20:00 The Old Firestation (18+) Bournemouth
21 Oct 2009. 20:00 Sin City (16+) Swansea
23 Oct 2009. 20:00 Students’ Union (18+) Reading
25 Oct 2009. 20:00 The Waterfront (14+) Norwich
27 Oct 2009. 20:00 Surrey Students’ Union (14+) Guildford
29 Oct 2009. 20:00 Students’ Union (16+) Bath
31 Oct 2009. 20:00 Bucks Students’ Union (18+) Wycombe

Kid British - Our House Is Dadless - The video




http://www.myspace.com/kidbritishmusic

Sunday 16 August 2009

SLOW SONGS Get it now on itunes

SLOW SONGS Get it now on itunes: http://bit.ly/12N7I4

Lets show the fuckers we can make this happen. Support Slow Songs on itunes now.
------------------------------------------------------------

The Streets forced to Cancel Summer Sundae & Edinburgh

it is with sincere regret that The Streets had to cancel this weekends (August 14th) Summer Sundae Leicester & (August 15th) Picture House Edinburgh shows.

Mike Skinner reported on his http://www.twitter.com/skinnermike page on his own health

"tonsilitus again. this time they're coming out. I will be doing summer sundae this evening and you hopefully won't notice the difference. I may be a bit more psychedelic"

Unfortunatly, his bravery was over-ruled when it was confirmed his bass player, the great Wayne Vibes has sadly contracted swine flu.

With utter frustration he tweeted

"and just as i get the all clear, my bass player wayney is diagnosed with swine flu. AAAGGGGGHHHH! I'm waiting to hear from management but i suspect this weekend is not going to happen. i want to cry" This was a big dissapointment all round.

Mike immediatly updated his fans saying

"it is with sincere regret that we've had to cancel this weekends shows. i think my previous messages have demonstrated my frustration. but there is nothing we've been able to do at such short notice. next weekend will definatly go ahead, V etc."

And the latest news from Mike is that they are "trying to also reschedule the edinburgh show"

This video, is dedicated to you wayney, for your ace bass playing on this song. We love you - get well soon and think of the good times.





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Saturday 15 August 2009

TheAA - If I Die

TheAA - If I Die

If you're following me on
http://www.twitter.com/addolorata1 or http://www.youtube.com/user/Addolorata
you will know I have been biggin' this tune up for some time now.
hustlaz anthem, being the first single off the mixtape "emergence experiment-a gangstar & a gentleman", this is the new single "If I Die".
I would really like to do an interview with the boys from TheAA, we need to know more about you so if you want to get in touch? You know where I am.
Meanwhile, enjoy the video If I Die in HD.



New Artists : If you would like to appear on Like The Sound, send your video's, photo's and press releases to Addolorata1977@yahoo.co.uk
Greatness will prevail in all cases.

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Thursday 13 August 2009

Giggs ft The Streets - Slow Songs

Giggs ft The Streets - Slow Songs

Due for release : Monday 17th August 2009

Mike Skinner AKA The Streets and Giggs AKA Hollowman got together for Giggs fourthcoming single Slow Songs. Mike Skinner never fails to impress with his collaborations, take Kano feat. Leo the Lion & Mike Skinner - Nite Nite - it is my favourite collab Mike has done up-until Slow Songs, and Mitchell Brothers ft Mike Skinner - Harvey Nicks, Routine Check and Excuse my brother, Professor Green's When You Wasn't Famous Remix, MC's Get out my House Remix and The Twang feat Mike Skinner & Pro Green - Either Way Remix - the boys just met up in Brighton to shoot the video with a couple of cameras on the beach - great atmosphere?

I have it on good authority that Skinner has more collaborations planned for the near future so watch this space for more on that.
Big respect to Giggs.
Slow Songs is produced by and featuring Mike Skinner and is already causing a stir with Tim Westwood, Mistajam and Zane Lowe.

Slow Songs - Giggs feat. The Streets



Lyrics : Slow Songs - Giggs feat. The Streets

Giggs [Verse 1]

They talk about they wanna cut crime down,
I do somethin' positive and they fly down,
im pissed off so I lie down,
wrap a spliff, grab a pen and I wind down,
mad poverty, niggaz cant get jobs
so they buy brown, by light, drive 'round
try and hustle on the streets to get the right pounds,
and little youths gettin' knived down,
cuz a nigga got pissed and brought a knife round...
they dont care about a sign to put their knives down,
next level, niggas gonna get their nines now,
rinse off the t'ing and put a life down,
think of the shit we live our lives round,
thats why i can't understand all the fight downs.

Mike Skinner [Chorus]

when the shadows in the sun grow long,
we listen to a slow slow song...

Giggs [Verse 2]

I used to roll strapped up packing a glock,
runnin' round rinsin' at the back of a block,
i used to shot cats, hold packets of rock,
now i make music what they're plannin' to block,
fuck these little faggoty cops,
i came a long way from a raggedy top,
old Reeboks and my gravities on,
now everything drops, i get my gravity on,
the whole industry gettin' mad at my songs,
sayin' they dont like me the way im carryin' on...
its been a mad journey, these fuckers dont know where im travellin' from,
they try'n a make my buzz lighter,
try'n a get to me lockin' down my blood Kaiser,
smoke weed while sippin' on a Budweiser.

[Chorus]

Mike Skinner : [Verse 3]

Its just a phase we know, that hazy glow,
comin' off the blazing road,
but im like Amir Khan, i appear calm,
all that clear charm, but clip your ear I'll,
raa, keep score of what ive got,
in the draw with the socks,
feeling ever more than alot,
i used to score shottings at the squats,
fuck it, duck it, in the bucket seat,
spunked all my currency and my luck you see,
on my grind, blind, frightened sometimes,
mixing white wine with whine,
late nights on the paved light,
with Dave types, chitter chatter with the latter,
wave bye, behave right, lets stay tight.

[Chorus x2]


SB.TV/RWD - Making Of 'Slow Songs' ft. Giggs & Mike Skinner [The Streets] (HD)




http://www.twitter.com/skinnermike
http://www.myspace.com/trapstargiggs
http://twitter.com/sbtvonline

Saturday 8 August 2009

January to August 2009 The Skinner way.


"2009! I invented it!" Said by Mike Skinner, Beat Stevie 2008

Mike Skinner has been bang on form this year with The Streets, he dived into 2009 danger tinged with paramedic based crowd-surfing injuries at his Corn Exchange gig in January and chipped a tooth whilst inserting the whole mic in his mouth during another performance, but fear not things did get better.


"Starting the day with a pear and the paper. The studio is cold. I think Ive worked out the timer on the heater now though" skinnermike

Mike took Twitter http://www.twitter.com/skinnermike by storm under the new guise of skinnermike, as I write he currently has 54,727 followers and trust me - it is growing daily, as he put us through his Tangfastic addictions, Dyson Airblade mania, being followed by helicopters, Cadbury fury, smelling a rat in the perfume industry, inebriated tweets from the pub and even BT Vision rage - (being a BT Vision customer myself I could empathize with him and actually sent BT an email during Mikes rage with a link to his tweets and told them to sort it out because Mike Skinner is getting very annoyed.) I do believe they resolved the problem in the end.

"gurning and yearning but learning" Skinnermike


Mike has shared some great philosophical thoughts with his followers on twitter, I really like this one because it is so true ...

"a constant sense of humour is all well & good but you have to respect serious people who can't laugh their commitments off as a joke"
"Life must be lived, your heart will be broken and hamstrings must be stretched. it's not enough to say don't do it"
and how true is this "I don't expect anything less than judgement from people whether they know my story or not"
On a lighter note, he even taught us a serious lesson about pencils, "your sharpener should have 2 holes. A sharpener with 2 holes allows one to radically alter the conicality of the drawing implement. extend your creativity to the very pencil."

and whilst we are on the subject of pencils and lessons, Mike pondered "paperless classrooms. no more textbooks. where will kids draw penis' now?" hahaha.
 
A really exciting time was when Mike got his brand new custom built studio - SSL based, complete with vocal booth, carpets, and boy, has he been busy putting it all to damn good use.


"My desk is coming and I'm going to start mixing all these new songs I've written. Get ready for it fast and dark" skinnermike tweeted,
We got ready and he has never stopped giving it fast and dark unless it has been to get out on the road touring all over from London to Australia, Glasto to T. Wireless, Germany & Kendall Calling to name but a few.

The Streets have released three new songs this year Never Give In, On The Edge of A Cliff with really awesome video's to boot - see for yourself on YouTube TheBeats and He's Got Swine Flu (He's behind you) which went down a storm with just about everyone except ... me unfortunatly on this rare occasion. The song is really clever but knowing how hard Mike worked on the video it pains me to admit it's just not my thing. Dammit! but then again, Mike's Mum hated it too so I'm in good company.

Mike re-vamped The Street's line-up, tighter than ever.

Mike skinner,
Kevin Mark Trail
Wayne B,
Chris Brown,
Magic Mike
and Cassell the Beatmaker


Mike Skinners very own Skinimix was born and banging for ten great weeks of Grime, sneak Streets previews and even some country curveball anticipation. Mike gave the skinimix it's grand closure on Mistajams radio 1Xtra show, it was a sad day but us ardent fans still have our skinimix downloads playing in our cars, bedrooms and through our ipods on the train.


Here's some Skinner fashion advice "dress smart get smart. wanna relax? rock the Reebok's - seriously it works!"

Mike also engaged us in recreating vintage acid sounds and rave with his 303, duality SSL, BADASS focal labs speakers and the beast that is his new Roland v piano.

Along with the tours and summer festivals we got to witness Mike's appreciation of old school rave, his new fade haircut. It was not only extreme, but definitely a good look - not so sure about the whole chilli's, raw chilli's - face on fire - that's how he rolls thing tho ... Eww! You don't suffer with heartburn then Mike?


"It doesn't matter how many books on philosophy I read, I'm still an ex employee of burger king who thinks about pasta hut on his way home" skinnermike
Back home and he's running with the owls between 2 breakfasts of All Bran and a full English.

He shared his struggles with a cafe writing 'sesh', slouching and eyelids closing. The evils of caffeine and Oh, who left their 1967 fender strat outside the studio overnight in the frost? naughty boy Skinneerrrr! And what's more on entering the studio sets off the alarm, again!!!

One of my favourite moments of this year was Don Riddell from CNN interviewing Mike in his studio, you really get to feel what it's like being Mike at work - awesome stuff.

My worst moment was when he spilt his entire cup of tea over his laptop. Waiting tragically to find out if it was gonna survive after drying it out overnight on the boiler.




It partially worked! the trackpad didn't, in fact, his mac was pretty much dead. :(
This is ultimatly my favourite thing to happen this year ...
Whilst working what seems to us followers as every hour round the clock writing, making music, mixing and rehearsing, skinnermike decided to allow his fans to download some of his new songs at their 'in progress' stage for FREE so that we can help him decide which one's are going to make the final track-listing for the new album due for release in February 2010. My personal favourites are as follows (1 being my best)

01. Roof of your car
02. Lovelight of my life
03. Where my heart has been
04. A blip on a screen
05. Outside, inside
06. Infamy
07. Long working day
08. See if they salute
09. Skills on toast
10. I love my phone
11. Trust me
12. In the middle
13. Robots are taking over
14. David Hassles
15. He's got Swine flu

If at least my top 6 songs are not on the new album next year, I will be very, very dissapointed. Or better still, why not make it a double album Mike?

The songs are not the only things going for free, Mike gave away real cash to the generous sum of £95 to a very happy fan who was the 1st one to meet Mike on London Bridge that morning as challenged via Twitter, he also gave-away his spare pair of weekend baste passes for Glasto which was intended for family who then didn't need them after deciding to see Mike at V instead.

When someone very famous dies you never forget where you was and what you was doing when you found out, well, when Michael Jackson died, this was how I found out, it was 10.52pm on June 25th, I was sitting in the lounge, on my Sony laptop scrolling down Skinnermikes Tweets when this one popped up "Jesus christ michael jackson is dead" I grabbed my sisters arm and said "No way, it can't be true but why would Mike Skinner say it if it's not true?" and then just a few moments later, a banner scrolled across the TV screen saying Michael Jackson has died. Look, I've got goose bumps on my arms!

The momentous Crop Circle

Just in time for Glasto, momentous, geometric activities where completed with Ted Mayhem and Mike Skinner making a huge Crop Circle in a field just outside of Castle Cary train station in Somerset to greet the Glastonbury festival revellers using Gatekeeper kit to create Mikes head wearing his much loved new SONY XB700 headphones which he said "have become part of my soul." Full story here, along with Crop Circle video’s 1, 2 & 3 in the making links.

http://www.sony.co.uk/article/thestreets





Gigg's ft Mike Skinner Slow Songs

Mike got together with Giggs and made Slow Songs, Giggs is someone I had not even heard of before "Slow songs" and now you hear me giving big respect to "You Raised Me" as well, it is the real deal. Slow Songs is gonna be massive and it is due for release 13th August '09.

Is it a Go Low plane?

A proud moment here, back in May the Go Low plane was gassed, ready to fly and just as planned it flew over The Kendall Calling festival on 31st July, flying the Go Low banner. That was indeed a proud moment.



 

this was captured on video by Tess De Jong





Like the sound

It is only early August and The Streets have already made big business this year. Mike Skinner has cleverly curved his music full circle, the beginning was an authentic explosion, the end is the beginning. I get a strong feeling - I know - The Streets will never be forgotten, the impact has been too great in our own lives, the personal memories are as vivid as they are sweet and fresh. I feel emotional again.

Winter will not ask Mr Skinner what he was doing all summer, what a year, seriously, imagine actually doing all that stuff, it's ever more than a likkle piece fat off. That really is A LOT!

listen to me when i say this ...
"Make yourself miserable or make yourself strong - it takes the same amount of energy" skinnermike 2009.


Thanks Mike Skinner and The Streets. I dedicate Like the sound to you.

Addolorata.










Artists

If you would like to appear on Like The Sound, send your video's, photo's and press releases to Addolorata1977@yahoo.co.uk
Greatness will prevail in all cases.