The Streets are, at best, equally as vomituous as Avril. And England is pretty much the Napanee of Europe.

You are so so so so so so so so so wrong. So wrong. So! Wrong!

Listen to the first track on Original Pirate Material, "Turn the Page." That is not a heinous piece of crap: it is a work of art.

As for the England=Napanee thing, I'm not really about to disagree, but we can't forget Wales.

i'd goes as far to say that i am right. even so right, perhaps.

Maybe I just don’t understand art, but to me ‘Turn The Page’ sounds like Tricky imitating the “Fitter Happier” robot to the score of a Mitsubishi commercial.
i dunno if its supposed to be like dance music or something, but OPM makes for a shit hip-hop record.

I have to agree, what I've heard of The Streets doesn't make me too happy. Although I haven't heard all that much. Not that such is a good reason to withhold a rash generalization. Damn The Streets! Damn them!

Also, I used to hate Avril, and I definitely agree with you about her music, but I saw her interviewed and got a kick out of her cute, soft, lispy voice. I think she's honestly just a goofy chick from the backwoods, which has sort of a nice rags-to-riches thing in a way that creepy con-girl Britney doesn't at all. Erg.

Also, did you ever see the New York Times Mag's article on producing solo female singers? I think the article focused on a girl called Amanda (although it was a while back, stupid memory). Anyhow, it just blew my mind what-all they put into making these girls cash cows, and how they try to cross genres, while giving each girl an image that fits the most profitable passing fad, all so she can pump out one valuable single. They even select singers based on hair color! If you can get your hands on it, I think you'd like it. (Although I'm guessing you've probably read a bunch of similar things before.)

Hey Ramasaur - yeah, I think you mean this, which was a TM Link-of-the-Day in September. Fascinating and sad.

The thing with the Streets is that you need to give Mike Skinner the benefit of the doubt, starting out, and then go from there. Much of Original Pirate Material is 'garage' - one of the big UK club genres - with swanky r&b vocals that really grate if you're not willing to have fun with them. there's a thread of seriousness underneath - and wisdom - that's amazing, though. I think you might like "Weak Become Heroes," ram, but maybe not cause it's still too clubby. My faves on the record are "Turn the Page," and "Too Late" (a breakup song), both of which I go on about in my review. "Turn the Page" is the only one Julian enjoys. My friend Anne, meanwhile, only gets a kick out of the silly-and-great "Don't Mug Yourself."

But to each his/her own.

As for Avril... I missed out on most of the media hype, being away from radio, TV and magazines. Consequently, I was left only with the fantastic single that is "Sk8r Boi." Though you say you got a kick out of seeing her in interview, Ram, I had the exact reverse reaction. She seemed to me like a bitchy, self-important brat, and absolutely unlikable. Maybe the truth is somewhere in between?

Heh, everything I come up with was originally a damn link of the day :)

You... like.. Skaterboy???
Oh my goodness.
It feels like a slap in the face for me and my punkier friends, although I suppose we should just get off our high horses, hee.

I like your blog, by the way. You're a musical guru.