The Streets - Original Pirate Material

Nobody else over their past decade managed to came so completely out of nowhere like Mike Skinner did in 2002. Sure there were some Hip Hop, garage and electronic reference points but little in the way of real preference. Original Pirate Material put the turn of the decade aggressiveness of UK garage on its head, bringing headphone listeners on board and ultimately far broader numbers along too. Skinner’s debut still sounds as just as smart and just as humorous four albums on to place him deservedly among the great unique voices of British music. (Padraic Halpin)