Britain's crowned prince of the working-class and suburban youth, The Streets, has entered his In Utero phase. Whereas Streets mastermind Mike Skinner used to fixate on the ins and outs of relationships, drugs and whatever minutiae were on his mind, The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living finds him analyzing the benefits and trappings of fame. The lyrical content may have changed, but musically, The Hardest Way is pure Streets—stuttering beats, sparse synths and Skinner's cockney flow.
While The Hardest Way breaks new lyrical ground and oftentimes reaches the lofty heights attained on The Streets' prior albums, some weak tracks tarnish Skinner's sterling reputation.
The Hardest Way starts off on a high-note with Prangin' Out,\ featuring Skinner singing the drunken blues over diva vocals and terse piano chords. As the rock 'n' roll clichés start to take over his identity, Skinner tells himself, ""I need not be contemplating suicide / 'Cause with rational thought it would seem that I need not being doing the stuff that makes death seem like an easier option.""
Self-absorption is the name of the game on The Hardest Way, with the listener getting an uncomfortably close look at Skinner's post-stardom angst-y headspace. Skinner is not the scrappy, modest kid he used to be—there is a growing cynicism and paranoia creeping into his lyrics. While there is also a certain level of out-of-character boorishness that comes with some of the trunk-rattlers on the album, there are also a handful of songs that bring back the commentary Skinner's known for.
""Never Went to Church"" and ""All Goes Out the Window"" come off as Skinner's token piano ballad-hop, but despite being well-worn territory for The Streets, both tracks are extremely effective and have the more emotional resonance than the rest of the album. The former has Skinner reminiscing on the handful of bittersweet memories he has of his dad before he passed away. ""All Goes Out the Window"" discusses the unfortunate incongruence of fidelity and world tours: ""You'll disregard the ways the lady in your life inspires you / Which is why the day she tires of you / you'll be crying and howling.""
""Memento Mori"" has Skinner relishing in spending cash like a proper pop star. This could have been a great opportunity to dig deeper, but Skinner misses his chance. The production on this track is spare—even by The Streets' standards—with a one-sided hook that wears out its welcome pretty quickly. ""Two Nations"" looks at the musical divide between the United States and the U.K. makes some poignant observations, but a painful chorus overwhelms Skinner's witticisms.
The scattershot nature of The Hardest Way makes it a bitterer pill to swallow than Original Pirate Material and A Grand Don't Come for Free, but like Skinner's thick accent, given the chance it will reveal its depth.
The Streets might have attained mainstream success in the U.K., but it will still likely evade Skinner in the States. Though Skinner's gentlemanly rhymes and off-key singing are tighter and his beats still push things forward, The Streets' sound remains an acquired taste.
While The Hardest Way will not win the Streets any new fans on this side of the pond, those who are acclimated to Skinner's sometimes charming, sometimes awkward and usually eloquent wordplay will find plenty to like on his new album.
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