Lately I'm all about the concept album; it seems I cannot get enough. Whether it's Coheed and Cambria with a Star Wars series, the simultaneous playing of 4 albums ("Zaireeka") by The Flaming Lips, or even a website based around a musician writing songs by request in any genre, style or topic, they are all ideas and they all grab my attention quick snap. The Newest album "A Grand Don't Come For Free" by The Streets is equivalent for me.

If you haven't read into this album (literally) then maybe you should, take a few ticks and read along maybe you missed out on the concept, and maybe just maybe you passively passed off this album as simply a slower, spin-off version of "Original Pirate Material"; if that's the case it's a damn shame. This album is not just another slow tempo, catchy, conscious, Hip Hop album. At the same time it's not another flashy, bling-bling, shoot'em up, garage beat, Rap album. But this is not to say it doesn't contain any/all of these elements. What I mean is that there is a definite idea behind the album and there is a story/lesson to be taught. This album is a story, a journal or a living experience that is physically related to the listener. If you haven't totally picked up on the story yet then here is a summarized version of the start; the story of a "thousandth of a million squid".

Track 01/Scene 01: It was supposed to be so easy.

Mike sets off ready to complete what seems a fairly simple set of tasks. Little does he know these events will start a huge ball rolling for the next few weeks, and that the outcome of this single day will change his, his mum, his girlfriend and his mate's lives and the way they all look at each other forever.

The List: 1. RETURN VIDEO.
2. HIT UP BANK MACHINE.
3. MEET UP WITH MUM FOR TEA.

If you have ever had a pissday where everything screws you or doesn't seem to fit, then I'm sure you will be able to relate. Think about that day, or week, or whatever you had as you listen to this album or while you read this article. I am reminded of the movie Run Lola Run, where Lola takes off running out of her apartment with a goal in mind; this is what I visualize while listening to this first track. Enough build up, here's what happens.

Mike's running to make it to the local video shop so the DVD he rented wont be late (avoid a fine). With no time to spare he makes it, feels some relief and drops the case on the counter. Guess what...no disc inside; he forgot it in the player. Sure he made it in time but that doesn't count when you gap the bloody disc at home. So he's off again, running to the bank so he can in turn meet up with his mum for a spot of tea. So here's Mike rushing to the bank before it closes and suddenly he is sidelined by a car, not coming close to hitting him, but driving through a puddle which soaks him to the bone (and we all know how hard it is to run in tight/wet jeans). Dripping wet Mike makes it to the bank only to be confronted with a huge lineup of old ladies doing their entire life's worth of banking at an instant teller machine. Finally...Mike's turn...INSUFICIENT FUNDS! What next! With no cash Mike cannot meet up with mum, so he decides to call and cancel. Not only can Mike not find his cell phone, but when he does it is out of batteries. Nothing else can go wrong...wait yes it can. When Mike gets home he cannot find his savings, is it lost or stolen? Both ways a grand is missing and a grand doesn't come for free.

To find out what happens next listen to the album, or read the lyrics like a story. The Streets tell it real and tell life exactly how it happens to real people. Life isn't perfect, things aren't always up nor always down, life seems to even itself out. This album isn't telling a story like that from the movies or fairy tales, but rather a story about balance and how things tend to come full circle. This balance of the story (life) is what I feel is the most important constituent of the album. I'm not saying that the individual experiences aren't important, because they are, and it might be the positive/negative days that motivate us in opposite directions and consequently cause the balance. The overall picture that this album represents which is the balance is the key to this album. Like Tron says "the things that we did, it wasn't so much the thing as it was that we did em".