The Streets — The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living

Mike Skinner's previous albums sketched out his adventures as a drug-addled, apathetic British kid on a sonic canvas that used elements of hip-hop, garage and techno. On this latest disc, the ambitious production remains, but the Skinner story has moved on to another act, with the unlikely pop star having to deal with the ups and downs of fame. If that sounds like a been-there-done-that concept, remember that we're talking about The Streets — the themes may be familiar, but the execution is wholly original. Skinner's paranoia is the current that powers the album, whether he's beating himself up over his addictive tendencies ("Pranging Out") or complaining about cell phone cameras catching him doing lines in the club ("When You Wasn't Famous"). And in the midst of all the nouveau-riche navel-gazing, he drops "Never Went To Church," an aching ballad dedicated to his late father. Skinner may find it hard making his easy living, but his struggles are nevertheless fascinating to listen to.