A lot of people came back against this album saying Mike Skinner had sold out and run out of things to talk about but I would disagree, he's still talking about his life, its just in a state of evolution and as with life his albums reflect this.

I really rate this record, I think Mike has taken some time out to enjoy his life and come back and made a really intelligent album about the excesses of his life and his industry and some really personal problems and the songs are gripping and hard listening but all the better for it, stand out tracks are 'Never went to Church' and 'Pranging Out'.


Album Tracks Reviewed:


Prangin Out - I think this is one of his greatest tunes, the beat is brilliant, I love the further remixes he did with Pete Docherty and Skepta, both are superb. The huge throbbing bass is brilliant, the chorus is catchy and it doesn't glamorise drugs and the excesses of touring at all, the rhymes are superb as always, poetic, dirty and honest, typical Mike Skinner, a superb song, a real paranoid breakdown to start the album with.

War of the Sexes - I like the beat on this, twisted, mixed up and banging, I don't mind the chorus but it does grate after a while as it's a bit novelty. The rhymes are superb mixing slang and some stunning wordplay, this is about men and women, how men need to learn how to deal with women who are obviously smarter!

The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living - Wicked chorus, a strange harpsichord like sound in the background, a lolloping rhyme over a rolling beat, as always the words are smart, it is very autobiographical and you might fail to feel too much sympathy for the pop star but it's an engrossing story played out over complex beats and rhymes.

All goes out the window - I like the way this starts, the singing is pretty good from Leo, soulful and interesting, Skinner throws words about with ease, perfect prose and timing and a really interesting idea about men lying to women, again this has to be autobiographical, Mr Skinner is honest as always and I love that, his honesty really makes his songs rise above the bragging of some other artists.

Memento Mori - Weird start, strange guitars pianos, its weird. Memento Mori means remember we'll all die apparently, this song is about chorused with this ideal, its about enjoying life and forgetting about the fact we unfortunately will all die, Mike talks about spending cash to enjoy life, wasting cash to enjoy life and then realising he's thrown loads of dosh away on rubbish!

Can't Con an Honest john - How to con a con artist using their own greed as the hook, that's what this song is about, distorted beats, the tune is Mike talking about what he plans to do to take a mark's money and its like an episode of Hustle set to weird beats. Weird tune, but strangely gripping.

When you wasn't famous - This is probably one of the best songs and most well known on the album, catchy, infectious, all about pulling famous women when your famous, its something we can't relate to and while its interesting the words mean little, I can't feel sorry for Mr Skinner on this one, but I can absolutely love the melody and chorus of this fantastic song.

Never went to Church - This is stunning, a lovely slow song, the chorus is gorgeous and talks about the passing away of Mike's Dad, this is beautiful, the singing is gorgeous and real, the words are honest and touching, I get goosebumps listening to this song its beautiful and heart breaking, I really do think the honest rough edge to Skinners voice gives a melancholy and power to his ballads that people with better voices can't reach.

Hotel Expressionism - Nice beats, its about nicking stuff from hotels and smashing stuff, this is pop star stuff really, something we can't really understand as mere mortals, the song is ok, but after the last song its easy, and pretty weak, although compared to most songs its good.

Two Nations - Two nations divided by a common language, this is a diss to Americans in a humourous way, joking about how we gave them the language and how they've mangled it and how we're now following American trends in shooting and battles, whereas the worst we had was footy hooliganism years ago, this is ok, the rhymes are great, the tune is not so good. Some brilliant lines in this song and an honest view of a truly gifted young brit, who knows he won't make it in America.

Fake Street Hats - I don't like this song so much, the chorus is a bit dull and overelaborate, the rhymes are fine but it lacks any level of interest for the listener as its all about going on stage and it's a tad dull, its humorous but one of the weakest songs on the album.

The album is available on Amazon, HMV or I-Tunes, you can search and get the album for under a fiver. Overall I really enjoy listening to most of the songs, some are a bit overindulgent, but there are three stunning tracks that are always on my I-Pod playlist.