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Streets DYE

The Streets: Dry Your Eyes

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by Shoo
The latest instalment in the neon-harsh, perplexed world as reflected through mista Mike Skinner is a laid-back, resigned shit-hop tale of a break-up, the tail-end of a relationship. It proves once more that whatever you think of the oeuvre of The Streets it’s damn-near undeniable that what you’re gonna get is everyman honesty of thought, emotion, and shoulder-shrug acceptance of a normal geezer’s place in an often bemusing world.

And with soft-attack string pads and a lazy two ’n’ four snarebeat underpinning Skinner’s internal monologue, the overwhelming feel is that of frustration at the protagonist’s inability to fully express his feelings toward his (now ex-) partner. As the scene is played out not through verbal communication but physical expression, the narrative’s full of tender sighs and desperate gesticulation that are essentially too little, way too maladjusted, and definitely too late.

The relationship’s gone, dead from way back, built as it was on foundations of inarticulacy and a slithery, half-grasped mutual misunderstanding. If only he could have told her how much he loved her, told her in words; but, no, all he can do is try and take her by the shoulders and pull her close to him. The sentences, the framework for his deepest thoughts, won’t come, aren’t enough. So he has to try and use his hands, his body, his downcast physicality instead. But it’s not working, it's obvious that she doesn’t want to know anymore.

Moreover, Skinner – revealing here a naked, chapped-heart singing voice on the verge of cracking up into tears – knows that he’s fucked it up and seems to be trying to steel himself to look to the future. "Dry your eyes, mate" he intones, "there’s plenty more fish in the sea". But it’s not working; it’s obvious he can’t even convince himself anymore.

This is a single that’s very, very grown up and at its fundament has a vulnerability that is compelling and instant. The sentiments are universal, and the music is understated and accessible. Sometimes records transcend their fanbase to touch the listener of the FM radio and the geek-indie-kid alike. This could well be one of them.

  • The Streets 9 / 10

The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

Another terrible radio edit, mind. Removes the whole middle section about him having absolutely nowt.

The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

I like this song, a lot, its brave of him to try something more 'mature' for want of a better word.

However, and i dont mean to sound harsh, i dont like the way the review was written, putting into the songs mouth a description of what you think might have happened is not a review. Just my opinion there.

The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

This reminds me of 'It's too late' off OPM... which is phat!

Re: The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

"It's Too Late" is gorgeous.

Is it wrong of me to prefer the more reflective stuff?

The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

NO kisho, I prefer his reflective stuff too...

The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

I like the reflective stuff more too, and this is a great song, though not as heartbreakingly good as It's Too Late. While his more conventional stuff is pretty good too, it's when he lets his feelings out that he really shines as a songwriter. Blinded By The Lights should be the next single after this one, I reckon.

RE radio edit - the video misses out the middle bit of the song (annoyingly) but Radio 1 plays the whole thing.

The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

i can't believe the response to this record, it's so amateurish. it's limp and lifeless and it's so mopey that even if i thought the lyrics were good (which I don't) i'd still get bored.

i'll bet you all like Dizzee Rascal too, because people told you to.

Re: The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

eh?!?

people break up with their girl/boy everyday
get. over. it.
don't make feeble mawkish toss like this record. skinner's flow's never been so non-existantly terrible, either. (and for those that hate him, you'll realise that's saying something - I reckon he's superb, imho; but jesus christ this single and "Fit..", what a way to announce yr new record with the worst 2 songs you've ever cobbled together....)

Re: The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

Great record, nearly as good as the 'MC mix' of Fit. Haven't yet heard anything I like by Dizzee, though maybe Jus A Rascal isn't the best starting point.

The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

An amazing record. Very honest & heartfelt.
It was boss live too @ Manchester Apollo. & no one threw a can at his head this time either!

Re: The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

i love it so much... so nice to see that men also have feelings! Mike Skinner's the fittest pikey in the world

Re: The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

i second that

The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

I think he has the same gift of being able to make plain speaking deeply eloquent that Jarvis Cocker and Paul Weller had/have... and perhaps I would go as far as to say that herein lies the true heirs to the Jam... The Ordinary Boys and Libertines are not heirs, but cheap copies.

Re: The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

"I would go as far as to say that herein lies the true heirs to the Jam"

woah! bringing new meaning to the entire concept of the 'backhanded complement'. nice one!

The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

It's a terrible record. He's at his best when he's doing what he knows (Geezers Need Excitement, Let's Push Things Forward). If you took the backing music (which is rent-a-slush) and the lyrics and got some whiney bloke to sing it instead of his 'rap' everyone would think this was rightly terrible, but because of his style its a 'brave move'. Balls, it's rubbish.

The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

So Mr "I'm A Geezer, Me, Honest Guv" Skinner re-writes East 17's 'Deep' and some people are calling it genius????

Stone me.

Re: The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

East 17 *were* genius, though...

Re: The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

East 17 *were* genius, though...

Re: The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

ingeniusly moronic, perhaps.

Re: The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

surely that's still ingenius...

hardeharhar...

The Streets - Dry Your Eyes

Tony Mortimer's a great pop songwriter though.




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