Original Pirate Material (2002)

Birmingham-born Mike Skinner made The Streets' debut largely at home, and it sounds like British street life told from the inside. Over two-step garage rhythms, strings and melancholy piano, his conversational delivery catches wet high streets, late-night takeaways, pub rituals and lads' nights in. Has It Come to This? sets the scene; Weak Become Heroes shows the tender side.