The critical acclaim and award nominations garnered by The Streets’ debut album was pretty remarkable. While interesting, I could not really appreciate why it had generated blanket praise. I then saw a live performance by The Streets at Dublin’s Witnness Festival last year and admit to enjoying the laid back, whiskey bottle-toting performance by Mike Skinner and mates. I was entertained but still not inspired.

So here’s my third chance to be convinced courtesy of the new album which again has caught the imagination of reviewers. Oh hell, maybe there’s something wrong with me, perhaps I’ve become cynical in my old age, or maybe I’m just contrary. But this album still doesn’t light blazing fires for me. To a rather grand and relentless brass section refrain, Skinner, in cockney narrative style, talks his way through It Was Supposed To Be Easy. He does deserve praise for creating his own Brit-Hop style and keeping the background instrumental arrangements simple and effective. It’s a trait that is sustained throughout the album and is welcome. This track also boasts an engaging stuttered percussive beat and concludes on a sampled orchestral flourish. Could Well Be In maintains my interest with a simple piano backdrop and a reggae-tinged chorus. In lyrical terms, so far it’s been couches, broken TVs, birds and other day-to-day paraphernalia, and not the stuff of great musicians or poets. Blinded By Lights is a highlight with its highly original sound and perky female backing vocal, in a song with the pace of a lumbering elephant.

But if Hip-Hop is about lyrics (helped along by a danceable beats), then those on Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way fall short. “My TV is a bit broken on the back…, and the atom-splitting “Can you rely on anyone in this world? on Empty Cans don’t evidence some great modern musical poet.

My favourite track arrives late in the piece with Dry Your Eyes which raises the lyrical standard substantially and includes a lovely chorus line from a guest singer. The song even moved me a couple of inches. There is no doubt that Skinner has a distinctive and original style – sort of punk with beats – and does create some venomous and diverse background sounds, but I get the feeling that he’s playing with us; almost challenging us to say, Yes! This is a decent album but it’s not a great one.

3/5