Computers and Blues is the fifth studio album by English rapper and producer
Mike Skinner, under the music project
The Streets. It was officially released in the United Kingdom on 7 February 2011. It contains 14 songs, including an appearance from British singer-songwriter
Clare Maguire. Rob Harvey of
The Music worked closely with Skinner on the album and features on several songs. The cover photo is a close-up of the Ziggurats,[1] Norfolk Terrace halls of residence at the
University of East Anglia designed by architect
Denys Lasdun. The 'Blues' part of the title refers to Skinner's beloved
Birmingham City.
Composition
In contrast to the "self-indulgent meltdown" of The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living (2006) and the '"philosophy for beginners" approach' of Everything Is Borrowed (2008), Computers and Blues returns to the
garage instrumentals and "everyman" presentation of real life of Original Pirate Material (2002) and A Grand Don't Come for Free (2004).[2][3] It is primarily about
technology's control on society, such as romantic dates on
Facebook and addiction to
Xbox gaming.[2][3] Although Skinner sometimes raps about topics typical of his earliest albums, such as drinking ("Without Thinking") and being a stoner ("Roof Of Your Car"), he also discusses issues unique to his later years, such as struggling with
chronic fatigue syndrome ("Trying To Kill M.E.") and seeing his daughter's
ultrasound ("Blip On A Screen").[4] Occasionally, the rapper references
science fiction writer
J. G. Ballard.[4] As Skinner laments on "Puzzled By People", "You can’t Google the solutions to people’s problems."[3]
Sean O'Neal of The A.V. Club argued that despite some moments that "remind that he won't be easily replaced", most of Computers and Blues suffered from "rote rehash" in the lyrics, and "awkward nods to trends from a guy who once sought to push things forward", such as Auto-tuned hooks and references to internet lingo like "OMG".[4]
Track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Outside Inside"
3:02
2.
"Going Through Hell" (featuring Robert Harvey of
The Music)
3:08
3.
"Roof of Your Car"
3:12
4.
"Puzzled By People"
3:08
5.
"Without Thinking" (featuring Sharlene Hector)
3:18
6.
"Blip on a Screen"
3:34
7.
"Those That Don't Know"
2:54
8.
"Soldiers" (featuring Robert Harvey of The Music)
3:37
9.
"We Can Never Be Friends" (featuring Robert Harvey of The Music)
3:37
10.
"ABC"
1:12
11.
"OMG" (featuring Laura Vane of Laura Vane and The Vipertones)
On 10 February 2011, Computers and Blues debuted at number 22 on the
Irish Albums Chart. On 13 February 2011 the album entered the
UK Albums Chart at number 8. As of January 2012 UK sales stand at 42,000 copies according to The Guardian.[15]
The album was released in the United Kingdom on 7 February 2011, but was made available to
Spotify Premium subscribers on 2 February.[26] A stream of the album was made available by Guardian News and Media on 3 February 2011.[27]
Computers and Blues is the fifth studio album by English rapper and producer
Mike Skinner, under the music project
The Streets. It was officially released in the United Kingdom on 7 February 2011. It contains 14 songs, including an appearance from British singer-songwriter
Clare Maguire. Rob Harvey of
The Music worked closely with Skinner on the album and features on several songs. The cover photo is a close-up of the Ziggurats,[1] Norfolk Terrace halls of residence at the
University of East Anglia designed by architect
Denys Lasdun. The 'Blues' part of the title refers to Skinner's beloved
Birmingham City.
Composition
In contrast to the "self-indulgent meltdown" of The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living (2006) and the '"philosophy for beginners" approach' of Everything Is Borrowed (2008), Computers and Blues returns to the
garage instrumentals and "everyman" presentation of real life of Original Pirate Material (2002) and A Grand Don't Come for Free (2004).[2][3] It is primarily about
technology's control on society, such as romantic dates on
Facebook and addiction to
Xbox gaming.[2][3] Although Skinner sometimes raps about topics typical of his earliest albums, such as drinking ("Without Thinking") and being a stoner ("Roof Of Your Car"), he also discusses issues unique to his later years, such as struggling with
chronic fatigue syndrome ("Trying To Kill M.E.") and seeing his daughter's
ultrasound ("Blip On A Screen").[4] Occasionally, the rapper references
science fiction writer
J. G. Ballard.[4] As Skinner laments on "Puzzled By People", "You can’t Google the solutions to people’s problems."[3]
Sean O'Neal of The A.V. Club argued that despite some moments that "remind that he won't be easily replaced", most of Computers and Blues suffered from "rote rehash" in the lyrics, and "awkward nods to trends from a guy who once sought to push things forward", such as Auto-tuned hooks and references to internet lingo like "OMG".[4]
Track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Outside Inside"
3:02
2.
"Going Through Hell" (featuring Robert Harvey of
The Music)
3:08
3.
"Roof of Your Car"
3:12
4.
"Puzzled By People"
3:08
5.
"Without Thinking" (featuring Sharlene Hector)
3:18
6.
"Blip on a Screen"
3:34
7.
"Those That Don't Know"
2:54
8.
"Soldiers" (featuring Robert Harvey of The Music)
3:37
9.
"We Can Never Be Friends" (featuring Robert Harvey of The Music)
3:37
10.
"ABC"
1:12
11.
"OMG" (featuring Laura Vane of Laura Vane and The Vipertones)
On 10 February 2011, Computers and Blues debuted at number 22 on the
Irish Albums Chart. On 13 February 2011 the album entered the
UK Albums Chart at number 8. As of January 2012 UK sales stand at 42,000 copies according to The Guardian.[15]
The album was released in the United Kingdom on 7 February 2011, but was made available to
Spotify Premium subscribers on 2 February.[26] A stream of the album was made available by Guardian News and Media on 3 February 2011.[27]