The Streets - When You Wasn't Famous (679/The Beats)
UK release date: 27 March 2006
Mike Skinner has always said that all of his songs are based on true incidents from his life, and if that's the case, When You Wasn't Famous is going to have the tabloid press in a frenzy. It's a tale of Mike attempting to cop off with a famous female popstar, and includes the line "I never thought I'd see a pop star smoke crack".
No doubt the message boards and blogs will be abuzz with chatter about the mystery popstar's identity, but this shouldn't distract from the song itself. Possessing the usual Skinner swagger, When You Wasn't Famous is a typical Streets song - infectiously catchy, witty and possessing some typically wry asides about contemporary culture ("how the hell am I supposed to be able to do a line in front of complete strangers, when I know they've all got cameras?", a line which Kate Moss will no doubt smile with recognition at).
Sure, it's a tad self-absorbed and it does bear a bit of a resemblance to Fit But You Know It, but overall this is a fine taster from what should be one of 2006's most talked about albums.