Everything Is Borrowed

The Streets | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 7, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vice Records
• ASIN: B001F7XHV6
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,658 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Everything Is Borrowed is the fourth album from The Streets. Skinner describes the album as a "peaceful coming to terms album" and as containing "peaceful positive vibes" which stand in stark contrast to the previous album, The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living, which Skinner has described as a "guilt-ridden indulgence". The album's first single is "Everything Is Borrowed". The video (directed by Ted Mayhem) follows Skinner as he walks 770 miles from Dover to a beach in France, a feat Skinner actually undertook. "Who Knows Who", a track Skinner recorded with the band Muse.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Album, Despite What You May Have Heard, October 16, 2008

By 

Leah Thomas "LT" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everything Is Borrowed (Audio CD)

Right. So...Mike Skinner. A witty guy to be sure. But on this album he seems to be more focused on being meaningful than being clever. Whether this is an improvement on his previous work is really a matter of opinion.
There's more emotion on two or three of these tracks than what we're used to. "Everything is Borrowed" and "The Escapist" are truly evocative and beautiful songs that everyone should hear. I'd also recommend giving "On the Flip of a Coin" a listen.
The instrumentation used here is more complex than anything else Skinner's tried before, but the lyrics aren't as biting. Again, it's more about taste than about his effort...the songs remain catchy and well-written.
My biggest critique of the album would be that a few of the tracks seem a bit half-baked, especially alongside well-developed others. For example: "The Way of the Dodo" and "Never Give In" will probably never really grow on me.
Overall...perhaps it's not as good as his first two albums, but it's certainly better than his third and I feel that it will grow to be more loved over time.
I can't stop listening to "Everything is Borrowed," but mostly because I'm waiting for about five of the songs on the album that are brilliant. It's a good half-album, but it could have used more work.
Streets fans will love it still, I think. If they can come to terms with the idea that Mike skinner wants to mature a little and stop screwing around. He's just arguing with his own accent...that's his problem. It's hard to take him completely seriously, but I'm learning to. You should try it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A definite grower, October 12, 2008

By 

Timothy Melvin Cunningham "indie rockstar" (Towson, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Everything Is Borrowed (Audio CD)

I don't know what to say about this album. When I first purchased it, I gave it a listen and was confused by the musical direction - a lot more real instruments and less hip-hop/garage beats, almost orchestral beats. Which can be quite interesting. But not for Mike Skinner. His razor sharp wit is still there, but in limited strokes. I hated this album when I first bought it, but have come to enjoy it. Strongest cuts: "way of the dodo", "the sherry end", "the strongest person i know", and "i love you more (than you like me)"

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars M. Skinner, December 15, 2009

By 

Obey The Altar Native "Time to Alternate" (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Everything Is Borrowed (Audio CD)

Everything is borrowed is my favorite The Streets album to date. Very catchy and bouncy. As usual he keeps you entertained with his witty lyrics and storytelling abilities. Very nice album to start with if you're not familiar with The Streets. Pretty universal for the most part.