The Streets

Even though Mike Skinner has given his project a name whose use of the definite article followed by a plural noun might fool you into thinking this is yet another faux-garage revival act, the Streets actually make some of the most interesting club music in ages. Skinner manages to bring the Dionysian feel of the 2-Step/Garage scene to bear on a hyper-realistic look at street life in South London. His observations/caricatures of the weed-toking, lager-quaffing crowd are set to raw, skittering, self-programmed beats -- making music that's both satire and celebration.