The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living
by The Streets
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 36
  3. Negative: 1 out of 36
  1. Rolling Stone
    60
    A Behind the Music episode converted into a diffuse, rave-schooled song cycle.
  2. AllMusic
    60
    Most listeners won't care to follow this particular rabbit down the hole because of the bracing cynicism, paranoia, misanthropy, and betrayal they'll hear at every turn on this record.
  3. NOW Magazine
    60
    It's clear that Skinner has worked on his flow a lot. He sounds less loosely conversational and more bound to the rhythm.
  5. Slant Magazine
    60
    Skinner goes with the flow but the flow isn't pretty, and though dissonance is his strong suit, the conflict in these songs isn't so much located within them as it is in the space that separates them.
  6. Urb
    60
    When The Streets gets lazy, he becomes less of an artist and more like a novelty. [May 2006, p.80]
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  7. Prefix Magazine
    50
    With about half the tracks on this record falling short, Skinner would seem to be teetering on the edge of irrelevance. But even the failed tracks here sound interesting, and if he's lost his way somewhat thematically, it's all in the name of searching for his new voice.
  8. The Guardian
    40
    It stands as a dire warning that even the most gifted writer can't inject anything new into the worn-out topics of on-the-road excess and celebrity ennui.
  9. Q Magazine
    40
    The 37-minute length is not the only thing about this album that's slight. [May 2006, p.116]
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  10. Austin Chronicle
    40
    Is Mike Skinner having a midcareer crisis? The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living sure makes it sound that way.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 31
  3. Negative: 4 out of 31
  1. brockcheese
    Apr 14, 2015
    7
    I like this album by The Streets, but not nearly as much as their 2 previous albums, which in my opinion are amazing. I just don't think thisI like this album by The Streets, but not nearly as much as their 2 previous albums, which in my opinion are amazing. I just don't think this album is as introspective as their previous work and feels kind of like fluff.… Full Review »
  2. AViewAM
    Oct 30, 2006
    7
    When I heard "Grand" (yes, I started with the second album first) I thought I was hearing a whole new phase of hip-hop blowing out of my When I heard "Grand" (yes, I started with the second album first) I thought I was hearing a whole new phase of hip-hop blowing out of my speakers. Turns out I was partly right. Not as energetically powerful as OPM or as flowing lyrical as Grand, Hardest Way still manages to deliver the goods with even higher prod. values than before. Anyone who gives this album lower than a 6 has obviously come down with a nastly case of brain death.… Full Review »
  3. Duncan
    Aug 3, 2006
    10
    Brilliant. His best album yet.
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