Tonight I went to a listening party at Fontana’s for The Streets‘ new album Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living, which drops April 10 in the UK and April 25 in the US. See, the problem with listening parties is every time I go to one, I just end up talking to people rather than listening to the music. Bringing together publicists, label people, and music writers (not to mention the presence of alcohol) is kinda a bad idea if you have the intent of really taking note of the music playing. So basically I have nothing to report on the new sound of Mikey Skinner, who btw, is one of my favorite artists. I am a bad reporter.

However, what I can tell you is The Streets’ new single “When You Wasn’t Famous” drops in a month and 12 days. (I know this because the official Streets site has a countdown ticker.) One of the tracks on the album will feature a choir. And the video for “WYWF” was filmed with Skins in a rehab clinic. I know these things because I read the Streets blog on Myspace. You can too.

On a related note, you can check out photographer Ewen Spencer‘s show “Open Mic” for a return exhibition in London now until March 3, 2006 at the Social Sciences Building, City University, St Johns St, London EC1. It’s open 10am – 8.30pm Monday to Friday. Free admission. Can’t make it to the show? You can buy the book. It’s 64 pages and includes some words by Mikey Skinner.