I've been listening this Squeeze album from 1982 after a few years, and it's really a strange one. This was the record after the group's first incarnation split up, and the critics are agree that this was an 'uneven' album. Actually it is, but what was exactly wrong on it? I haven't found any good explanation. Why did Difford&Tilbrook abandoned the guitars almost completely on this record? Did they really try to make a white R@B album or something like that? Why did the original LP not contain the bonus track "I Can't Get Up Anymore" which would have been the best song on the album except perhaps "His House Her Home"? Did Belle & Sebastian steel the main motivum for "Jonathan David" from "His House Her Home"? How come that nobody tell them to make "I Can't Hold On" the first single instead of "Black Coffee In Bed", which is literally a new version of "Tempted"? A lot of questions, is there anyone who can answer them? Or at least tries...
― zeus, Wednesday, 4 July 2007 21:16 (seventeen years ago)
I sort of follow you here. At first glance, it sounds like yet another great album of theirs, like all the great stuff that went before it. But then, when you get into it, the songs just don't work for some reason.
This one and "Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti" represent their worst down period (other than the weird debut which was dragged down by John Cale's wacky leadership). From "Babylon And On" onwards they became good again, although nobody really cared in the 90s.
― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 4 July 2007 21:43 (seventeen years ago)
I think it's better than "Babylon and On", which suffers from that bad 80s sound, not as much as "Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti", but still does. "Sweets From A Stranger" at least has a certain live feeling, no electronic drums, no dated synths, and a kind of funky rhythm section. Perhaps they shouldn't have sacked John Bentley, he was the greatest Squeeze bassist.
But yes, I have a feeling too, that most of the songs on SWAS just don't work - but what is the reason? Difford's heavy drinking? Tilbrook's blue eyed soul-fixation? Or both?
As for their post-Babylon And On era, I only have 'Ridiculous', which is a solid album, but a bit too adult orientated for me, so maybe I'm too young for the later period Squeeze, don't know...
― zeus, Wednesday, 4 July 2007 21:53 (seventeen years ago)
i don't know the albums but have the same feeling just from knowing the singles. that run of singles that takes up the first side and possibly into the second side of singles, 45s and under was just such a charged period. the question of why it ended can be asked about so many artists, though. in squeeze's case, i just don't know.
― Tim Ellison, Wednesday, 4 July 2007 21:54 (seventeen years ago)
good MOJO squeeze feature this month (bob marley on cover).
― pisces, Wednesday, 4 July 2007 22:08 (seventeen years ago)
Thanks pisces, I will check it out
― zeus, Thursday, 5 July 2007 11:01 (seventeen years ago)
Anyone own the Difford/Tilbrook solo album?
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, 5 July 2007 12:47 (seventeen years ago)
I had it on vinyl. I don't remember being overwhelmed by it.
― Jazzbo, Thursday, 5 July 2007 12:55 (seventeen years ago)
As that Mojo feature makes clear, the band was ready to break up by the time they recorded Sweets. Drugs, fatigue, a dearth of ideas, and the millstone of Difford and Tilbrook being anointed "the new Lennon and McCartney" doomed the album. Even during its best moments, the band just sounds tired.
Difford and Tilbrook isn't bad -- miles better than Cosi Fan, anyway -- but it tries too hard to be a "classy" pop LP. I can't say I've listened to it all the way through since 1984.
― The Deacon, Thursday, 5 July 2007 14:06 (seventeen years ago)
I saw the video for "Love's Crashing Waves" on VH-1 a couple of years ago; it looked like they were trying VERY hard to be Hall and Oates.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, 5 July 2007 14:07 (seventeen years ago)
I never had that sense about it!
― Tim Ellison, Thursday, 5 July 2007 15:41 (seventeen years ago)
hey who knew about the heroin? (cf MOJO mag piece)
― pisces, Thursday, 5 July 2007 15:53 (seventeen years ago)