Squeeze - East Side Story
#200
By Edward DeSantis
Squeeze
East Side Story
Genre: Squeeze
Allen’s Rating: 5 out of 5
Edward’s Rating: 3.99 out of 5
Highlights:
Tempted
Is that Love?
Allen’s Highlights add:
In Quintessence
Someone Else’s Heart
Singles, 45’s and Under is as close to the perfect pop album as you can get. This is where I admit that I had worn the tape out three times before I realized it was a “Best Of” compilation. Once aware, the idea that there were more gems to be uncovered from this duo of Chris Difford and Glenn Tillbrook, the saviors of British pop that were compared to Lennon and McCartney, brought great joy to my young heart and ultimately sadness and dismay.
While their harmonies and song craft brought them the comparison to Lennon and McCartney, the comparison for this band is more apt to be to Jagger and Richards. Not unlike the Rolling Stones, Squeeze has a particular style and sound that they are exceptional at, catchy, ear worm, pop. The same way Keith and Mick can claim to be stewards of the blues. Just like the Stones though, the band isn’t known for full sets of amazing tunes on one disc the way that the Beatles are. There are amazing examples of writing and performing on each record, but by the same token each record has soft spots and weak links.
East Side Story is no exception. It pains me to write that, even more so when you consider this album was produced by none other than Elvis Costello. That fact is what keeps me from giving it a full 4.00. I expected so much more from these three kings of popular music. The standouts here are the ones that made it to the Singles compilation “Tempted” and “Is that Love?”. Both examples of pop at it’s catchiest, wormiest best. “Tempted” was sung by the new keyboard player Paul Carrack who had replaced the irreplaceable Jools Holland for this record. The lead track “In Quintessence” is a runner-up to the two previously mentioned gems, but the word “Quintessence” itself for me stands in the way of the song getting in my ear hole. The majority of the record feels soft and constrained to my willing ears. I can hear Elvis’ influence on the tracks “Mumbo Jumbo” and “Vanity Fair” but it sounds more like conflict than collaboration to me, as if an argument was won and a song was dutifully produced. The country inspired “Labelled With Love” feels like a dare. Elvis, Glenn and Chris obviously love the storytelling aspect of American country music but I miss the dust and grit necessary to pull this kind of stunt off. Remarkably that track was the last time Squeeze hit the top ten in the UK. The album is a fun listen as all Squeeze albums are, but if you’re looking to be blown away after each song fades into the next as I am when I listen to Singles, 45’s and Under you have to wade through some average tunes to get blown.
https://open.spotify.com/album/4178w40uOpDld2RnR1ifCy?si=f1BcCBVaR36pIJj_Fhmibwq
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