My typical work day is about 17 hours, six or seven days a week. If I were to divide it into blocks, it would come out to something like this:
*25 percent of the time solving the Hiss Case;
*75 percent of the time, wasting time.
The latter would be subdivided into:
*10 percent exercise
*15 percent practicing the ukulele
*24 percent the Mets
*24 percent just fucking around on the computer
*24 percent listening and finding music while doing all of the above.
* trace percentages eating, reading, doing good works, walking dogs, doing household chores and sitting on the toilet
This is a long introduction to my song of the month by a band that used to be one of my very favorites: Squeeze. I say used to because after the first few albums I felt they lost their spark and consistency. I heard some of it start to return with Tilbrook's last solo album, which was recorded while he was barely eeking out an existence by playing in peoples' living rooms.
Maybe hard times have brought their mojo back. I should say that Brother Sal is probably going to have something to say about the record, and he might tell everyone that I am full of shit, and that it stinks, that I suck, that the Mets suck and that Alger Hiss was guilty. That wouldn't surprise me. He's a lot smarter than I am, and besides, this is his space, but this is Friday, it's the weekend, we have these new celebratory laws in Oregon and the news in Oregon besides that yesterday really really sucked, so in honor of all those things and as an ode to the subdivision of my work day — and anybody's work day and anybody looking forward to the weekend, and anybody still enjoying summer songs of yore, I present this ear candy song from the new album.
I think it's Squeeze at its Squeeziest, although come to think about it, there might be a couple of songs on the album that are even Squeezier.
Click here to be deliciously Squeezed.
9 comments:
I am very impressed with what I heard from the new album so far (and the "Packet of Four" release that came out on Record Store day IIRC).
New song sounds good, as does the title track you can listen to on that youtube sidebar with their Jools Holland appearance. I hope the new album allows Difford more lead singing time. He's grown by leaps and bounds on his past few solo albums, as a songwriter in terms of the emotional content of his songs (writing about parents and siblings passing on, his kids, getting older, etc.) and as a lead vocalist. I don't think Tilbrook ever dropped the ball on his solo work, some releases stronger than others, but not a bad album in the bunch. I'm sure this will sink like a stone in America, but if those two songs are indicative of the overall quality, this is going to be a good, possibly great, album. Roddy Frame (Aztec Camera) put out a solid, damn good album last year, but it seems like even in the context of older recording artists remaining relevant, bands and artists like this never quite register as they should.
I don't have a thing to say about Squeeze. I've never owned or heard any of their records. When I lived in LA, KROQ played songs like "Tempted" and "Black Coffee in Bed", which I thought were fine, but did not interest me as much as Black Flag, The Weirdo's, X, The Blasters, etc.
I like the voice of whichever one sang with Elvis on "From A Whisper To A Scream".
I listened to a little of the new song, and thought it sounded like Squeeze. That guy has a good voice.
Go to youtube and try "Parents" and "Wrecked" by Chris Difford. That's the sort of stuff that I've been praising re: Difford's solo material.
I'm really loving this new Squeeze record.
Don't be turned off by their recent appearance on Jools Holland.
The mix was absolutely atrocious.
Ex-band memeber sabotage perhaps????
My favorite cut is "Sunny." It's the best thing I've heard by them in decades. Unfortunately, I can't find a video or audio link. Keep your eye out for it. I think you'll be impressed.
Super Squeezy!! Although, I can't help but think it would have been even Squeezier if his girl had walked off with someone else.
Hey, I dig this! And I am not a big Squeeze fan, so that's surprising. Thanks for sharing. But... work on those 17-hour workdays, man!! :)
I'm more like 54% Mets. Good tune!
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