Essential Squeeze

RELEASE
April 30, 2007
LABEL
Universal Distribution
GENRES
Pop/Rock, New Wave, Contemporary Pop/Rock, College Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Punk/New Wave

Album Review

Released as a primer for the reissue of the Squeeze catalog, as well as a nifty tie-in to Difford and Tilbrook's reunion, Universal UK's 2007 compilation Essential Squeeze is a generous 20-track overview of the band's best work, spanning from their first single, "Take Me I'm Yours," to 1998's "Without You Here," adding the previously unreleased (and quite good) "Library Girl" and "Last Call for Good Measure." Essentially, Essential functions as an expanded 45s & Under with "If I Didn't Love You" swapped out for "Is That Love?" (both, of course, would have been welcome), then brought up to the end of the group's career, so the hit "Hourglass" could be here along such solid latter-day songs as "Some Fantastic Place" and "This Summer." Of course, there are plenty of good songs -- some singles, some not -- absent, but what is here is very good, helping to make Essential Squeeze a good introduction to the band, or a good one-stop for casual fans.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. Take Me I'm Yours
  2. Goodbye Girl
  3. Cool for Cats
  4. Up the Junction
  5. Slap and Tickle
  6. Another Nail in My Heart
  7. Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)
  8. Is That Love?
  9. Tempted
  10. Labelled with Love
  11. Black Coffee in Bed
  12. Annie Get Your Gun
  13. Last Time Forever
  14. Hourglass
  15. Some Fantastic Place
  16. Loving You Tonight
  17. This Summer
  18. Without You Here
  19. Library Girl [#]
  20. Last Call for Love [#]