Squeeze Album: “Cool For Cats”

Squeeze's first three albums trace the startling transformation of a band evolving from a diamond-in-the-rough punk band with an unmistakable pop sensibility, to a polished new-wave outfit that seems to effortlessly crank out an unending stream of catchy masterpieces. "Cool For Cats" is the second album, and the sound is squarely in the middle between the stumbling debut, "UK Squeeze", and the fully-developed third album, "Argybargy", a true classic of Beatlesque pop-rock. The distinctive vocal sound of early Squeeze comes from the unusual gimmick of having both Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford singing the lead together, with Tilbrook an octave higher than Difford. But it wasn't long before they moved away from that sound, with the sweeter-voiced Tilbrook gradually taking over most of the lead vocal chores from the courser Difford. At the same time, the punk-ish energy of the earlier material gave way to the slower tempos and polished professionalism that has characterized the band for most of their long career. This evolution was dramatic and unmistakable from the debut, to "Cool For Cats", to "Argybargy", by which time the transformation was almost complete. "Cool For Cats" highlights are many, starting with the lead track, "Slap And Tickle", which is very reminiscent of the debut. The album then hits a lull, with the next 5 tracks not making much of an impression, but it finishes with 6 straight winners, starting with the high-energy pop of "Hop Skip And Jump". The next track is the stunning "Up The Junction", with Difford's lyrics telling a woeful tale of boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl because of his heavy boozing. Practically a short story set to music. The booze theme is repeated 2 songs later on the irresistibly catchy "Slightly Drunk". In fact, excessive drinking would become a recurring theme for lyricist Difford for many years to come. The next track, "Goodbye Girl" is a Tilbrook-sung ballad with a lovely melody, the type of song that would become Squeeze's trademark. The album comes to a close with the delightful, punky title track. All in all, a stellar effort by one of the greatest pop-rock bands ever.

I have always loved this record. Every song. Slap. Tickle. Pop. Fresh and alive even after the years. All the energetic sillinesses that are instantly engineered out of Product these days. Bouncy, quick, rolling, pounding little tunes--each a story. Clever. Literate. Dig in. Humor around every riff. Of course, you have to have a sense of humor. These guys certainly did. Up the Junction (sad/funny portrait) made it onto their charts. Hundreds of hot bands like Squeeze from over yonder have come and gone without anybody here noticing much. We still worship the first wave. It's embarrassing. Squeeze is still out there somewhere. They go away and pop up again and again. After all this time they have about a zillion records and almost as many reincarnations. Argybargy and East Side Story are two of my other favorites. Sweets From a Stranger I felt deserved higher ratings. Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti as well. Cool For Cats is my ultimate favorite. Quirky fun.

I absolutely love this album! The lyrics are fun and entertaining, the music is a faster pace than some of their other albums. This one has a permanent place in my car. You just can't be in a bad mood after listening to "Touching Me Touching You", or any song on this album for that matter. May not be appreciated by fans who only like their radio hits.

If (like me) you're a big enough Squeeze fan to own this album on vinyl, but not big enough to have purchased their out-of-print box set, then this CD is just right. The sound quality isn't brilliant, but it's acceptable. (As I recall, the sound of the original vinyl release wasn't stellar, either.) And you get two non-essential but pretty-good bonus tracks ("I Must Go" and "Ain't It Sad").

This is one of my favorite Squeeze albums (after

), so it's also a good place for a new Squeeze fan to start.

will get you more bang for the buck, though.

As Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford have said in more than one occasion "Cool for Cats" is their first proper pop album and the one that established the kind of sound they'd pursue in their career: colourful pop with clever,often tongue in cheek,lyrics.

Their debut was estimulatingly scattershot but John Cale's guerrilla production values often mangled their melodic sense in a way that until"Cool for Cats" they hadn't really begun to develop their potential.

Potential which is very much fulfilled in this,their sophomore effort."Cool for Cats" is an album crammed full with exquisitely arranged pop tunes owing much to the Kinks and the Beatles.

Standout tracks include their all time best"Up the Junction"and its gorgeous cross rhymed narrative,the oh so new wave "Revue",the medievalesque "It's not Cricket",the spooky "The Knack",the fantastic "Slightly Drunk" or the driving Jools Holland sung title track.

Squeeze at their most energetic and uncompromisingly goofy and poppy.

Tezcatlipoca from Espinho,Portugal