what if howard the duck meets the descent

Squeeze
There was a rule we used to make during drinking games. You are not allowed to sing or move to the music or else you drink. Then Squeeze the singles would be put on and you soon were very drunk. I also remember watching Squeeze play there first last performance on TV, playing Annie Get Your Gun and was amazed. I also remember seeing them live at Lake Compounce a few years later and I was singing and yes dancing for the whole show. But that is the problem with Squeeze, at their best they are brilliant but they also can be just okay too. Thus there greatest hits and concerts are amazing but the whole cd’s have far too many down moments to be considered anything better than good. For every Pulling Muscles, Another Nail, and If I didn’t love you, you get: I think I’m a Go Go, Farfisa Beat, Here comes that feeling. Yes their lyrics are entertaining, but sometimes the music just tends to blend together. But with Argybargy the rest is still good sing along tap and move your feet English pop. If you want the best of squeeze I’d still recommend Singles, but Argybargy is probably there most consistent and best cd. 3.5


Pavement
One of those bands that people seem to have this need to constantly wax poetically about and make sure they tell everyone just how great they are. Now I had not listened to any pavement cd’s before this. I had listened and own Stephen Malkmus solo cd and do like it. Summer Babe just rocks. Great guitar, catchy chorus and a truly great sound. Like the raw sound on Trigger cut, and you can’t go wrong with a few la, la’s thrown in. So yes I am beginning to understand why people are so defensive and vocal of the band. They have a distinct sound that has obviously others have been trying to copy for a while now. Malkmus vocal approach of more talking than singing seems to fit the low production sound of the band. I do find that on some songs the vocals seem to not match with the songs, but either the vocals, or the guitar work seems to overcome this. A cd that keeps on growing with each listen 3.5

Elefant
Great first song. Good second song. Great third song. Sort of a new feel to some old 80’s new wave feel. Was surprised on the guitar use because I thought they were going to be a more synth-based band. But after the fourth song things start to stall a bit. Although nothing really goes too bad, nothing returns to what was good in the beginning either. At times there is almost a we listened to one to many 80’s cd’s with an almost a 2007 version of Human League vibe. A 3 because of the first 4 songs are really good and make up for what was lacking in the latter songs.