Bang Bang This one at least sounds like Squeeze doing pretend punk, rather than some anonymous band doing pretend punk, mainly because Glenn vocals add a melody that rises above the beat, and in doing so it highlights his distinct vocal style. 3/5
Just discovered this thread. Not sure how well I'll do at keeping up, but starting with the first song on the first album seems like a good place: "Sex Master" - Well, it's not what I was expecting from Squeeze (I've never heard this album). As a short pub rock/punk song with some energy, it's not bad, but lyrically it's boring (if maybe "shocking" for the time) and musically it's non-descript. 2.4/5 "Bang Bang" - Another generic sounding tune - the football chanting just breaks up what momentum is there. Lyrically, Difford is just throwing some historical references out. Not good. 2/5
Bang Bang is a fun song. Squeeze still play it occasionally -- it seems like the midway point between the "Cale-Squeeze" and the "Cool for Cats-Squeeze". 4/5
Thanks to this thread I’ve been revisiting Packet Of Three for the first time in a long time. I think I’ve been too dismissive of it. It’s a pretty fun EP overall, and I like Back Track much more than I remembered.
Wow, people here appear to actually like Bang Bang. I think it's pretty damn awful, something expected from oiksh D-list punk bovvah boys rather than Squeeze. The chanting group vocals are especially horrible and charmless. The band have always quite rightly prevented it from appearing on any of their compilations, despite it achieving a higher chart position than quite a few 'big' numbers like Black Coffee In Bed and Goodbye Girl. Chris once described the song as one he would like to disown while Glenn had the view that it was a "rubbish" "novelty song" - which made it all the more mystifying when they not only brought it back but opened with it a few tours ago, albeit in a re-arranged, less loutish form. I think the inspiration to revive it was due to Todd Rundgren's cover version (recorded in the 2000s but only released recently), which seemed to influence their new live arrangement. I can't say I'm a fan of it either. But it was fun to see them actually play it live!
A few years ago I asked Chris on Twitter why they started playing it live again if they had both gone on the record voicing such disdain for it - he said "I don't know". Was worth an ask at least! Perhaps if someone credible covers '853 5937', an actual US hit that they also despise enough to not include on their hits albums, then they'll consider bringing that one back too....
Well, partly it's because it is better than the last four songs, and that makes it sound better in comparison. I mean, its a low bar, I realize.
I say this with jest To my ears it's always been such an awkward stinker of a song - I was curious why Todd liked it enough to cover, so it's interesting to learn others might think it's not too bad at all. While I think it is indeed crap, I still kinda enjoy it in some way - I might not feel the same if it was regularly held up as an example of a Squeeze 'hit', so I'm glad they kept it buried when it came to greatest hits times. Needless to say, it's not one I would play to others who are unconvinced by their greatness, although I think there is at the very least one song on this album that I definitely would.
Our votes for "Bang Bang" 1-0 2-1 3-3 4-5 5-0 Average: 3.3111 Cumulative Rankings For Squeeze 1. Bang Bang - 3.3111 2. Sex Master - 2.5800 (updated)
Songs like Sex Master and Bang Bang really sum up the early Squeeze image of the naughty school boy who gets lucky just because he knows how to shag well and pick up birds at the pub.This sort of infiltrated Cool For Cats as well (She's So Dirty..ect)...it's fun,meaningless and quite enjoyable in a Benny Hill kind of way....of course I prefer the later albums when the naughty school boy turns into a self loathing functioning alchoholic who's always on the prowl (F Hole,Toungue Like A Knife ect....)...
Today's song is "Strong In Reason" Alternate access: Squeeze Youtube Channel Squeeze - Strong In Reason Lyrics | AZLyrics.com Written by Difford and Tilbrook
Now we’re talking. “Strong In Reason” is really good, although I confess it took me seeing them play it at a show about 15 years ago to open my eyes and ears to it. Always enjoy a Difford lead vocal. Interesting how different his delivery sounds here compared to “Night Ride” (pretty sure that’s him on “Night Ride”).
Strong in Reason....Sorry, but a bit weak in the songwriting department. Cale assigns Chris to write about bodybuilders, and Chris promptly demonstrates that he couldn't give a crap about bodybuilders. Kinda leaves you wondering what the point even is, and the idea of the arrangement seems to be making t sound like a lesser Cars song. Whoever designed the cover clearly thought it was a key song on the album, though. I have a nostalgic attachment to this whole album, but many of the tracks don't hold up for me when you consider them individually. BUT....the vintage live arrangement of this song (from the BBC concert on the preceding page) is tremendously exciting and shows what a good song this could have been if honed properly in the studio. I would give a 4 to that version, but for the album version it's 2/5.
"Strong In Reason" I like this one. Nice to hear a Chris lead vocal, and the sound is instantly more mature. It builds nicely with great drumming, and the understated tune gets under your skin. A good change of pace after the frantic opening two tracks - I don't know how the rest of the album goes, but it sounds like Squeeze as we know them are starting to get up and running here. 3.5/5.
I love Gilson's drumming here.......but the chorus repeats too much for me.You can hear the bands dynamics really starting to come together though,despite the rather weak material they were writing. 3/5
I saw the two of them in about '84. Tilbrook was wearing a gown. I liked them better they were straight.
This sounds better than the punky stuff -- the lyric is weird. Its a pretty detailed depiction of a body builder, and though it seems to sort of mock the whole thing, the details are so finely etched, that it feels more like an homage through most of it. I don't think the lyric really works. It's a great piece of music though. The melody isn't particualrly strong or as striking as the lyric, but the arrangmeent elements it all. 3.9/5
Strong In Reason is excellent, easily one of the best songs on this album. First true Chris lead vocal on an album and it's a winner. Bodybuilders may not have been his specialist subject, but he really rises to the challenge. Proves that there was indeed some magic in the Cale/Squeeze collaboration. One of the b-sides to Third Rail (1993) is a 'Cool For Cats (Acoustic Medley)', which really is 'Cool For Cats'/'Strong In Reason' (Acoustic). It is very much worth checking out. Supposedly they had to perform this at an A&M conference in L.A. with two musclemen doing their thing on stage with them. Wonder what the atmosphere in the room was like that day. I think this photo is linked to a performance at NYC's My Father's Place venue: 4/5 for Strong In Reason 1/5 for Bang Bang if it's not too late
"Bang Bang" sounds more like Squeeze doing their own thing and having fun at it but the call and response "bang bang/bang bang" gets irritating quickly. "Strong In Reason" is much the same- the band doing what *they* want, instead of trying to enact John Cale or whoever's vision- only better because it isn't trying so hard to be a good time- which is the flaw I've felt with a lot of this early stuff, it's a bit overheated. "Strong In Reason" is a cooler, more confident track. Especially when it takes off for the driving and sudden end. edit to add: and now I read through the previous comments and learn Cale has fingerprints on this one too. I guess they were beginning to succeed in spite of him?
Strong In Reason This song bores me to tears. It catches fire a bit when the tempo picks up in the choruses, but the repetition in the interminable verses is grating, it just grinds on and on and on. 2/5
As long as we are still within a particular album, I average in ratings received for any songs covered from that album. So there are no “late” ratings until the day we cover the album in full, which is when I cut off. Your rating for “Bang Bang” has been tallied and will be reflected as an update in today’s summary.
Strong In Reason. One of my favorite funny couplets ever: "The time has come to flex your back, another day for you, meat rack". Good Difford vocal. It's a bit monotonous but a decent track I think and I like the rave-y ending.
Sorry way behind. Great information on Squeeze from everyone, I am learning tons. I did buy this album on red vinyl but it was a few years later after it's release. It was on sale, I liked Squeeze but the idea of coloured vinyl was my driving reason to purchase. I had never heard anything on it but owned Argybargy and East Side. Strong In Reason was one of the tracks that to me really sounded like Squeeze at first listen. It was one of the songs that made me go back and listen to the album more. Chis delivers a great vocal, but I thought the subject was a little odd. For me 3.2/5
Strong in Reason - The uh, strongest track we've reviewed to date. Cale may have suggested the subject matter, but the production resembles John Wood more than John Cale. Chris sounds confident in his singing, which won't always be the case later on. 3/5
