Search - Chris Difford :: South East Side Story

Difford looks back without becoming maudlin.

Smacky | Washington, DC | 09/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you're reading this, you likely already know Chris Difford was the lyric-writing half of the Difford and Tilbrook partnership that was Squeeze. This collection is Difford's take on the Squeeze catalog, including some hits and some obscurities. His unique vocal style (best remembered from "Cool for Cats") is bolstered by harmonies from a female singer and the other guitarist. Chris and his backing musicians (two, sometimes three acoustic guitars and a pedal steel guitar) perform warm covers of 10 Squeeze songs on the CD. Sometimes the tempo is altered, changing the original mood of the song, but it never sounds "gimmicky."



I also want to point out that this $13.99 domestic release version includes the same DVD as the $40 import release, even though Amazon doesn't list it in the description. The DVD is wonderful, capturing a December 2005 performance of the same band that plays on the CD, and includes live performances of 16 songs:

1. Up The Junction

2. Labelled With Love

3. Cowboys Are My Weakness

4. Slap & Tickle

5. Goodbye Girl

6. Lamas Fayre

7. Another Nail In My Heart

8. Tempted

9. Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)

10. Take Me I'M Yours

11. Hourglass

12. Black Coffee In Bed

13. Cool For Cats

14. Encore: Slaughtered, Gutted & Heartbroken

15. Cool For Cats

16. Take Me I'M Yours



Between songs, Chris tells stories about the songs, or the circumstances during which they were written.



The final overall feel of the CD and DVD is a little bittersweet, as Chris mentions in the liner notes that this is his way of closing a chapter in his life (ending rumors of a Squeeze reunion any time soon), but his obvious affection for the songs comes out in the performance, making this a celebration of the band's history, and definitely not a "greatest hits" package designed to make some quick cash."