Customer Reviews

Argy Bargy

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If there could be a soundtrack of ones life, Argy Bargy would be mine, with Pulling Musssels as the theme song.As a New York teenager in the late 70's early 80's, it is the music that most typifies the times.There is not one bad song on the album(I am dating myself, aren't I), and since I know I have played it at least 250 times, it never grows tiresome. Chris Difford and Glen Tilbrook even sound great without Squeeze,but Squeeze is incredible! Highly recommend this to anyone, if you are first time Squeeze, this should be your first purchase, followed by East Side Story. Each song will remind you of some significant event in your life. It would be compared to buying REM Green as your first intro to REM, or Through a Glass Darkly as a stones intro.

The music is wonderful here! You have to hear this. Some of the best power pop of all time! The best known tracks are "Pulling Mussels From a Shell" and "Another Nail For My Heart". That is only the start, there are several album tracks that are awesome, "Separate Beds" has clever lyrics and witty observations. "Misadventure" has a unforgetable beat. It is the highlight of the album in my opinion. A song I did not like at first listen, but then grew on me until it became essential was "I think I'm a Go-Go", a look at life in Holland, UK, and USA in a three verse song. Jools scores with "Wrong Side of the Moon" maybe his best song he sang for Squeeze with the exception of "Dr. Jazz" from the "Frank" album. But that is not the end of the great songs,"There at the Top" and "If I didn't love You" are also wonderful tracks. This album is very strong from top to bottom, only "East Side Story" compares in overall consistently strong music. This is a truly great album. Very enjoyable!

It is a tragedy, that because of this cd's rarity, the few copies for sale cost megabucks, whereas the more commercially successful 'East Side Story' is readily available for a reasonable price.

The debut album - often referred to in the U.S as 'UK Squeeze' was a forgetable album, save for 'Take Me I'm Yours'- their Break-through single in the UK. Cool For Cats showed what Squeeze were capable of, though often with clumsy schoolboy lyrics.

Argybargy came out in 1980, and by now Chris Difford's lyrics
had matured to complement Glenn Tilbrook's effortless talent for writing killer melodies and interesting chord progressions.

On top of uncomplicated and clever music, Difford explored teenage relationships in 'Pulling Mussles from a Shell', 'Seperate Beds' and the stand-out 'Vicky Verky', while 'Another Nail in my Heart' was another drunks hard luck story - a theme that was to become his stock-in-trade for the rest of Squeeze's career.

The band were never to sound so up-beat and positive as Argybargy. East Side Story is more musically challenging, but is too dominated and disjointed by Elvis Costello's overzealous producing. The 'new Lennon and McCartney' tag seemed too much for Glen Tilbrook in particular, and the lightwieght follow up
'Sweets from a Stranger' signalled his temporary abandonment
of Squeeze, and their commercial momentum was lost.

If anyone was to own just one Squeeze album, Agrybargy should be it- but alas its rarity will hide this polished gem until the powers that be see fit to re-issue the Squeeze master-work

Paul Owen

Awarding this album five stars would seem to be a bit generous, however the Difford/Tilbrook songwriting team has been too easily dismissed by many critics as being purveyors of British pub songs. This album has remarkable range, from "If I didn't love you" to "Farfisa Beat". While the musical footprint of the Fabs cannot be overlooked on this (Mussels, Vicky Verky & Nail in My Heart) and other Squeeze albums, I do not believe it was Squeeze's intention to exploit this. In fact, Squeeze's influences are drawn from many disparate sources: techno, R&B, soul, & mid- sixties American pop (Johnny Rivers on "If I didn't love you"), to name a few. It was this broad stroke comparison to the Fabs, initially meant as praise in 1979 when Argy Bargy was released in the U.S., which probably limited Squeeze's success in the U.S. This album is never boring and, most of the time,will engage you with its infectious melodies and interesting lyrics. While Lennon/Sir Paul perfected singing in harmony, Difford/Tilbrook did the same with singing in unison but at different octaves. This adds a remarkably unique and rich texture to their vocals. Well worth the price.

Argy Bargy saw Squeeze at their pinnacle of their long career. They never quite made an album as good as this one, what with Jules Holland leaving the band and the sound becoming forced and stiff. Argy Bargy has a quality about it that defined 80s new wave: it is innocent, pure and uncomprimising in its quest for beauty.

While not quite of the high caliber of fellow new wave contemporaries such as Elvis Costello and The Boomtown Rats, Squeeze, with this release made a truly enjoyable record. While on the previous albums Squeeze appeared to have much of a hit and miss reputation, with some bouncy and enjoyable songs alongside ones I personally can't fathom these five skinny brits performing! On Argy Bargy, the lads sound more comfortable and confident in their effort. I wouldn't necessarily say the resulting effort is as rewarding a listen as The Beatles' Revolver, but certain songs such as "Another Nail In My Heart," "Vicky Verky," "Pulling Mussels..." and "Wrong Side Of The Moon" are so youthful,tearful, emotional, and rockin' that they alone almost make the whole listen worth while. In my opinion, this album is the younger and less bitter(but not as mature) brother of Elvis Costello's This Year's Model. If you have a good appreciation for good pop rock with no lame mainstream influence, then Argy Bargy is just right for you. Cool For Cats is worth trying too.

This and East Side Story are their best in terms of consistency and quality. Too cool, even in the new millenium. Favorite tracks: "If I Didn't Love You" "Farfisa Beat" "There At The Top" and of course the biggie, "Pulling Muscles." Your British New Wave (late 70's 80's) collection is not complete without this one.

Just to say, if you liked Argy Bargy, then check out their later albums from Frank (1989) to Domino (1998). They are all good, and although no subsequent album is as consistently wonderful as Argy Bargy or East Side Story, there are nevertheless some great songs on them. You won't be disappointed. Currently, at time of writing (April 2001), Squeeze are in indefinite hiatus and Glen Tilbrook is bringing out a solo album, but I'm willing to bet they'll be back.

This is Squeeze's best album ever. This album captures the best of their youthful spirit and contains my personal favorite song of Squeeze's: Separate Beds.

I never grow tired of listening to this album and would recommend it to anyone--even people who are not all that familiar with Squeeze. This is the album that got me to absolutely LOVE Squeeze.

i love Squeeze. my friend made me listen to this cd and i loved it. i especially liked Vicky Verky. it's like mellow sweet stuff, and it's just great. Pulling Mussells from a shell is the only song i had ever heard by Squeeze prior to listening to their cd, and i have never liked that song. however, every other song on this cd kicks *** and i still have yet to figure out why Pulling Mussells from a Shell is the only one that ever gets any playing time on the radio.