Customer Reviews

The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook

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What happens when one half of an ace songwriting team takes a holiday from the band he co-leads -- a rock band at heart but with a famous knack for turning a pop hook like no one else? You get decent stuff -- overly sweet, half-thought-out, a tad Euro-pop influenced, perhaps, and somehow... incomplete.

But enough about Paul McCartney.

Tilbrook's solo effort is worth more than a listen. The familar Squeeze sounds are there in abundance, though without the edge and the variety. No jaw dropping songs, but many solid ones and few groaners. No new ground covered.

Squeeze fans will find it comparable to a middlin-quality Squeeze release, which means it's worth getting if you're already a fan, but not likely to turn you on if you're not. It also means it's likely to leave you hungry for a new Squeeze effort.

Bonus Review: And what's this with the "bonus" tracks at the end of the CD? That made sense when one could also buy a shorter LP release, but in this case it seems like a way to clear the vault of some alternate takes and songs that wouldn't make the cut on a shorter release. Note to label -- save 'em for the box set.

An earlier review called this CD "endearingly sweet", and I would wholeheartedly agree. This is probably the most heartfelt, honest, and genuinely sweet CD I have ever heard.

I'm a fan of Squeeze, and I love Glenn's voice... so I thought I'd give this CD a listen. It is true that Glenn's songwriting style is much different than his partner Chris Difford's. The lyrics are much more straightforward and don't require much analysis.

However, Glenn stands VERY well on his own. His voice (and a completely angelic one, too) sounds better than ever, and there's not one "clunker" song in the bunch. All of the songs are very catchy and pleasant to listen to. Glenn combines wit and pathos in a song like no other.

So, if you're a Squeeze fan and haven't already bought this CD... although I can't imagine why, give it a listen! Glenn does not disappoint at all, and he does an excellent job. So, cheers Glenn... and I'll be looking forward to your future endeavors.

Let me take a minute to recommend an endearingly sweet album to you. If you don't know who Glenn Tilbrook is already, you soon will. The former frontman of Squeeze ("Black Coffee in Bed" and "Tempted") has come up with a collection of mellow tunes that freeze you in your tracks and pull you into the world of musical bliss.
The first lines of the third track "Parallel World" tell you to stop for a minute and given the gentle yet pervasive nature of Tilbrook's songwriting coupled with the awesome melody produced from his guitar, that's sound advice. "Parallel World" is a story of letting go and what it's like to miss someone. While that may sound sad, the rhythm of the song is quite pleasing and the lyrics tend to make you think about your own life and the people who you treasure. To me, that's excellent songwriting.
"Observatory", co-written by Aimee Mann of "Magnolia" fame, tells the story of an affair leading to heartache. "Fun is fun but when push comes to shove / When it's done we deny it was love." I'm very fond of that kind of honesty when it comes to songs of passion.
There are many other tracks on "The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook" that are worthy of praise, "Interviewing Randy Newman" and "We Went Thataway", to name a few. This album is fun. It's the kind of music you yearn for when life puts you in a perpetual state of confusion. Hearing Glenn sing about self reflection and passionate romance puts your own life at ease and makes you appreciate his charming style of playful music.
One final note: When you pick this album up, compare the acoustic version of "One Dark Moment" with the regular one. I bet you'll agree they become two incredibly different songs when heard back to back.

Ex-Squeeze tunesmith Glenn Tilbrook ventures out into the vast wasteland of the "solo artist" on his solo debut from indie label Quixotic Records.

Tilbrook, best known for his vocal stylings with England's 80s new-wave hipsters Squeeze, has toured solo on and off for several years. When Squeeze officially dissolved, Tilbrook made the decision to work on a solo recording. No stranger to song writing--He composed the music for Squeeze along with lyricist Chris Difford--Tilbrook takes his first crack at lyrics with mixed results.

There seems to be a marked attempt to duplicate Difford's narrative style on many numbers. These often fall flat. The most egregious example is the track, "Interviewing Randy Newman," in which Tilbrook relates in excruciating detail the experience of conducting an interview with his idol for the BBC. It's difficult not to cringe when he rhymes "Newman" with "clue man."

At other times the lyrics work better as on "G.S.O.H. Essential" and One Dark Moment. The former is an autobiographical plea for acceptance as a solo artist which acknowledges the difficulties obtaining success as a paunchy, middle-aged pop singer in the era of Britney and Cristina, as well as the challenges of "running a small shop in the age of a global superstore." Tilbrook also gets by with a little help from his friends, co-writing with indie darling Aimee Mann, Ron Sexsmith, Chris Braide and Kim Stockwood.

Fans of Tilbrook's soulful tenor will not be disappointed. His voice seems to get better every year. He is also one of the best guitarists in the business.

I do wonder why the best song from these sessions, By the Light of the Cash Machine, wasn't included on this album. It would have made a strong single, but instead is relegated to the B-side of a single. Oh well.

I bought this album because I have always loved Glenn Tilbrook's voice. (He sang in Squeeze for many years.) I wasn't sure what to expect without his Squeeze songwriting partner, Chris Difford, but I certainly wasn't disappointed! Compared to Squeeze the album sounds fresh and modern (no surprise, since the band's biggest hits were in the 80s!), and the lyrics are by turns funny, wistful, frank, and wry. His songwriting voice is as different from Difford's as his singing voice, but I find I like it very much. There are collaborations with other artists here, such as Aimee Mann (Observatory) and Ron Sexmith (You See Me). I loved Observatory so much that I bought Aimee's record, Bachelor No. 2, which is also excellent! If your on the fence, you should buy this album, or treat yourself to the import that has a bonus CD with nine of the album songs performed acoustically.

Glenn Tilbrook delivers a mature and challenging solo effort. At 43, his voice has never sounded better, and he is willing to take risks with melody and lyrics (such as an entire song about interviewing Randy Newman).

This is pure, joyful pop music, the kind that brings a smile to your face even on a dreary rainy day. Any fan of Squeeze will rejoice. Whether Glenn keeps producing solo work or gets back together with Chris Difford as Squeeze, the listeners win either way.

This album feautres the most beautiful voice in pop music. The tunes range from upbeat to beautiful and the lyrics are insightful. If you can get the UK version with bonus disk, or if you buy the Parallel World single, you get a great song called "By the Light of the Cash Machine". Other favorites that are actually on the CD - Parallel World, Observatory (written with Amiee Mann) and I won't See You...

I have one question for Glenn Tilbrook: With talent like this, why did it take you so long to come out with your first solo CD? Have no worries about how aging has affected this man's voice - if anything he sounds better than ever! There is a higher level of emotional engagement with the material - no surprise since he wrote many of the lyrics. If you liked his work with Squeeze, I'm 99% sure you'll love this CD. It features songwriting at the level of Some Fantastic Place - one of that band's best. Very melodic, memorable tunes with lyrics that feel both personal & heartfelt. There's a gut-level honesty about these songs, in both the lyrics & in the emotion conveyed by Glenn's lovely voice, which really grabs you. This is true right at the outset, in "This Is Where You Ain't", where his voice goes from sorrow to a growling, heartfelt cry "...And I dream that you're with me and it just isn't so/I'm a long way from happy you're a long way from home". And later, in "Parallel World", he sings of wanting to escape to "...a parallel world where things always go as planned/Happiness is gift-wrapped and everyone knows where they stand". Don't get the impression that this is an especially dark album though. There are several wry & witty numbers such as "G.S.O.H. Essential" (the perils of reviving one's music career), "Interviewing Randy Newman" (a true story about the importance of being well-prepared when you're interviewing a celebrity!) and "Up The Creek" about trying to reclaim the dance floor after age forty ("My coordination's fantastic and I'm looking older than I feel"). There are also some fine collaborations here including "Observatory", co-written with Aimee Mann & featuring some lovely imagery about star-crossed lovers and "You See Me", a gorgeous lovesong co-written with Ron Sexsmith. The most striking thing for me is the strong undercurrent of hope & optimism which comes through, despite the sadness of several songs. When I'm down, it's a great CD to play because it takes me on a journey through the pain & joy of life, then brings me back down to life's smaller-but-worthwhile pleasures with Glenn's recipe for a "Sunday Breakfast Treat". It's my personal pick for CD of the Year & hasn't left my CD changer since I bought it.

I love Glenn Tilbrook but most people don't have a clue who he is. He's had a career of incredible music with Squeeze but little in the way of recognition and fame. Maybe he's just too good-too adult. But his music is too fun to be just for grown-ups. Glenn Tilbrook has a love of rock n' roll guitar that really comes out on this record. The acoustic tracks on the bonus CD show his wide range and mastery the instrument. He's also very comfortable with a funky Motownish beat. His songs are each unique and have several complicated chord and key changes, but they're always catchy and hooky. 10 or so years ago Bonnie Raitt won a Grammy and finally stepped out beyond cult status. It's time to recognize Glenn Tilbrook as one of pop music's most consistently brilliant artists. Glenn has paid his dues and has cut a record that absolutely shines with pop creativity and craftsmanship. Glenn's voice hasn't been better and the songs just flow-each outdoing the last with honesty, humor and melodic brilliance. This is one of my all-time favorite records, much better than any Squeeze album, and deserves critical as well as popular acclaim.

Glenn Tilbrook is today's Paul McCartney. To compare this record with his former band Squeeze is a mistake. To say that it 'misses' the Difford lyrics of past Squeeze records is simply ridiculous.

This recording stands on its own merit and surpasses ANY other pop melodic music being released today. Why the singles Parallel World and This is Where You Ain't don't dominate the airwaves is a testament to the radio stations living out of the big record companies back pockets. i.e. PAYOLA!

It is chock-a-block full of songs that get stuck in your head and stay there -- not that-that is a bad thing.

Take a chance. Buy this CD. Listen to it a few times. If you are a guy -- it is perfect 'date music'. If you are a gal get ready to say 'that is such a beautiful song'.

A criminally underrated talent. nuff said.