Transatlantic Ping Pong

Glenn Tilbrook | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 8, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Compass Records
• ASIN: B00026WVGS
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,319 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give this album a fair chance, November 30, 2004

By 

MattJZ "mattjz" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transatlantic Ping Pong (Audio CD)

I was inspired to write a review of this album because of some of the reviews that were posted on this site. Many of the folks writing the reviews are "true" Squeeze fans - whatever that means. I guess it means that their love for Squeeze goes beyond a ragged LP copy of 45's and Under. And that's great, in my opinion, because what was special about Squeeze and the mastery of Difford and Tilbrook was always much bigger than Tempted and Take Me I'm Yours. Gems can be found on every album that this songwriting duo has ever put out. Squeeze is so much more than a greatest hits band.

However, Transatlantic Ping Pong is not Squeeze. I don't think Glenn wants it to be. This is 100% Glenn Tilbrook. Its up to you to decide whether you like it or not. But your decision should not be based on whether it "sounds like Squeeze" or whether Glenn "pushes musical boundaries". It is what it is. A beautiful, often heartfelt, collection of songs crafted with love by someone that has given us so many timeless songs, and is trying to give us some more.

You cannot and should not listen to this album and look for Squeeze in it. Listen to this album and reflect on how powerful Glenn's voice is; listen to this album and marvel at Glenn's mastery of melodies and guitar; listen to this album and wonder if the song Neptune is about Chris Difford or if the song Hostage is really just Up the Junction Revisited by a more mature and time-tested adult.

If you give this album a chance you will laugh and you might even cry while listening. You will tap your foot and sing along to Untoucable, Lost in Space and Reinventing the Wheel. You will hear Glenn Tilbrook without Squeeze around him and without Chris Difford's obviously enormous direct influence (although every song had to be influenced in one way or another by their friendship and partnership).

For what it's worth, I recommend this album very highly. It is one of my favorites of the year. But give Glenn Tilbrook the respect that he, and this album, deserves. Put this CD in the "T" section of your collection for Tilbrook and not in the "S" section for Squeeze.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss "Hostage", September 21, 2004

By 

Mark Crilley "Mark" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transatlantic Ping Pong (Audio CD)

Just wanted to point out the fourth track, "Hostage", since (I think) no one else mentioned it. This one *really* grows on you if you give it a chance. It's like Elvis Costello at his best; the melody is that perfect mix: challenging enough to require a few listens to grasp, and yet familar and comfortable once you've got to know it. In my opinion this one song is worth the admission price for the whole CD (not even counting the other fine songs on the CD), so if you feel discouraged upon reading the other reviews, do make an effort to get a good listen--better yet, several listens--to "Hostage". It is, in my opinion, as good as some of the best songs Squeeze ever did. Hats off to you for this one, Glenn.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HE DID IT AGAIN, June 17, 2004

By 

hOLLY (Toledo, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transatlantic Ping Pong (Audio CD)

This new CD of Glenn Tilbrook's is a great follow-up to his first solo. He is a fantastic singer/songwriter who continues to produce quality music, catchy tunes and an overabundance of amazingly original songs. Some of my favorites from "Transatlantic" include: "Hot Shaved Asian Teens", "Lost in Space", Hostage", (Glenn's vocal's in this song are so beautiful, I like to just close my eyes and listen), "Neptune", (which he admits is about Chris Difford), and the first track, "Unforgetable". I just saw Glenn in Ann Arbor, MI last night and he put on a really great show. What an amazing guitar player!! He really likes to interact with the crowd too. I look forward to more and more great music from the indestructable, unforgetable Glenn Tilbrook.