DOWNLOAD: Chris Difford - Live @ Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ 5-12-08

Between all of the Squeeze breakups and reformations, guitarist/vocalist Chris Difford always seemed to be the low-key member of the band. After bowing out of Squeeze's 1999 US tour, Chris Difford kept a low profile (in US) until Squeeze reunited in 2007.

Chris released his forth solo disc, Cashmere If You Can, earlier this year and this show at Mercury Lounge is his only solo show in the US this year. While I have yet to hear Chris' new disc, Daily Mail described it as "up to the standard of the pithy gems he once penned in Squeeze". The show is described as a solo multi-media show (no clue what this really means) and tickets are $22 in advance and $25 (DOS).

Squeeze just finished a run of US shows touring behind their first new album in twelve years, Spot The Difference. In an effort to regain control of their back catalogue, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford have re-recorded fourteen tracks from Squeeze's past with the current touring lineup of the band (which includes Argy Bargy / East Side Story bassist John Bentley). These are near faithful reproductions of the original studio versions (hence the title of this new CD) and Paul Carrack is pulled back in the fold to take lead vocals on "Tempted". The only "significant" change is that Glenn Tilbrook sings lead in place of Carrack on "Loving You Tonight" (from Some Fantastic Place).

There isn't a whole lot to say about this disc as it is essentially an updated version of the early 80's compilation 45's and Under (and includes 10 of that disc's 12 songs). This disc is the perfect introduction to Squeeze but the near-perfect reproductions offer little value to the long-time fan who already has all of these tracks.

While this "compilation" captures Squeeze at their best, my continual disappointment is that the band has yet to capture the energy of their 80's (or even current) live shows on disc. Long-time fans who already have these tracks should hunt down the vinyl bootleg Anatomy of a Burger (recorded in NYC on the East Side Story tour) as that is the perfect live companion to the Spot the Difference tracks.

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Chris Difford
Squeeze