My Top 20 Albums from 1980 no 9

Argybargy
Genre:Rock
Style:New Wave
Year:1980
Tracklist
Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) 4:00
Another Nail In My Heart 2:58
Separate Beds 3:21
Misadventure 2:56
I Think I'm Go Go 4:19
Farfisa Beat 4:13
Here Comes That Feeling 2:58
Vicky Verky 2:12
If I Didn't Love You 3:12
Wrong Side Of The Moon 2:25
There At The Top 3:46

Third time's the charm, I guess. With the 70s over, Squeeze finally figured out a sound that wasn't just commercial, but tasteful and sophisticated. The record starts out with two of their best A-sides: "Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)," a memorable soul ballad, and "Another Nail In My Heart," a comparatively up-tempo number with an interesting marimba part and a smooth 50's-style dance beat. Amazingly, neither of them were major hits. But the rest is just as solid. New bassist John Bentley has the subtle, swooping melodicism of a Bruce Thomas (he's brilliant on the MG's-inspired "There At The Top"); Holland's contribution is a peppy, nicely done 50's dance number ("Wrong Side Of The Moon"); nerdy synth noises are kept to a minimum; and there are inspired hooks and unexpected transitions everywhere. "If I Didn't Love You" is easily as strong as the two singles; great vocal, great slide guitar solo, and the chorus' jerky rhythm is like a Cars riff gone right. The rest is mostly pop music like "Separate Beds" that has the dynamic, layered production you'd expect from a mid-70s Elton John or Paul McCartney record. And although everything is exactingly performed and nothing hurts your ears, the up-tempo numbers like "Misadventure" and "Farfisa Beat" are still plenty exciting. The only annoyances are a relative lack of stylistic variety, and Difford's croaking, Bill Wyman-like lead vocals on the gimmicky "Here Comes That Feeling" and "I Think I'm Go Go." Del Newman contributed some subtle string arrangements; John Wood co-produced again. (JA)

I love this album especially side 1