Essential Squeeze

Released as a primer for the reissue of the Squeeze catalog, as well as a nifty tie-in to Difford and Tilbrook's reunion, Universal UK's 2007 compilation Essential Squeeze is a generous 20-track overview of the band's best work, spanning from their first single, "Take Me I'm Yours," to 1998's "Without You Here," adding the previously unreleased (and quite good) "Library Girl" and "Last Call for Good Measure." Essentially, Essential functions as an expanded 45s & Under with "If I Didn't Love You" swapped out for "Is That Love?" (both, of course, would have been welcome), then brought up to the end of the group's career, so the hit "Hourglass" could be here along such solid latter-day songs as "Some Fantastic Place" and "This Summer." Of course, there are plenty of good songs -- some singles, some not -- absent, but what is here is very good, helping to make Essential Squeeze a good introduction to the band, or a good one-stop for casual fans. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine|