6 keepers
keeper avg .500
Before turning into the reserved AOR rockers of "Pulling Mussles" and "Tempted" these guys were a fairly driving pop band. "Slap And Tickle"**** is more frantic than driving, like "I Feel Love" on uppers, though instead of Donna Summer's ecstasy the busy main keyboard riff (which Glen Tillbrook amazingly plays live) sets up for some wicked hormonal angst; there has to be some goofy double entendre in the couplet "Never chew a pickle With a little slap and tickle." The the playful synths of the punky "Revue", "It's So Dirty", "It's Not Cricket"****, and "Slightly Drunk" seem inspired by Elvis Costello's Attractions, nerdy but in a math-y rather than bookish way. Some of the best tracks are those croaked out by Chris Difford (though wikipedia suggests he's the group's primary lyricist in general), as Tillbrook or others step in to provide rhythmic punches or memorable sweeteners. The rhythm section of Harri Kakoulli and Gilson Lavis punch up the ends of each chorus with impressive synchronous fills worthy of Rush on the slightly creepy "The Knack"****; and Tillbrook breaks up the tension of the insistent "Hard To Find"**** with bubbling guitar arpeggios during the more melodic choruses. Tillbrook's melodies are especially evocative on the Big Star-like "Up The Junction"****. Difford closes out the album with the new wave-y title song****, with hilarious couplets such as "he wakes to find the fire's dead and arrows in his hat and davy crockett rides around And says it's cool for cats" and "I give a little muscle And I spend a little cash but all I get is bitter and a nasty little rash." The entirely synth-driven "Goodbye Girl", similar to Devo (such as their cover of "Satisfaction)" and bar-band rockers "Touching Me Touching You" and "Hop Skip And Jump" (with ample Beatle-esque riffs in case anyone wondered if they we an influence) round out the set, and there's not a bummer to be heard.
Six of One... box set bonus tracks "I Must Go"**** (more new wave chuckles) and "Ain't It Sad"**** (a forceful bar-band rocker) are two of the best tracks on the album, so glad I had access.
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