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This is a name everyone knows, even if they don’t. As one-half of the songwriting team in Squeeze, Chris Difford and his partner Glenn Tillbrook have created some of the sharpest rock ever out of England. Difford’s is the darker view, maybe just a touch on the cynical side without ever crossing the line into despair. Now, with help from The Bible’s Boo Hewerdine, this Squeezester frees up emotionally into an almost-open book. All the instantly accessible melodies are still there, while Difford tells these stories in neat chapters, just like the album booklet tucked so neatly inside, with razor sharp observances of the life unfolding all around him. The Last Temptation Of Chris (nice title, right?), comes full-blown out of left field, too, leaving little doubt that Difford is an inspired craftsman, and when he follows his heart down these intriguing streets he is capable of real magic. “Battersea Boys” will bring you to your knees, the tale of two brothers, both destined for a rough road of misunderstanding. And “The Other Man in My Life” might just be the most truthful take on adultery there is. Every song here has such laser-like empathy that it’s tempting to say Chris Difford’s either led a dozen lives, or his sixth sense is amped to the max and working overtime. With Hewerdine as a writing partner, there isn’t anything the pair can’t accomplish. English rock always has an element of the theater in it--how could it not considering its inspiration being a huge ocean away--and the best of this album could easily make an evening of strong dramatic possibilities. Luckily, every word still rings totally true. Tempting indeed.
