Squeezing Out Sparks

Fourth studio album? Who chooses these albums? Melodic, musical, and rhythmic. Shades of Elvis. Very easy to listen to.

Enjoyable new wave - very much in the style of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello. Added kudos for veering too far towards punk.

He reminded me a bit of Elvis Costello, he has a good rock vibe in some songs, moving in a sixties-seventies style for being from the late seventies. However, I don't think any hit stands out.

"This sounds like Elvis Costello" is the scariest possible sentence to see when you first open the reviews before listening to this. Slightly better than Elvis Costello, but maybe that's only because this one doesn't carry the "Oh god, I still have to listen to 5 more of these" weight that getting an Elvis Costello album album meant on the original list.

Huge fan of this. Similar in time and style to Elvis Costello... its got an intellectual vibe, and delivers an amazing blend of rock, punk and pop hooks. Both slow and sneery attitude driven rock songs work here. Enjoyed!

A solid listen from an artist that I had absolutely zero knowledge of prior.

This was a great New Wave album that managed to keep a little punk edge. It reminded me a lot of Elvis Costello as well. It had a great sense of melody and the extended album with the live versions of the songs was great as well. I listened to it twice.

Getting 2 better band’s names in the album title must be a record

This sounded so generic I felt like I’d already listened to it despite never having heard of graham parker. I now realize why it’s so familiar because it sounds exactly like the dozen Elvis Costello albums I was made to listen to on the main list.

Doesn't excite me at all

I think I can safely say, nah. I don't really need this in the list.

The late seventies will never cease to amaze me. You may think you know all the major influential artists from that time period, and then some unknown party will inform you still have much to learn. I knew absolutely nothing about Graham Parker, and I'm glad someone corrected that for me. *Squeezing Out Sparks* indeed seems to split the difference between The Clash and Elvis Costello -- actually beating the latter at his own game in terms of verbal and melodic hooks. And the results are just magnificent for me. One track bored me, "Love Gets You Twisted". But everything else is great. What I often like on those witty songs is also how they build up to so many catchy elements in their conclusions -- whether they are guitar arrangements, vocal hooks or a more impressive rhythm sections. I think I understand what pleased the critics so much at the time. And it's a shame this record is kind of forgotten today. Guess it's up to us to fix that, right? 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 5. 9.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 4.5) ---- Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 27 (including this one) Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 38 Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 70 --- Émile, j'ai mis ma dernière réponse sous l'album de The 1975 au dessus...

This should definitely be on the list, I'm actually a little surprised it isn't

Solid.

Sounds like a rushed Elvis Costello, but the best songs aren't as good and the worst songs aren't as bad. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Favourite songs: Protection, Local Girls, Nobody Hurts You, Saturday Nite is Dead, Don't Get Excited, Passion is No Ordinary Word Least favourite songs: You Can't Be Too Strong 4/5

Yllättävän hyvä new wave-levy. tai yllättävän paljon tykkäsin itse, en ole varma objektiivisesta laadusta.

I liked this. Felt like early Elvis Costello and we all know we need more music like that on the list.

Oh, so this is what Costello was going for? Well, Graham Parker wins that race, for sure.

i like this dad rock stuff

8/10 I had fun, nothing extraordinary, but certainly very enjoyable

This one really surprised me. This is everything I had wanted Elvis Costello to be over the (seemingly) countless albums on the original list. This was fun, catchy and engaging. 4.5/5

As others have pointed out - reminded me of Costello. This is a decent album, will listen again and to some other albums. Nice one for a Friday afternoon.

Just great, not a foot (or note) put wrong and a fully, worthy winner of the '79 Pazz and Jop poll (no mean feat that, topping Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Talking Heads, Van Morrison and many more). Just about the Platonic ideal of pub-rock/gritty early new wave – tight and crisp, acerbic and wity, and packing major punch in just 35 minutes (take note, 90s bands who did nothing but bloat out their records). Sadly and somewhat unfathomably, GP lost out in the market to (the very similar) Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson. Great choice, recommender, serving as a conscience here, reminding us of acts that matter. It's a no-brainer to get this on list proper, please -- replacing Numan, Germs, Slits or Damned (just from 1979) would be big improvement

Elvis Costello clone? No, Graham Parker was first by a couple of years.

Reminded me of elvis Costello

Catchy as hell

British pub rock for yer ears. Hard not to draw comparisons to the oft-cited Elvis Costello on the original list. This record aptly displays how punk stylings crept its way into power pop, with the energy and attitude giving Squeezing Out Sparks a nice kick in the ass. Such a straightforward and succinct rock landed itself a spot on the Rolling Stone's 500 greatest albums of all-time list, twice! Truth is that it's a stellar rock album with practically no filler. I could take or leave the one ballad that's there, but the rest is superb. Rarely do we get an album that doesn't waste a minute of runtime like this one. Well done! CONTENDER FOR THE LIST: Y'know what, replace one of the Costello albums with this and you've got something going.

This really sounds like an Elvis Costello clone at first blush, and certainly Costello was not the only British musician that had this particular vibe going on in the late 70s. It's a good album that falls somewhere between Costello and Yacht rock. It's very much of its time, but it's a fun listen, and that's what really matters. It's a bit sad that this album marks him moving away from using horns, because a brass section would have slapped on this shit 4/5

Some songs, especially the slower ones, bored me a little, but the rest was pretty fun. Catchy. I didn't mind this one at all. 3.5, rounded up.

This was considerably better on the second listen.

Going into this I was skeptical: A pop album from circa 1980s by an artist I’ve never heard of, not the greatest formula for success. But to my suprise it was a real banger! Full of infectious melodies and energetic playing. Thank you to whoever submitted this!

Graham Parker is one of those artists that should have deserved some more appriciation from the public. Great songs and fantastic lyrics (You can't be too strong) that up to this day are open to debate.

Ah, this was a nice addition. Graham Parker is one of those artists I was waiting to see on the original list who didn't make it, so I'm glad to see him here. This album has a smart, mildly cantankerous vibe with a strong pop sensibility, and more than a bit of a bite. Love it. Fave Songs: Saturday Nite Is Dead, Love Gets You Twisted, Protection, You Can't Be Too Strong, Local Girls, Passion Is No Ordinary Word

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Local girls, Nobody hurts you, Passion is no ordinary word

Is this where Alex Turner and Miles Kane got their inspiration? I liked this album. Sounds very timeless

A fairly solid 3. I could certainly hear Elvis Costello in this album. Discovering Japan just confused me really, then Local Girls played and I wasn't sure where this was going. Saturday Nite is Dead, and Waiting for the UFOs (literally for how he says "Ufos") were the stand-out tracks.

You don't need Elvis Costello. We've got Elvis Costello at home. This is trying to be Costello so much it hurts. However, they forget that Costello has tunes and exceptional lyrics. This... not so much. Best Tracks: Local Girls; You Can't Be Too Strong; Protection

A darling of the 70s proto-punk / new wave movement. I found it to be mostly forgettable.

Pretty average rock album, it’s alright

You can tell the sound is very much from its time. Having said that if I was more of it’s time I think I would have worshipped this record. As is I still enjoyed the listen.

It's got that fun new wave late 70's sound. Hard to take mush issue with it but also not getting overly excited either.

It was fine. Had a real 80s feel to it.

Decent late-70's rock from a proper trooper.

Solid album choice. +1 for sounding like Elvis Costello. -1 for sounding like Elvis Costello.

yea whatever. but cool to know that there were session players on London Calling. Its like a less talented Elvis Costello.

Sin muchas canciones disponibles para opinar, un estilo mezcla de Lou Reed y de Iggy Pop. Rock con voz enérgica, sin muchas estridencias, a camino entre el ser compositor y cantautor. Un tanto de la época.

Sounded like Elvis Costello but not quite as good. Apparently it made the Rolling Stone's greatest 500 album's list. Meh. Perhaps it's pioneering new wave work? Standard fare here.

Slightly less annoying Elvis Costello.

Better than Costello but too close to him for an enjoyable listen. I hear a little Joe Jackson as well.

Holy shit, those Elvis comparisons were not exaggerated. If someone told me this was his alter ego with even a semi-convincing argument, I’d have no trouble believing them. The album is fine, but it doesn’t “transcend the genre” as Graham is quoted as saying. He would have needed to release the album a good number of years prior to do that. Instrumentation is fine. Production is sloppy. I didn’t not enjoy it, I just don’t think it’s technically great. I enjoyed the songs, they were fun, however, this is not a masterpiece or anything of that nature. 3/5

Fun punk rock influenced new wave. Just some good tunes. Nothing fancy but it does what it set out to do.

I've never heard about. Nice album, even though a bit repetitive.

This should have replaced one of the numerous Elvis Costello albums on the original list.

New wave. Ni fu ni fa.

It's quite Elvis Costello-ish (though i prefer GPs voice tbh) Its fine but I dint feel ill go back to it.

Started off pretty strong, but quickly devolved into a “we’ve got Elvis Costello at home” situation.

Definitely a very Elvis Costello sounding group. Decent overall.

Yes it's quite New wave and contemporary with Elvis Costello. Although I respect it's integrity it has never appealed to me.

Agree that it was very similar to Elvis Costello. Good without being remarkable in any way

Squeezing Out Sparks is nice, mix of decent punk-adjacent stylings and some more considered bluesy-type stuff, with those two approaches well paired in the Saturday Nite Is Dead/Love Gets You Twisted run. It's kind of like if Elvis Costello was more interesting than all the stuff we had from him. 3/5 again, these user-submitted things seem solid if unspectacular rather than 70% shit, 30% good.

Big elvis Costello vibes on this one, this is more like his better albums so I’d happy replace one of his poorer efforts on the list for this.

Groovy

Enjoyable and interesting, but without a stand out track that I loved. A really good album, but from a time, place and style with plenty of representation in the book already. A pleasure to have heard, and an artist I look forward to exploring more (after this list)

Ehhh... it's okay. It's really hard to write something insightful when I heard this album numerous times on the original list. It isn't really doing anything new for me. At least it's short and inoffensive. My personal rating: 3/5 My rating relative to the list: 3/5 Should this have been included on the original list? Absolutely not. We had a enough mediocre new wave already, don't need more to add to the pile.

I can hear what the Clash loved so much. It's a bit too polished for me, though there are some nice flourishes. Good but not great.

New wave. Ni fu ni fa.

It was adequate. I guess that isn't a very nice thing to say about someone's art. But really, it was fine. Not special, not groundbreaking. Pleasant enough to my earholes but not mind-blowing or revelatory by any stretch.

Catchy, well written songs, but I feel like I've heard enough new wave albums to last me a lifetime. -0.5 for referring to U.F.Os and 'youfohs' like my Dad. Rating: 2.5 Playlist track: Local Girls Date listened: 03/09/24

Odd little bit of pub rock. A few songs weren't available on Spotify, but what was left was kinda fun. Took a minute to get used to. Local girls was a bit of a banger. 3/5.

Not bad. But nothing I haven't heard for instance Elvis Costello do better. Still, it was nice to cross paths with Graham.

I like Graham Parker, have some of these tracks floating through some playlists. Full album drags a liiiiitle and I 100 don’t need live immediately following the studio

A nice little new wave album that would totally fit in on the proper official list. Nothing to hate here but I found very little to love. Album opened strong but I was ready for it to be done in the end.

1 Elvis Costello but good 3 Though some songs are real fckn repetetive. Saturday nite us dead! Saturday nite us dead! Saturday nite us dead! Saturday nite us dead! Saturday nite us dead!

It was alright. For some reason I was expecting Graham Parsons and some country-rock. This was okay, but probably not something I'll listen to again. 3 stars.

Representative of a very particular genre of English bloke-rock. Typically the vocals are the weakest link. An amiable enough listen but nothing really stood out for me.

I really wanted to give this a four as I like Graham Parker for the most part, but this was a little on boring side to me. Boring as in it was 10 tracks (not including the live versions that were way better) that were more or less a continuation of the same exact style. Almost like 1 song with different movements. 3.5/5 for me, but downgrading to 3. The live songs on the "Live Sparks" version of the album are way better, but grading on the album versions only.

Am I on a reality show where Elvis Costello pops up in my life under different pseudonyms and it's some practical joke that I hear him everywhere?? I enjoy new wave, and I enjoyed the new wave on this album. I'm not sure I heard anything different that I didn't get from the five kajillion Costello albums, but hey, it is a point in Squeezing Out Sparks' favor that this does not include Costello.

"Squeezing Out Sparks" definitely straddles a couple of lines. First, it is new wave-ish, but doesn't quite go all the way there. And second, I agree with the many review assessments that this sounds very Elvis Costello meets Tom Petty. I didn't really care for all the Costello albums on the original list, so I was worried about this album. Overall, it wasn't the worst, but it wasn't really something I loved, either. The Petty-isms were fine, it was the Costello-isms that grated on me, per usual. Probably about a 2.5 for me, but not something I'd round up.

Best Song: Nobody Hurts You. The most palatable of the songs on the album, but even this one was rough. Worst Song: Saturday Nite is Dead. Really quite remarkable that they could repeat such an inane phrase so many times in such a short song. It made it feel like an eternity. Overall: Absolutely not for me. This sounded like the bargain version of artists that I already don't like. An Elvis Costello impersonator. Diametrically opposite of my musical preferences. No thank you.

Nothing special here, just radio filler.

Dull eighties stuff. A bit like Elvis Costello.

I'm sorry to the person who shared this but I found it just kind of meh.

The lyrics in the songs got very repetitive, which grated on me after a while. It was just not as memorable as I expected it to be. It felt a lot like an Elvis Costello thing, but the lyrics weren't as deep. NEXT.

Generic and boring.

The interweaving with Elvis Costello is very apparent as others have noted. I have a big soft spot for new wave but this really didn't grab me.

There is nothing objectively awful about this. My main gripe with it is that it sounds like it could be an Elvis Costello album and, after listening to far too many of those, I’m a bit burnt out from it all. It’s straight up pop rock with maybe a hint of jangle thrown in there, but there isn’t really anything to make my ears prick up. It’s unlikely to be an album I’ll give a second listen to.

¿New wave? Nada destacable.

Voice fits right between Petty and Costello but the song writing isn't there

Not my thing really

Another very average late 70s album that sounds just like a less good version of Costello or Petty. I’ve never heard anyone pronounce UFO like Parker does on a track towards the end and I think it’s quite damning that that was my biggest take away from the album

Was that a song about rape just hidden in there? Definitely about abortion. The only thing going for this album was that it was short. Oh, and I don’t have to listen to it ever again.

It was okay

Fucking outrageous, it's like he's doing an Elvis Costello impression for some reason. On the one hand, I guess mission accomplished from the original project that I can pick up on that now. On the other hand, all of Costello's six albums on there sounded identical to each other. The People wanted more of that in the feed?

I didn't love it

Forgettable 70s

This is the kind of 80s music that doesn’t excite me much. The cool guy singer songwriter that sings about tales of unique life. To me it’s just an album of blow hard music with more unique instrumentals and rhythms. Nothing too exciting on this one. 5.4/10

This did not hit me right at all today.

I definitely get Elvis Costello vibes from this, which isn’t great for me since 6 albums of Elvis Costello on the original list didn’t warm me up to the sound. Most of the songs were ok for me although a few started to wear. And I think that apostrophe in “UFO’s” needs to go.

Mmmmhh just ok