About the Album:
This is Glenn Tilbrook’s fifth outing sans Squeeze. In that group, formed with Chris Difford more than 30 years ago, Tilbrook wrote the music and Difford the lyrics. “Without the comfort blanket of Chris Difford’s lyrics to wrap himself in, he has written all the songs here (bar one co-write) by himself.” PM While Tilbrook is “one of the greatest British songwriters of all time” APS his “work has not always been consistently brilliant and so a new solo album from him doesn’t…mean that it will be a work of genius.” APS
This one may not “endure as a fan favorite for years to come” APS but is “enjoyable in parts.” APS Tilbrook has “shown the priceless ability throughout his career to pen a melody, and Happy Ending houses enough of those melodies to make this LP a pretty pleasurable listen.” PM “The instrumentation and arrangements are first class. His voice never dips, and showcases its great quality when it soars. Above all, it’s an album which leaves you in a good mood.” PM Happy Ending finds Tilbrook in acoustic mode with no electric guitars and his kids sing backing vocals on a couple of the songs. PM
“The stand-outs shine splendidly. None more so than Everybody Sometimes,” PM “a slice of classic Glenn Tibrook with a very pleasing melody, interesting left-field chords and a warm, beautiful chorus.” APS It is “a relentlessly upbeat song that combines a wry look at business intentions and practices with a gorgeous chorus — ‘There’ll always be another day,’ and who could argue with that? — backed up by an on-the-money shuffle beat, ukulele, bongo drums and some beautiful soothing noises that sound like they have been coaxed out of a glockenspiel. The way the song wanders up major chords then slides down minor ones is a master class of pure pop tune-smithing. Plus, the Tilbrook soaring tenor, always a prime selling-point of the best Squeeze songs, is in fine form and losing none of its lustre.” PM
“If there is a criticism of the album as a whole, it is somewhat stop-start both in terms of its quality and pace. Hence, ‘Everybody Sometimes,’ a song that sounds like a ready-made introduction to Spring, is followed by the disjointed Dennis, which fails to find a groove, succeeds for a fleeting moment, and then manages to lose it — the track that lost its mojo.” PM
“The Indian-flavoured Mud Island is difficult to love, the drums, kazoos and tuneless vocals all adding up to a cacophony of noise that the lyrics cannot rescue.” APS
“Happy Ending offers some other pop pleasures, like Hello There, a track with ’60s harmonies, George Harrison-like slide guitar embellishments, and a feel that (the Tilbrook idiosyncracy again) evokes a mid-’70s Flaming Groovies power-pop vibe.” PM Ray is “a rather gorgeous shimmering, melodic song about an older, cantankerous soul.” APS
Persephone is “another one of the album’s minor triumphs.” PM It is “a delightful chamber-pop composition about a female free-spirit.” APS It has “an interesting and aesthetically pleasing instrumental and arrangement.” APS “Its insistently chugging Easybeats’ ‘Friday on my Mind’ rhythm is complemented by a luscious string arrangement and some delicious Indian raga touches.” PM It “is absolutely impossible to dislike.” APS
Rupert is “about phone-hacking, is presumably meant to deal with one R. Murdoch…his more objective narrative…performs a public service of sorts with a hint of lyrical sardonicism, as he sings ‘Rupert was humbled and terribly sorry.’” PM
“The LP builds to a strong finish…Kev and Dave, Fruitcake (a paen to his slightly ‘bonkers’ loved one), and Peter are an excellently tuneful run of three.” PM “Kev and Dave” is “an excellent song…with…terrific music, melody and lyrics” APS but “if it was given the full Squeeze band treatment instead of the sparse, minimalistic arrangement here, it could be so much more.” APS “Peter” “has an enjoyable pop sensibility to it and tells the story of the kind of great character Chris Difford usually excels at which demonstrates how good a lyricist Glenn has become over the years.” APS
The album wraps with “the jokey Ice Cream” APS which Glenn says his grandfather used to sing to him, “so it is easy to understand the sentimental value of the song.” APS
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