And your ears shall hear…

I’ve heard Up the Junction by Squeeze before—probably dozens of times over the years. It’s one of those songs that’s always been floating around the edges of my musical memory. But for some reason, it really hit me today. Maybe it was the exact right moment, or maybe I was finally ready to really hear it. Either way, wow—what an incredible slice of pop.

There’s something about that storytelling. It’s so unassuming at first, just chugging along without a chorus, unfolding like a short story set to music. And then that final gut-punch of a line—”I never thought it would happen with me and the girl from Clapham”—circles back and hits with so much more weight. It’s so smart and sad and effortlessly British in the best way.

Squeeze really are one of the most consistent pop bands out there. Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford are such a brilliant songwriting duo, and their catalog is a masterclass in clever, emotionally grounded pop. They’ve had an extensive career filled with hits that somehow still feel underappreciated.

What really kicked this all off was finding an old copy of Classics, Volume 25 by Squeeze in the cut-out bins for $1.25. Total impulse buy. I knew some of the big songs on it—”Tempted,” “Black Coffee in Bed,” “Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)“—but a good half of the tracklist was completely new to me. Somehow I missed that whole stretch of their career growing up, and now it feels like I’ve uncovered a secret stash of pop gems. Sidebar, I have to credit my older brother for enlightening me with all three of those pop gems I’ve listed above. He would forever be singing, “Pulling Mussels From a Shell!” in our high school youth.

There’s something magical about finding a record that surprises you—especially one that costs less than a cup of coffee. It’s a reminder that music has a way of circling back to you when you’re ready for it. And today, Up the Junction found me right on time.