335 - Graham Parker - Squeezing Out Sparks

I saw Graham Parker at the 1992 WHFS-tival in Washington, D.C. I had no idea who he was but he struck me as a typical singer-songwriter. The guy has barely crossed my mind since then.

Listening to Squeezing Out Sparks didn't really light a fire under me to get to know the guy much more. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy listening to this album. The songs are energetic, the hooks do their job, and it sounds well produced. On Squeezing Out Sparks, Graham sounds like Elvis Costello recorded an album after spending the summer listening to Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. As I've stated before, I'm not big on listening to lyrics, but from what I've read, Graham was kind of a conservative angry young man and not liberal (listen to "Passion Is No Ordinary Word" and the anti-abortion "You Can't Be Too Strong").

Songs I knew I liked: None

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Don't Get Excited," "Local Girls," "Protection," and "Waiting for the UFOs" (Although I found it kinda odd for my American ears to hear U.F.O.s pronounced as "ufos." At first I thought he was singing "u-boats.")

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: None in particular