I bought this record when I first started my collection in college for two reasons: it was twenty-five cents, and the cover was cool.

And after a disappointing listen, I kept it on the merit of its artwork and never listened to it again. But now, six years later, the record doesn’t sound as terrible as it did when I first heard it.

Borrowing moods generously from Elvis Costello & The Attractions’ Armed Forces (except The Beating of Another Heart–he looked to Springsteen for that, who appears on the next track), The Up Escalator doesn’t capture the same wit and cynicism that Costello does so effortlessly, but it doesn’t fall flat either. At times, it’s simply excellent (Empty Lives). And per Allmusic’s criticism of the production dulling the energy of the band, my interest is piqued to hear that GP&tR made a widely celebrated album before this. So if I see Squeezing Out Sparks anywhere, I might just pick it up.