Glenn Tilbrook

The name Glenn Tilbrook is synonymous with the smart, snappy new-wave pop that he created with Chris Difford in Squeeze. But casual fans might not know that the Difford and Tilbrook partnership had Difford penning the lyrics and Tilbrook composing the music. Now that the group isn't operational anymore, Tilbrook has moved on to make albums on his own, and the fortysomething musician admits that he hadn't written lyrics since he was 14.

So it's a pleasure to report that Transatlantic Ping Pong, his second solo record, upholds Squeeze's high level of pop craftsmanship. Like his old band's best work, Tilbrook's new songs are frequently sharp vignettes exploring human foibles. The poignant "Hostage" examines an abusive marriage from the point of view of the wife's long-lost friend, while the highly autobiographical "Ray & Me" takes a nostalgic, bittersweet look at a childhood friendship. The angelic-voiced singer also displays his devilish sense of humor on tunes like "The Genitalia of a Fool," a twangy, comic tune about a man who exposes "the wrong kind of family jewels."

After several purely solo tours, Difford is playing again with a band (amusingly named the Fluffers), and he's greatly enjoying it. "I don't think I ever had this much fun with Squeeze," he said in a recent phone interview. While Difford gravitates toward making people laugh, he feels songs with depth can co-exist quite easily with humor. And it's this wonderfully entertaining combination of the serious and the lighthearted, as well as a mix of new and old songs, that he'll be bringing to the Engine Room this weekend.