British new wave icons Squeeze thrilled fans in 2015 with Cradle to the Grave, their first album of new material in nearly two decades and a triumphant rallying cry that drew them back out on the road. Core songwriters Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook were compared to Lennon and McCartney during their '80s heyday, and their catchy, inventive songwriting remains just as compelling three decades later. As performers Squeeze hasn't missed a beat – their 2016 Glastonbury performance saw them in peak form, playing hits like "Up the Junction" and "Take Me, I'm Yours" with the same mix of power pop emotion and new wave cool that made them stars. Tilbrook sounds like a million bucks, and Difford's razor-sharp knack for melody should be required listening for younger bands. As they perform nostalgic favorites like "Cool for Cats" and "Tempted," the duo leaves no doubt that they remain a vital songwriting force.

BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:

Squeeze formed in London in 1974 after Chris Difford stole 50 pence from his mother's purse to place an ad for a guitarist in a local sweetshop window. Glenn Tilbrook was the only person to respond, and soon the two were penning songs together. After putting together a band they began to gain momentum in London's music scene, and in 1978 they teamed up with the Velvet Underground's John Cale to produce their self-titled debut album. The record spawned the UK Top 20 hit "Take Me, I'm Yours" but its success paled in comparison to their 1979 sophomore album Cool for Cats, a major breakthrough that notched the No. 2 hits "Cool for Cats" and "Up the Junction." Stateside popularity followed in 1981 with the album East Side Story, which earned the band their only US Top 10 hit with the pop rock classic "Tempted." After a brief hiatus in the early '80s, Squeeze reunited in 1985 and continued recording and touring until 1999, when Difford and Tilbrook went their separate ways to pursue solo careers. Their love for Squeeze won out in the end, however, and in 2007 they reunited for a greatest hits album and tour. They've continued to impress since, both with acclaimed albums like 2015's Cradle to the Grave and powerhouse performances on tour.