Music journalist and author Jeff Apt provided a mixed review of "Squeal", praising Tom Dumont and Adrian Young's contributions to the production, but criticizing its uneven sound.

As the group prepared to begin work on another album, Interscope refused to drop No Doubt from the label and revoked funding for their recording sessions.

Guitarist Tom Dumont said that the group wanted to be able to sell products to their fans after concerts and shows, so they professionally recorded "Squeal" to be given away.

The B-side song to "Squeal" was "My Room Is Still Clean", a previously unreleased track written by Tony Kanal and taken from a live recording from the group in 1993.

[1] Like the majority of The Beacon Street Collection, "Squeal" contains synth arrangements and new wave-style influences to create a more developed and rawer sound than the music in its 1992 predecessor.

Additional instrumentation is provided by Eric Carpenter on saxophone, Phil Jordan on trumpet, and future touring member Gabrial McNair on trombone.

"[6] Jeff Apter, a music journalist and author of the 2009 biography Gwen Stefani and No Doubt: A Simple Kind of Life, provided a mixed review for "Squeal" when discussing The Beacon Street Collection.

Ending his review, he claimed that "Squeal" had become popular amongst No Doubt fans, as it featured the last performance from Eric Carpenter who later departed the band.